Supporting Struggling Readers with Special Education Needs
Children with SEND can often face additional barriers in learning to read. These may include difficulties with phonics, decoding, comprehension or fluency. They may also struggle with processing and retaining information, making it harder for them to make connections between words and concepts. Additionally, some children may have physical disabilities that affect their ability to hold books or turn pages.
Identifying the Needs
It is important to identify the specific needs of each individual child as they may vary greatly. Some pupils may require multi-sensory approaches to learning, while others may need assistive technology to support their reading. It is also important to consider any emotional or behavioural challenges that a child with SEND may face, as these can impact their ability to focus and engage in reading activities.
Tips for Supporting Struggling Readers
Keep an open dialogue with the pupil's parents or caregivers to better understand their individual needs and any challenges they may face at home.
Use a variety of teaching strategies, such as visual aids, hands-on activities, and technology-based learning, to keep the child engaged and interested in reading.
Incorporate multi-sensory techniques into your lessons to help students make connections between words and concepts. For example, use hand gestures or actions to represent different sounds and words.
Encourage children to use assistive technology, such as text-to-speech software or audiobooks, to support their reading. This can help them overcome physical challenges and stay engaged in the learning process.
Provide opportunities for pupils to practise reading in a safe and supportive environment, where they can make mistakes without fear of judgement. This will help build their confidence and motivation.
Use positive reinforcement and praise to acknowledge a child’s progress and efforts in reading. This will help boost their self-esteem and encourage them to continue improving.
Collaborate with other educators and specialists, such as special education teachers or speech therapists, to develop personalised strategies for supporting struggling readers with SEND.
By understanding the challenges faced by children with SEND and implementing practical strategies, we can provide a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all pupils. With patience, flexibility, and collaboration, we can help struggling readers with SEND overcome their barriers and achieve success in reading.
What is Fonetti and how can it help struggling readers with SEND?
Fonetti is a reading platform designed for read-aloud practice. It has been meticulously developed to nurture children's oracy and fluency skills, enabling them to become confident, independent readers.
Fonetti provides invaluable support and instant feedback to engage children with SEND. Clear progress tracking and milestone achievements motivate children to read more and strive towards their next targets. By incorporating gamification, Fonetti captivates tech-savvy children, fostering a love for reading even among reluctant readers.
Through visual reading, reading aloud, and listening for accuracy, we facilitate optimal knowledge retention, enabling children to enhance their literacy skills at an accelerated pace.
The fear of reading aloud in front of peers and adults increases anxiety and can overwhelm struggling readers, particularly those with SEND. Fonetti is an independent reading tool that creates a safe space for children to build confidence and make progress without judgement or the need to wait for help.
Fonetti supports dyslexia-friendly fonts and allows pausing for shorter attention spans, offering an inclusive alternative to print. When used within schools, children are unaware of their reading level in the app to prevent discouragement from peers.
In addition to improving reading skills, Fonetti supports children in regulating emotions and mental health. Books allow children to develop imagination, curiosity, and better understanding of emotions. Reading aloud with Fonetti keeps children focused, helping them regulate their emotions and enhance their overall well-being.
