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Mum sets up 'flexi-school' to support kids with dyslexia

Narinda Algar, with daughter Lucia, 10
Narinda Algar, with daughter Lucia, 10

A mum who gave her daughter extra lessons when she struggled with dyslexia is setting up a school to help other youngsters.

Narinda Algar, from Culverstone will open Kent’s first flexi-school for underachieving children later this year.

She was inspired after watching the way her daughter, Lucia, 10, flourished thanks to extra teaching and moved up three levels in her schoolwork.

Buoyed by Lucia’s improvement, the former secondary school teacher will open The Algar Academy in September in the old school building at Harvel Village Hall, near Meopham.

Six children with dyslexia have already signed up.

Narinda said: “In Kent, flexi-schooling has never been used for children with learning differences – they have only been accessed by gifted and talented children – but after gaining the right to take Lucia out of school five mornings a week to educate her at home, I can see the benefit will extend beyond our own family.”

Under flexi-schooling, the parent and the child’s head teacher agree for the child to be taken out of school part-time to take part in other activities.

Narinda added: “In my opinion flexi-schooling is the best way for non-statemented pupils struggling with literacy and other issues caused by dyslexic tendencies to get the quick injection of help they need to access mainstream education successfully.”

Narinda first noticed there was a problem with Lucia’s progress when she was six.

She said: “She was so bright, but just could not recognise words, no matter how many times I went through them with her.”

When school reports indicated problems, Narinda liaised with Kent Education and won the right to flexi-school sessions with Lucia.

In collaboration with Culverstone Green Primary School, the youngster is flourishing and her confidence has returned.

Narinda was already tutoring two other dyslexic children, and the idea of a flexi-school was born.

She added: “Both children’s parents had the same concerns as me that their children were slipping through the net in their education.

“These children, after flexi-school sessions, have improved three to five National Curriculum sub-levels in two terms, taking them from being two to three years below the national average for literacy to national average and beyond.

“I am passionate about giving young dyslexic children, who are bright and enthusiastic to learn, the access to mainstream education they deserve, without the risk of losing their self esteem and confidence along the way, simply because they have a different learning style.”

n If you would like to find out more about flexi-schooling, call Narinda on 07846 107386 or emailnarinda@algarsacademy.co.uk.

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