By Sally McKeown
A program designed to support pupils with dyslexia scooped an Education Resources Award last week. Nessy Learning Programme Deluxe, from Net Educational Systems, won the Special Needs (including ICT) category,
Trialled by the Bristol Dyslexia Centre, Nessy is a complete literacy scheme which uses a multi-sensory approach to develop and improve a pupil’s knowledge of letters, sounds and blends. Pupils move from one island to another in the Land of Ness, building their skills step by step. The games format and animation motivate pupils but underneath is a tried and tested approach which shows, teaches and tests.
The award winners (see below) were announced at a gala dinner organised by BESA and Affinity Media to coincide with the Education Show at the NEC in Birmingham. The judges welcomed the “pupil-friendly analytical tool, enabling pupils to self-diagnose and address specific learning needs”. Nessy encourages independence by offering ‘games reports’ where pupils monitor their own progress. There are also mnemonics and rules to help them deal with words which are tricky to spell.
While the accent is on building literacy skills for pupils with dyslexia, Nessy has also proved a useful tool to develop vocabulary and language skills with pupils who are learning English as an additional language. It was also successful with a wide range of pupils including those who have a limited attention span, and children with Down’s Syndrome and Asperger’s.
This is an excellent win for Nessy which the judges described as “An intuitive and engaging resource aimed at analysing the specific learning needs of dyslexic children.” They praised it for setting out its objectives clearly on the opening screens and also commended it for its “comic book explanation of how it feels to be dyslexic... making children realise that dyslexia is not their fault nor related to their potential to do well in life after school.”
Other Education Resources Award winners recognised for their contributions with ICT were Mantra LIngua, 2Simple Software, Philip Harris, EMASUK and Lewis Bronze of Espresso Education.
Sally
McKeown is a freelance writer and is an expert in special needs and inclusion. She is currently working with Accessible Futures Ltd and Northgate, supporting a group of special schools in Kent through BSF wave 4.
Her website is at www.sallymckeown.co.uk
More information
Education Resources Awards 2010 winners
Early Years – Non-ICT
TTS Group, Activity Tree
Early Years – including ICT
Mantra Lingua, Talking Phonics with RecorderPEN (Pack 1)
Primary Resources – Non-ICT
Rising Stars UK, Talk and Thought Cards
Primary Resources – Including ICT
2Simple Software, 2Create a Superstory
Secondary Resources – Non-ICT
Philip Harris Education, Energy and Fuels Kit
Secondary Resources – including ICT
Philip Harris, Acquire Data Logger
Special Educational Needs – Non-ICT
LDA, Advanced Ace Spelling Dictionary
Special Needs – including ICT
Net Educational Systems, Nessy Learning Programme Deluxe
Educational Books
LDA, Fidget Busters
Innovation
EMASUK, Two Can Talk
Supplier of the Year less than £1million turnover
School Surplus
Supplier of the Year between £1 and £3 million turnover
Invicta Group
Supplier of the Year over £3 million turnover
The Consortium
Education Exporter of the Year
Findel Education
Educational Establishment of the Year
South Shields Community School, Tyne and Wear
Leadership in Education
Elizabeth Steele, Glemsford Community Primary School, Suffolk
Outstanding Achievement
Lewis Bronze, Espresso Education
At the Education Resource Awards, BESA members and attendees also donated over £4,000 for the BESA supported charity group Education for All.
The Education Resource Awards are sponsored by Berol, Findel Education, NES Arnold and Staedtler and supported by the National Association of Head Teachers, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and UK Trade & Investment.
