Kilcock Branch

General Facts

The Kilcock Branch of the DAI was set up in 2000 by concerned parents who identified a need in this and the surrounding area to have extra tuition available for their children who presented with Specific Learning Difficulties, otherwise known as Dyslexia. The Branch is run by parents whose children presently attend or have attended the workshops here in Kilcock. The Branch is worked solely on a voluntary basis and is expected to be self-financing. The Branch is a committee of parents who oversee the running of the workshops by liaising with the workshop co-ordinator, currently Martina Stokes. The Co-ordinator oversees everything in relation to the curriculum, tutors, students, progress etc. It is the Branches job to ensure the smooth running of the workshops, liaise between parents and the Workshop Co-ordinator, deal with finances, fundraise, raise awareness of Dyslexia by arranging talks and seminars for parents in the surrounding area, etc. In order to maintain the standard set to date, we must ask for parental support from parents who have enrolled their children for the first time. It is our workshop, we own it - therefore we must commit to it.

Enrolment for Next Term:
Kilcock Branch Dyslexia Workshops are now enrolling for the September term. Anyone interested in enroling their child(ren) can apply for an application/enrolment form from the Kilcock branch by emailing your details to: edelwilliams1@yahoo.ie.

An Information and Enrolment evening takes place on Wednesday 10th of September at 7.30pm in Scoil Dara, Kilcock and attendance by at least one parent is mandatory. Fees for the workshop are due at this time.

General Workshop Information

The average class ratio in the Dyslexia Workshop is One teacher to every Five children. Only experienced teachers, who have completed the Dyslexia Association of Ireland course for teaching children with Specific Learning Difficulties are employed by Branch Workshops. Each term is thirteen weeks long, with two terms per school year.

Each child attending must have a psychological assessment report from an Educational Psychologist. This report must be made available to the workshop upon enrolling, or on attending the first class of the term at the workshop. It is necessary for both the Workshop Co-ordinator and individual tutors to have seen this report which highlights each individual child's weaknesses and strengths. This allows your child(ren) to be placed within the group which best suits their current abilities and offers them the best possibility of succeeding within the workshop.

It is also necessary to have current membership of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland which costs €40.00 per annum.

The workshops are run in a very relaxed manner. Most of the pupils attending have difficulty with some area of learning, therefore the tutors need first to gain their trust. They are encouraged to learn at their own pace and any improvement however small is celebrated. Group activities are encouraged and children therefore learn to co-operate while realising not only their weaknesses, but their own strengths which the workshop highlights and encourages.

How will you know if your child is progressing?
An assessment of your child(ren)'s reading and spelling levels is preformed within two weeks of the start of the first term. At the end of the first term, parents will receive written feedback on your child(ren) from their tutors. The reading and spelling levels are then re-assessed at the end of the second term and parents will be invited to meet with your child(ren)'s tutors to discuss their progress. These meetings normally take place at the end of April/beginning of May and you will receive written confirmation of your time and date to attend. It is important to attend these meetings as a written report is NOT forwarded at this time. It is also important that parents encourage their children to attend for at least one term to give them time to settle and get the maximum benefit from the workshop.

Dyslexia does not manifest itself in exactly the same way within any two individuals. However, there is one common element for almost all children who present with Dyslexia and that is low self esteem. Most are uncomfortable with change and will not want to be taken out of their 'comfort zone'. Uniquely however, these workshops give your child(ren) the opportunity to discover they are not alone in their difficulties and affords them an environment where they can learn without being rushed or judged. It also allows them to see that there are other children out there some with less difficulties and some with more difficulties than their own. One of the first improvements you will notice with your child is that their self esteem will begin to grow under these circumstances.

Parent Participation

As stated above, the administration of the workshop is provided solely by the parents of children attending the workshop and parents are required to help with this. If parents are unable to offer a high level of support by joining either the committee or the executive, then you can get involved by supporting the workshop and branch through means such as:

• Fundraising ,e.g. helping to run raffles, selling tickets/buying tickets.
• Arranging awareness talks and seminars for parents.
• Passing our details on to other parents who you feel or know may need our services.
• Arranging/attending tea and coffee meetings for parents to exchange information and experiences.
• Lobbying.
• Supervising children during talks and meetings to allow parents to attend and get the most out of events.

Financing the Workshop

The workshop is self-financing. The money to operate the workshops is raised almost primarily through fees which presently are €360.00 per term. Non refundable deposits of €100.00 per child are required to hold a place prior to the start of term. The balance is payable once the child attends the first class. Under special conditions, installment arrangements can be offered. Once the deposit has been paid, tutors are booked according to the numbers anticipated. However, if class numbers do not reach anticipated or pre-booked levels, the tutors still need to be paid for the whole term.

It is a requirement of enrolment that parents commit to attending the workshop for two full terms when they enrol their child(ren). As already stated, tutors are hired on a yearly contract basis, and these contracts must be honoured by the workshop. Fees for the terms are due at the beginning of each term: September and January and should be paid in full at that time.

Contact Information

Workshop - Where and When:
Scoil Dara Kilcock,
4.30pm - 6.30pm every Wednesday
Term 1: September - December
Term 2: January - May
Fees: €360.00 per Term, Per Child*
(*Discounts are available for two or more children, please discuss this with the chairperson/treasurer at the enrolment evening)

Workshop Co-ordinator:
Martina Stokes
Tel: 628 8443
Tel: 087 912 1454

Chairperson and PRO of Branch:
Edel Williams
Tel: 6014768