If your child has a specific learning difference – such as dyslexia or dyscalculia – you might be looking at different approaches to education. Multi-sensory learning recognises that every child learns in their own unique way. Not all mainstream schools, however, are equipped to offer a variety of teaching methods to their pupils.
One school that is leading the way is St David’s College in North Wales. Read on to find out how their approach could be right for your child.
How can specific learning differences impact your child’s learning?
Specific learning differences (SpLD) are neurological differences in processing information that can affect how individuals learn and perform specific academic tasks.
Dyslexia, for example, is a learning difference that affects reading. Children with dyslexia may have difficulty decoding words, recognising sight words, and understanding written text. This can make it challenging for them to keep up with reading assignments, comprehend new information, and write effectively.
Dyscalculia is another learning difference that makes it difficult to understand numbers. Children with dyscalculia may have difficulty with number sense, counting, arithmetic, and problem-solving. This can make it harder for them to understand maths concepts, complete homework tasks, and perform well on maths tests.
Difficulty in these areas can affect the acquisition of literacy and numeracy skills, which has an impact on learning across the entire curriculum.
What is multi-sensory learning?
Multi-sensory learning is based on the idea that everyone has different learning styles, and some people learn better through visual or auditory stimulation, while others learn better through hands-on activities and movement.
By incorporating multiple senses into the learning process, teachers can reach a wider range of students. Multi-sensory learning can help children with SpLD by providing different ways to process and remember information.
Examples of multi-sensory learning activities might include:
– Using visual aids like diagrams, pictures, or videos to illustrate a concept.
– Playing music or using sound effects to create a more immersive learning environment.
– Engaging students in hands-on activities or experiments to help them understand complex ideas.
– Using movement or kinesthetic activities to reinforce concepts, such as creating a physical model or acting out a scenario.
At St David’s College all lessons are delivered using multi-sensory learning. This ensures that every child, whatever level they are at, is catered for.
Rethinking the traditional classroom environment
Mainstream schools are often not set up for multi-sensory learning. Limitations on technology, white boards, and textbooks make it difficult for children with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) to succeed.
When extra learning support is the only way a school caters for children with SpLD, they can also often feel singled out. St David’s College is a mainstream school but their aim is to provide the ideal education for every child, whether they have SpLD or not.
Dr Faye Favill, Head of Cadogan, Learning Support SENCO at St David’s College says: “Because of the way we teach at St David’s, we remove barriers from the classroom for children with SpLD.” She continues “The teaching is not intimidating or stressful. Students know what’s expected from them – and that they can meet those expectations and feel successful. It’s probably the first time for pupils with SpLD that school hasn’t been horrendous.”
The School has replaced textbooks with PDFs. Apps, voice dictation, emojis and colour coding all make it easier for students with SpLD as well. The use of technology within lessons is specifically devised in order to reduce the cognitive load on all pupils at St David’s.
The benefits of getting outdoors
Stepping outside of the classroom is also a great way of providing multi-sensory learning opportunities for children with SpLD.
Students at St David’s College are lucky enough to be able to benefit from the School’s extensive outdoor learning programme. The boarding school is situated in North Wales, with the Irish Sea and the mountains of Snowdonia on their doorstep.
Years 5-10 have a full day every fortnight dedicated to outdoor education. This helps pupils with SpLD to build their confidence. Students are then able to take what they have learnt back into the physical classroom.
Outdoor education also allows all students to work on their teamwork skills. This creates a culture at St David’s where the students are all really supportive of each other.
A bespoke approach to learning
A multi-sensory approach focuses on tailoring learning to each child’s specific needs.
St David’s College is in a good position for this as they have the luxury of really small class sizes – ranging from two up to twelve pupils in the top set. St David’s College has 20 1:1 teachers in the Cadogan Centre with two them holding Level 7 Qualifications in teaching children with dyscalculia and another with a Masters in the subject. This makes St David’s one of the best qualified schools for dyscalculia in the UK. Pupils with SpLD also have access to a Speech and Language Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, with more than 400 hours of 1:1 teaching delivered every week
On entry to the school, every child is assessed on numeracy and literacy skills which allows St David’s to create a ‘Pupil Passport’. Using this as a guide, an ‘Individual Learning Plan’ is created.
Dr Faye Favill says: “The one-to-one teachers will meet up to four times a week for 40 minutes with SpLD pupils. It’s that mentoring aspect – teaching kids their meta cognition. So, how do they learn best, and motivating them to know what they need to do to get their grades. Just having your hand held by an adult who’s keeping you on track, who’s giving you confidence, who’s teaching you those cross-curricular skills.”
St David’s tailored approach to learning and mentoring programme goes hand-in-hand with their excellent pastoral care. There’s a huge focus on building pupils up so that they can succeed.
How can multi-sensory teaching build your child’s confidence?
Multi-sensory learning can be brilliant for children with SpLD because it allows them to use their strengths.
For example, visual or kinesthetic learning might compensate for weaknesses in areas like reading and writing. A dyslexic child might benefit from using a combination of sight, sound, and touch to learn letter sounds and spellings, rather than relying solely on visual cues. This approach can help build children’s confidence and improve their overall learning experience.
Dr Faye Favill at St David’s College says: “The general atmosphere in the School is that there’s a level playing field between the pupils and the teachers. The environment is really relaxed. The pupils with SpLD might have been in a setting in the past where their self esteem is really low, they have really low confidence, and our aim is to boost every single pupil’s confidence.”
St David’s is known for its successful students who go on to study at the top universities. However, the School’s primary goal is for every child, no matter what their ability, to develop into a well-rounded, content, and interesting individual. And this is something that multi-sensory learning really helps St David’s College to achieve.
This is a sponsored post created in collaboration with St David’s College a supportive day and boarding school in North Wales from Junior to Sixth Form.
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