Teachers and parents across the Hastings have been up-skilling on how best to help students with a range of learning difficulties.
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Through a series of workshops hosted by SPELD (Specific Learning Difficulties) NSW, educators have been learning how small changes can help students in the classroom as well as tips for parents to use at home.
Georgina Perry, executive officer for SPELD NSW said she was delighted to be in town talking to the community.
"We provide advice and services to children and adults with specific learning difficulties and those who teach, work with and care for them," Ms Perry said.
"I am in Port Macquarie delivering workshops to teachers, parents and at Charles Sturt University to students who are at different stages of their teaching degree.
"We have a free parent hotline where parents can access help over the phone and we host teacher professional development workshops to enable them to feel confident to teach students with a range of learning difficulties."
The teacher and parent sessions were hosted at MacKillop College on September 11 and the other sessions were held on September 12.
Ms Perry said sharing the importance of phonics with educators not only equipped them to help students with specific learning difficulties but would also have wider benefits.
"Teaching phonics is essential for students with learning difficulties as that is something they can really struggle with but will be hugely beneficial for everyone," she said.
"Phonics seems to be one area where there is a big gap in teachers learning and teaching so we find looking at that key component helps a great deal.
"These workshops are also about enabling parents to recognise the vital role they play and show them how they can make a huge difference to their children."
Dyslexia Support NSW Mid North Coast's Kelly King said the group wanted to bring Ms Perry to the region to help parents and educators.
"We saw the need to have this kind of professional development training right here in Port Macquarie," Mrs King said.
"To access this kind of training you would usually have to travel out of town but there are students and teachers who will benefit from this so we decided to bring it here.
"We have also had lots of parents reach out to us wanting more advice and support and so we knew the workshops would be beneficial."
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