Bulletin

Issue: October 2004

Research in Action

Reading skills pilot a success

The School of Human Communication Sciences has inaugurated a successful program designed to improve children’s reading skills. Introduced as a pilot scheme in March, it has so far assisted more than 30 children in grades 2 to 6 with reading and spelling difficulties.

The program’s goal is to increase children’s understanding of the speech sounds and sound rules that govern reading and writing in English. The Department of Human Services has contributed more than $13,000 to the pilot phase.

The Manager of the La Trobe Communication Clinic, Ms Belinda Bain, says that the program – Called UQPAL (University of Queensland Phonological Awareness for Literacy) – was introduced to meet demand from parents.

It is conducted by speech pathologists and supervised by speech pathology students, and involves a mixture of group and individual tuition.

'Many of the children who come to us have had a lot of remedial teaching, and don’t feel good about themselves. When they join a class with other kids in the same position, they quickly gain confidence and this helps their progress,’ Ms Bain said.

The program is held on Saturdays between 9 am and 1.30 pm at the La Trobe Communication Clinic on the University’s main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.

‘The pilot program has been a success so far, and we expect to continue it in 2005 and beyond,’ Ms Bain added. •

Contact Tel: (03) 9479 1921

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