Annual Summer Conference – The Dyslexia Guild

Our annual summer conference will be held on Friday 8 July, you can expect a warm welcome from our friendly Dyslexia Guild and Dyslexia Action teams, meet researchers, browse our Dyslexia Action Shop and a selection of other exhibitors, and enjoy a networking lunch. Why not benefit from taking time out of your daily schedule to learn, debate and reflect on cutting- edge practice? An attendance certificate will be provided for your CPD portfolio.

Thursday 7 July and Friday 8 July 2022 only

Includes evening (networking) two course dinner, small double en-suite accommodation Thursday evening (Woodlands Court), breakfast, conference, lunch and refreshments Friday.
Please note: evening meal and accommodation is only available through this package, neither can be booked separately

Friday 8 July 2022 only

Includes Friday Conference only, refreshments and a hot lunch.

Speaker: Dr Catherine Manning
Lecturer in Psychology, University of Reading

Visual processing in children with dyslexia and children with autism
Atypical visual processing has been reported in both dyslexia and autism: conditions that have quite distinct profiles. Yet, few studies make direct comparisons between these conditions, so it is hard to say whether atypical visual processing tells us something specific about either condition, or whether it is a more general marker of atypical development. I will present the results of a study in which we looked at how dyslexic children, autistic children and typically developing children made decisions about visual information, while their brain waves were recorded using electroencephalography (EEG). The results tell us about the stage(s) of processing at which differences arise in dyslexic and autistic children. I will also discuss variability between children and potential practical implications.

Speaker: Professor Kiki Messiou
Director of Research/Deputy Head of Southampton Education School, University of Southampton

Including all learners in schools through student-teacher dialogues
This presentation will explore how all students’ views can be heard in schools, through the use of illustrative examples from two interconnected research studies that took place in five countries and used ‘Inclusive Inquiry’, an innovative approach for developing inclusive lessons (Messiou and Ainscow, 2020). A key feature of the approach is the idea of dialogue. Specifically, some students become researchers, who gather and analyse their classmates’ views about learning and teaching. These views are then used to inform the planning of a lesson, which is done in collaboration between students and teachers with the aim being to ensure that all students can take part. The approach has demonstrated impact on three main areas: teachers’ thinking and practices; student engagement, particularly those that take the role of researchers; and the promotion of inclusive school cultures.

Speaker: Dr Valerie Muter
Clinical and research psychologist with a special interest in children’s early cognitive development, particularly in relation to language and literacy

Dyslexia and the Phonology-Reading Disconnection Hypothesis: Why it Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story!
The hypothesis that a deficit in phonological processing is the cause of literacy difficulties in dyslexic students is widely accepted. However, research from neuroscience and cognitive psychology over the last 10-15 years has shown us that dyslexic difficulties vary in degree and expression and they commonly co-occur with other learning disorders; these findings do not fit comfortably with the phonology-reading disconnection hypothesis. This lecture will explore how we have been forced to rethink our causal hypotheses of dyslexia to take account of moderator and co-occurring variables that should in turn inform how we assess and teach dyslexic students. 

Speaker: Chris Budd OBE
Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Bath

Making mathematics fun through creativity and toys for all ages
Many people find mathematics difficult, boring, irrelevant and even terrifying. However, none of this needs to be true. In this presentation, I will show that mathematics is creative, fun and accessible by all. I will do this through the medium of magic tricks, puzzles and mathematical toys. I will also show how mathematics is relevant to all of our lives and learn a bit about how Google works. There will be a lot of audience participation, creativity and (hopefully) fun.

Presented by: Rachel Adkins, Katy Parnell and Tania Rogers

Online Teaching – Showcasing the Dyslexia Action Literacy Programme (DALP)

Expert tutors will demonstrate how the DALP programme can be used with online platforms and learners. They will explore the pros and cons of teaching online and the advantages and disadvantages of using different online platforms. You will be shown how to complete an online placement and how to structure and teach the DALP lesson. A useful toolbox of tips, tricks and ideas will also be provided to take away with you and hopefully support you if you decide to teach online.*

This presentation is suitable for anyone who has already had experience and training in DILP or DALP or other literacy programmes.  Following the presentation there will be an opportunity to ask questions, including the presenter’s experiences of using different platforms across different age groups.

*Please note you must already be trained in DALP to teach it online.

Thursday 7 July and Friday 8 July
Includes evening (networking) two-course dinner, small double ensuite accommodation Thursday evening (Woodlands Court), breakfast, conference, lunch and refreshments Friday.
Please note: evening meal and accommodation is only available through this package, neither can be booked separately**

• Guild Members                          £165+VAT (£198 inc. VAT)
• Non-Guild Members                    £195+VAT (£234 inc. VAT)

Friday 8 July
Includes Friday Conference only, refreshments and a hot lunch.

• Guild Members                          £95+VAT (£114 incs. VAT)
• Non-Guild Members                    £145+VAT (£174 incs. VAT)

**if you wish to book accommodation only, you can do so through this link, bookings will open shortly.

Not yet a member of the Dyslexia Guild? Join now to attend at the member rate.

Our membership body is open to all those with a professional or general interest in dyslexia and specific learning difficulties (SpLD).  Professional members hold designatory letters and include primary and secondary teachers, SENCOs and teaching assistants as well as Further and Higher Education support tutors and advisory specialists. Our network is also highly relevant to dyslexia and specific learning disability assessors, librarians and other specialists through Affiliate membership.  

Full details can be found here.

Please note: if you are joining the Guild to receive the members’ conference rate you must join and have confirmation of your membership before you register for the annual summer conference, the discount cannot be applied in retrospect.

Any details you need to know should be covered in our annual summer conference brochure below.

Bookings for this event are now closed.

Download Delegate Terms and Conditions here