anyone starting up an Arrowsmith program in London

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Has anyone heard of the Arrowsmith programme that was highlighted in the Guardian last week? It's a Canadian programme that is supposed to help children with learning disabilities essentially to improve their brain function in the specific areas where they have deficits. If it works, it is exactly what my son needs, but unfortunately only schools in Canada and the US seem to run it.

Has anyone had any experience of it? Does it work? Are there any Arrowsmith schools in the UK? If not, would anyone be interested in getting together to try to set such a programme up over here?

(I'm new to Mumsnet by the way, sorry if I'm inadvertently breaking any etiquette rules for posting).

Hi again

Well it has been approx 3 1/2 months since my boys completed their Arrowsmith Course and I would like to share my observations of my boys to date.

My 11 year old - Since coming back from the course he has been able to do his daily homework virtually unassisted now which is a miracle. He is in the lowest set for maths and English so he has not become a rocket scientist but he has the ability now to set himself up and get things done. Still needs assistance with major projects though. He completed a comprehension exercise that was for all sets and he got an average mark for the paper. In his maths kumon prior to doing the course he was unable to get the two step process of long division. We attempted it again two months ago and he got it in one day. He has also in one day learnt to do his own tie which was something that he could never master. There are still daily issues of tiredness and a preference for not doing school work but it is undeniable that doing the course has improved my ds learning capabilities. He has been accepted into the senior school for next year with the school strongly advocating that he will be ok.

My 7 (now 8) year old
Has a different profile to his brother much more burdened with social difficulties and anxiety. His school work has improved particularly his maths and reading. He is still struggling socially at school and does not have any friends (its breaks my heart to write that) but he is now able to talk about his feelings when things go wrong and his general ability to communicate has definitely improved. I am hoping a move to a new school next year will help him shed his reputation with his peers and give him the opportunity to start again. He has an empathy with his family that was not there prior to the course, we can see kindness and an openness that just did not exist before. He is saying hello to people and learning to reflect on his behaviour.

As I mentioned in my previous posts I have seen these changes just from one 6 week summer intensive cant imagine what would happen for my boys if they had the opportunity to study the programme full time for many years. I strongly advise if you have the opportunity to check out the Arrowsmith Toronto or Vancouver websites to get more information.

Hi,
I too have just discovered The Arrowsmith Program. I was interested to know whether there has been any progress for bringing access to it to London or the UK? The thread to the discussion I see has been running for a while now. I wouldn't like it to get lost and so wish to keep it alive.

Hi have any of you ladies followed up on accessing the arrow smith programme in the UK? I, seriously considering it for my 7 year old son and have spoken to so many parents now who it's worked wonders for it seems to good to be true. I'm sure we can get one of special needs schools to run it for sure. Otherwise we're looking at a move to Canada but I'm desperate

I hope one of the original posters will be able to reply. It seems mostly faith schools have taken it on and I'm not sure why? I really am amazed at how many kids it seems to help even it it is a long programme there's no quick fix but perhaps there is a big chunk of improvement we can get

@movingtotheUK
Hi. I loved reading your experience with the Toronto 6-wk course. I'm also Australian (Sydney) but I've been in the U.K. for 16 years now. I'm just about to send off my application form for my 7.5year old and would love to ask you some questions? Would that be ok?? Not sure if you're stilll on mumsnet. Anyway thx. Georgia

I am both elated and disheartened to hear about this program for the first time. My very dyslexic ds (11) who is struggling so much at school and beyond due to his dyslexia could certainly benefit. However it doesn't sound as though UK schools are going to implement it any time soon.