FROM FIONA J

"My son and I found our time with you very beneficial. The session really boosted his confidence and made him feel that he 'can do' , rather than 'can't'. He now tries to read things around him, for himself, a bit more; such as; signs, food packaging".

FROM THE MOTHER OF AN 8 YR OLD BOY, WHO IS DYSLEXIC AND STRUGGLES WITH READING AND SPELLING.

I was amazed at how quickly Louise identified the root cause of my son's difficulties with spelling. She has given us some techniques to unlock his potential. He has been less fearful of spelling since we saw her. He also says that the words no longer jump around on the page when he's reading.

JO'S THOUGHTS ...

Louise has helped build my son's (age 15) confidence in his ability to learn.. particularly with his spelling. I think that it is a combination of her positive attitude and energy and skill using a variety of creative teaching methods to unlock potential. The school that my son attends has reported an improvement in his literacy which is great news!

CHARLOTTE'S STORY ...

My son, Luke, didn't like school. He didn't understand why he was there. He used to say he didn't fit in and he wasn't like all his friends because he didn't understand letters or numbers.

Luke got to year 3 without being able to read or write very well at all. It got to the point where Luke was always ill and just not the boy we knew at home.  

Then we met Louise Barnes. We had our first session with her. She started by using imagining questions, like games which Luke really enjoyed. After that Louise taught him a new way to look at a word. She chose the word rhythm then to my surprise she asked Luke to spell it! Louise asked him to look at a spot above the door. He did, and he spelt 'rhythm' forwards and backwards!

Once Luke had been taught what to do Louise tried more words in with him. Every time she did it he could spell them. Luke was able to do this again in the classroom. He could use the technique and remember the words.

After only a few weeks Luke started to read and write basic text. His confidence went sky high. After a month he had the 'I can do it' mindset. After a few months Luke enjoyed reading. He now reads books every night and enjoys talking about the books. Some of the books a he has read are: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Wizard of Oz and Black Beauty.

I never thought he would ever enjoy books but he just needed to understand how to see the words clearly. Louise seemed to understand Luke and made him feel good about how his brain worked. Luke wasn't different to anyone else; he was just as good. Louise told Luke that he had just needed the right instructions for his brain and it has worked.

A DELIGHTED PARENT - DECEMBER 2013

Last year, in year 2, my son just couldn't seem to grasp it (reading and phonics) at all.

Since he has been working with Louise I'm really impressed with the way he's come on and how much he's reading. It's amazing!

AMANDA'S EMAIL AFTER 1ST SESSION - SEPT 2013

"Hi Louise I just wanted to say - What you are doing with Jay is absolutely amazing and mesmerising! And he is loving it - he was chattering about it all the way home and then told my husband again when he got home!!

Thank you so so much for yesterday - I am sorry if I seemed a bit quiet - I was just dumbstruck at how good that was :-) - It is amazing - and Jay was talking about it all evening :-)"

HANNAH'S STORY - OCT 2012

Louise was recommended to me by a teacher at my son's school. He was struggling with all aspects of English but particularly spelling which was having a knock effect on all his school work. As there is a strong family history of dyslexia I was anxious to get the right sort of help.

When Louise arrived she asked me to sit with her and my son Max, with the introductions out the way Louise asked Max to imagine an object and then asked him questions about it. I wondered if she was absolutely crazy, however when she explained the significance it all became clear.

In that same lesson Louise taught Max how to learn and remember a six letter word, after just a few seconds he had all the letters and in the correct order. I was amazed.

Where reading is concerned Louise explained that the brain works in mysterious ways and how to make the most of it for reading. Max’s reading in that first lesson was the best reading I had heard from him. It was a very emotional experience for me and it was then that I knew I had made the right decision in asking her to help my son.

Max is progressing well with Louise's expert help and her ability to adapt her teaching style to accommodate how he as an individual learns best. Max actually enjoys reading now and is making fewer mistakes. With Louise's guidance and encouragement he gains in both confidence and enthusiasm. He will write proper paragraphs for his homework, instead of 3 lines!

His writing is also steadily improving and I am now confident that he can and will achieve. Something that I previously was very concerned about.

Louise is so passionate and enthusiastic about what she has learnt and how she can use this in her teaching that this spills over into the child. Max really looks forward to seeing Louise I just wish that schools would take on board Louise's knowledge and teaching methods as so many more children would benefit.

A PLEASED PARENT - NOV 2013. 

(This was after Louise had gone into a school and done a whole class parent/ child/ teacher workshop. She then spent 15 minutes with one child and his mother :) He is really keen to see you and is now trying really hard with his reading. He is so positive and really wants to learn. So with all this enthusiasm I think we need to book an appointment! 

After the first full session:

Hi Louise Just to let you know that he has gone up a stage with his reading book! Sticky glue (an Unlock Learning technique) is working a treat!