1. What is the BDA Quality Mark about?
2. How can you get involved?
3. Who may receive the BDA Quality Mark?
Central to BDA policy is the recognition of dyslexia friendly good practice. In 1999 we launched the first edition of the Achieving Dyslexia Friendly Schools pack. Welsh Pack. Then, in 2004, following wide consultation with a wide range of educational professionals and generous support from the JJ Charitable Trust, the BDA Quality Mark Scheme for LEAs was launched.
The BDA Quality Mark
This was an exciting development for the BDA and now includes Individual Schools, Post 16 education and training, FE Colleges, Organisations and Children and Young People Services.
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1. What is the BDA Quality Mark about?
The philosophy underpinning the Quality Mark is that changing practice to accommodate dyslexic individuals often results in good practice for everyone. In the case of educational institutions, the BDA recognises that the majority of moderately dyslexic students will be taught in mainstream classrooms and by non specialist tutors. Therefore it is important that, as well as employing appropriate teaching methods, all environments are dyslexia friendly. This is what the Quality Mark strives to be.
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2. How can you get involved?
The Quality Mark initiative is co-ordinated from the BDA Education Office, drawing on expertise from across the BDA. All the information you need to find out more about each Quality Mark Initiative can be found by clicking on the links below where you will find the full Quality Mark documents relating to each initiative.
Alternatively please contact Katherine Dumas at the Education Office for further information:
Telephone 0845 251 9003or
Email: katherined@bdadyslexia.org.uk
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2. Who may receive the BDA Quality Mark?
Please click on the links below to download the full Guidebook and documents for the different categories:
1. Individual Schools
2. Post 16 Educational and Training Providers
3. Further Education
4. Children and Young People's Services
5. Organisations
The Quality Mark for organisations has been developed for employers who to demonstrate a real commitment to equality and diversity and maximise the potential of their workforce. Just as 10% of employees are likely to be dyslexic so are 10% of their customers. Commitment to becoming a Dyslexia Friendly Organisation can result in the more effective achievement of performance targets and a competitive advantage. Dyslexia Friendly employers recognise and utilise the strengths that dyslexic individuals have and create a climate where such abilities can be maximised. This leads to increased levels of motivation and morale, less stress and also enable an employer to meet their responsibilities associated with the Disability Discrimination Act.
The Quality Mark standards cover the 6 areas listed below:
- Policy
- Meeting needs/service delivery
- Communication
- Training
- Employment
In the same way as the Quality Mark for schools and the post 16 sector operates under each of the above headings are criteria that must be achieved in order to demonstrate that the standard for a Dyslexia Friendly Organisation has been met.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON QUALITY MARK FOR ORGANISATIONS PLEASE CONTACT KATHERINE DUMAS ON: Email:katherined@bdadyslexia.org.uk
5. Children and Young Peoples Services
The aim of the BDA's Quality Mark for Children and Young People's Services is to identify and celebrate excellent practice that is carried out in this sector. Such organisations have a vital role to play in developing, monitoring and evaluating educational provision and can therfore influence practice using a top down approach. These standards have replaced the previous ones for Local Education Authorities and have been designed to reflect and diverse remit of the new structure and encourage a cohesive and inclusive approach across this area.
The Quality Mark Standards consist of 7 areas listed below:
- 1. Leadership and management.
- 2. Practice.
- 3. Communication
- 4. Training
- 5. Partnerships
- 6. Educational Provision
- 7. Educational Practice
All sections of a Children and Young People's Directorate will be able to complete areas 1-5 with those sections that have direct responsibility for education completing area 1-7. Under each of thse headings are criteria that must be achieved in order to be awarded The Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON QUALITY MARK FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPL'S SERVICES PLEASE EMAIL KATHERINE DUMAS ON: Email:katherined@bdadyslexia.org.uk
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Page updated: 25 September 2008