Making a referral to ICT ASL Service
Falkirk Council Children’s Services employees can make a referral to the ICT ASL Service.
Connected Falkirk provides iPads to children in P6 – S6 in Falkirk Schools. Referrals for these year groups tend to be for specialist equipment and not iPads/netbooks.
Should the referral be successful then you will be issued with the appropriate resources, based on an analysis of need and best fit.
In addition to assessing referrals, the ICT ASL Service can carry out the following:
- Telephone consultation with David Wells (Team Manager – ASN);
- Training for staff and pupils as available through CPD Manager;
- Access to CALL Scotland Assessment for more complex assessment requests.
A referral to ICT ASL Service should take the form of:
- Coversheet
- Child’s Plan Form 4
- Child’s Plan Form 6
Prior to making a referral to the ICT ASL Service you should read the Procedure Update below:
ICT ASL Information Updated 2022
Each referral must be emailed to IAS@falkirk.gov.uk following the guidance in the policy update.
Supporting Literacy in the Classroom
Louise Amos, (ASLOT Teacher) and I, David Wells (ASN Team Manager) were recently asked to provide training for the Larbert Cluster in regard to literacy support in the classroom. Louise and I collaborated to bring together information about the challenges that our young people face alongside the strategies that will support them, whether teaching strategies or digital supports.
I have attached our presentation for you to access at any time.
Doorway Online
Doorway Online is a collection of free learning activities originally developed with funding from Scottish Borders Council. It is now managed by the Doorway Accessible Software Trust, a Scottish charity. The suite comprises highly accessible educational activities that learners will find easy to use independently. Each exercise has a range of accessibility and difficulty options.
Falkirk Council schools have free access to this resource online and it was previously issued in CD form to each primary school.
It can be accessed here: Doorway Online
Simple English Wikipedia
Simple English Wikipedia has thousands of pages where only simple words and grammar are used.
It can be accessed here: Simple Wikipedia
BOOKS for ALL
Books for All provides books in accessible formats for pupils in Scotland who have difficulty with ordinary printed text, including those with dyslexia, who have a physical disability or who are blind or partially sighted.
You can access the page here BOOKSforALL.
You can log in with your Glow credentials
If you are unsure of your Glow credentials then please contact your Glow Coordinator in school.
Accessing/Using Work Talk in Falkirk Council
WordTalk was conceived and developed by Rod Macaulay of TASSC in Aberdeen, Scotland who later received a Microsoft Innovative Teacher Award for its development.
For people with reading and writing difficulties, having text reinforced by hearing it read aloud can be very useful.
It is also useful for proof reading and learning another language.
Features
Speaks entire document, paragraph or word;- Highlights the text as it goes;
- Talking dictionary;
- Adjust the word highlight colours;
- Change the voice and the speed;
- Convert text to speech (wav or mp3).
A helpsheet for Falkirk Council staff is available here: Enable WordTalk
ICT ASL Home Use Policy 2017
As a Service I have now developed a policy document detailing Home Use for devices issued through ICT ASL Service.
You can access the document here:
This should be issued to any pupil using a piece of technology that has been assessed through ICT ASL Service – this policy is not for any other devices as these are covered under the Council’s acceptable Use Policy.
Whilst practitioners should do everything in their power to mitigate damage to equipment issued by the ICT ASL Service, there are occasions where a replacement is required.
Do you have a piece of equipment that is no longer performing as it should? Has it been damaged?
Where a like-for-like replacement is required, there is no need to re-refer through IAS. You should complete the form below and email this to david.wells@falkirk.gov.uk
ICT ASL Service Replacement Form
Should you have any queries regarding this then please get in touch. Find David Wells on the Directory!
Barriers to Learning
Do you need more information about additional support?
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Communication Disability
- Dyslexia
- Physical Impairment
- Sever and Complex Support Needs
- Visual Impairment
Further information about Technology in relation to ASL can be found at the same location. Click here!
Nessy
In Falkirk Council we are using Nessy UK to develop the literacy and numeracy skills of those children requiring additional support as a result of a specific learning difference.
Nessy is available as a subscription service (fee payable) and can be used at home to support your child’s learning.
Nessy is also available for a 30 Day Free Trial.
Support through CALL Scotland
CALL Scotland help children and young people across Scotland to overcome disability and barriers to learning. As part of this service, which Falkirk Council subscribe to, they provide a number of resources publicly. They are excellent resources and can be displayed in your classroom or accessed when needed as a reference.
To find these resources click on the direct link below:
Go Talk 9+ and Books for All.
A number of Enhanced Provisions are using Go Talk devices to aid communication.
CALL has also created a pack of symbolised resources which can be used with pupils with Additional Support Needs and those with communication difficulties. These include Go Talk 9+ overlays or printable symbol boards to go with each story, for general shared reading and for voting for the winner! There are also vocabulary sheets to go with each board to help with recording the messages.
For more details go to http://www.callscotland.org.uk/blog/scottish-childrens-book-awards
