if your child has not taken to reading as you expected or is showing a reluctance to write, there may be a myriad of reasons why, but these are flags that can suggest some form of dyslexia, dyspraxia or other associated learning difficulty.
As Anne O’Doherty, the Principal of The Dominie in Battersea explained, ‘Children want to learn, they are naturally curious. If they are having trouble, it may be something as simple as the child needing an eye test. Whatever the reason, if steps are taken, children can be supported and helped.’ A simple series of checks and educational assessments can be made to discover the reasons for any difficulties before deciding on the best course of action.
The Dominie, located near Battersea Park in a converted Victorian warehouse, is a school in every sense. It is a truly local, nurturing environment that provides all of the usual school elements: a class structure, prefects, clubs, sports days and a Christmas play, but there are many extras too, not least Maisie, the school dog, who is a very popular member of the school community!
Children come with detailed personal reports and leave with the same, making sure their transition back into mainstream education is as carefully managed as their arrival at The Dominie. Before a pupil can join the school a three-day assessment is carried out so parents and teachers have a detailed profile and understanding of each child and their needs. With this knowledge a personalised education plan is constructed. Exceptional attention to detail like this is made possible at The Dominie due to a capacity of just thirty-two pupils grouped into four classes.
The first base of support for children begins with self-esteem. Once a child, who may have already begun to lack confidence or feel frustrated, has been reassured and filled with confidence, helping them fulfill their personal and academic potential can begin.
One of The Dominie’s philosophies is to teach the way children learn. In the classroom specialist teachers and therapists work as an integral part of the learning process. Teaching follows a modified national curriculum and includes philosophy, music, drama, art and games. During their stay at The Dominie children become equipped with strategies for their own personalised learning so they can return to mainstream education brimming with confidence.
Anne O’Doherty is originally from Wimbledon and trained in SpLD (dyslexia) at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. She taught in the East End and was Head of Lower School at Thomas’s Kensington before moving on to the Dyslexia Teaching Centre in Kensington where she became Co-director. In 2007 she became the Principal of The Dominie.
Her leadership priorities are all about the children and their needs plus the qualities of and appreciation for her staff. It could not have been more clearly demonstrated when, at the end of our meeting she added as a throwaway remark, ‘The children have lovely big badges too, with ‘The Dominie is Outstanding’ written on them – Oh, did I mention that our latest Ofsted Report rated us as ‘Outstanding’ in every category?’
What the school does and how it does it was intensely clear and in focus at all times; achieving ‘Outstanding’ ratings seemed almost incidental. Top class.
THE DOMINIE
55 Warriner Gardens
SW11 4DX
t: 020 7720 8783
e: info@thedominie.co.uk
w: www.thedominie.co.uk
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