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Left-handed children 'penalised' by lack of support in UK schools | Left-handed children 'penalised' by lack of support in UK schools |
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Campaigners claim ministers failing to recognise schoolroom struggles which hamper the development of left-handers | |
Press Association | |
Mon 14 Aug 2017 07.00 BST | |
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Children are still “penalised” for being left-handed with ministers lacking the information to understand the scale of the problem, education campaigners have warned. | Children are still “penalised” for being left-handed with ministers lacking the information to understand the scale of the problem, education campaigners have warned. |
It is also feared a disproportionate number of prisoners are left-handed, with calls to research whether classroom struggles trigger a “downward spiral” in which pupils get low marks, their self-esteem drops and their future opportunities are damaged. | It is also feared a disproportionate number of prisoners are left-handed, with calls to research whether classroom struggles trigger a “downward spiral” in which pupils get low marks, their self-esteem drops and their future opportunities are damaged. |
The government has stood firm on the national curriculum, despite campaigners asking for it to include a legal duty for left-handed pupils to receive specific teaching to meet their needs – something which is currently non-statutory guidance. | The government has stood firm on the national curriculum, despite campaigners asking for it to include a legal duty for left-handed pupils to receive specific teaching to meet their needs – something which is currently non-statutory guidance. |
Education minister Nick Gibb, in a letter responding to concerns, said teachers need to ensure all pupils – including left-handers – receive “whatever specific support they require” to make progress and recognise which youngsters need extra help. | Education minister Nick Gibb, in a letter responding to concerns, said teachers need to ensure all pupils – including left-handers – receive “whatever specific support they require” to make progress and recognise which youngsters need extra help. |
But handwriting experts and politicians believe there is a failure to recognise the difficulties encountered by left-handed youngsters which can hamper their development. | But handwriting experts and politicians believe there is a failure to recognise the difficulties encountered by left-handed youngsters which can hamper their development. |
They believe many teachers are unaware about how to spot the signs while improvements to training would enable them to make simple but effective adjustments, such as a how a pupil holds a pen. | They believe many teachers are unaware about how to spot the signs while improvements to training would enable them to make simple but effective adjustments, such as a how a pupil holds a pen. |
A Worcester-based alliance which has campaigned for more than 20 years and has involved – among others – MPs and Mark Stewart, who specialises in helping left-handed children improve their handwriting and offers training to teachers, has been left frustrated by a lack of progress in developing government data and teacher training. | A Worcester-based alliance which has campaigned for more than 20 years and has involved – among others – MPs and Mark Stewart, who specialises in helping left-handed children improve their handwriting and offers training to teachers, has been left frustrated by a lack of progress in developing government data and teacher training. |
Former Conservative minister Sir Peter Luff, who is left-handed and was MP for Mid Worcestershire until 2015, said: “This should be so easy to sort. It’s of extreme importance and will cost nothing to address – not a penny. | Former Conservative minister Sir Peter Luff, who is left-handed and was MP for Mid Worcestershire until 2015, said: “This should be so easy to sort. It’s of extreme importance and will cost nothing to address – not a penny. |
“It takes a few strokes of the pen, a modest change to the teacher training syllabus and you are away. | “It takes a few strokes of the pen, a modest change to the teacher training syllabus and you are away. |
“It’s bizarre kids in our schools are penalised because they happen to be left-handed. It’s bewildering successive governments have failed to act on this. It’s so easy to do. | “It’s bizarre kids in our schools are penalised because they happen to be left-handed. It’s bewildering successive governments have failed to act on this. It’s so easy to do. |
“It’s about where you sit kids in class, how they hold their pen, it’s really easy and nothing happens.” | “It’s about where you sit kids in class, how they hold their pen, it’s really easy and nothing happens.” |
Stewart, who runs Worcester-based Left ‘n’ Write with his wife Heather, said: “In many cases there’s no active help, there’s a lack of teaching training. | Stewart, who runs Worcester-based Left ‘n’ Write with his wife Heather, said: “In many cases there’s no active help, there’s a lack of teaching training. |
“The Department for Education cannot speak with authority – it has no numbers on how many children are left-handed, no way of knowing if it has any impact on likely educational attainment.” | “The Department for Education cannot speak with authority – it has no numbers on how many children are left-handed, no way of knowing if it has any impact on likely educational attainment.” |
The Department for Education (DfE) does not record how many children are left-handed in the country’s primary and secondary schools, stating this is because it is not considered a disability. | The Department for Education (DfE) does not record how many children are left-handed in the country’s primary and secondary schools, stating this is because it is not considered a disability. |
With around 10% of the population said to be left-handed,Stewart has also written to the government asking it to consider the specific impact on educational attainment. | With around 10% of the population said to be left-handed,Stewart has also written to the government asking it to consider the specific impact on educational attainment. |
He added: “I have heard there’s a high percentage of the prison population is left-handed. One might think if the prison numbers are disproportionate, why is that the case? | He added: “I have heard there’s a high percentage of the prison population is left-handed. One might think if the prison numbers are disproportionate, why is that the case? |
“Early years education where children are struggling, making a mess of handwriting, they think this is a pain, no one knows how to sort it, they get low marks, low self-esteem, does it get in to a downward spiral? | “Early years education where children are struggling, making a mess of handwriting, they think this is a pain, no one knows how to sort it, they get low marks, low self-esteem, does it get in to a downward spiral? |
“I appreciate that’s a very long-term research project but clearly there’s anecdotal evidence that getting help or not getting help can have a positive or detrimental effect.” | “I appreciate that’s a very long-term research project but clearly there’s anecdotal evidence that getting help or not getting help can have a positive or detrimental effect.” |
Stewart said he has helped thousands of children, with his talks to schools taking an hour and improvements to a child’s pen grip being made within minutes. | Stewart said he has helped thousands of children, with his talks to schools taking an hour and improvements to a child’s pen grip being made within minutes. |
He added: “When they are sorted, they are sorted for the rest of their life.” | He added: “When they are sorted, they are sorted for the rest of their life.” |
One primary school headteacher who received training from Stewart said his staff were given a “wake-up call” about the need of “one of our hidden vulnerable groups – left-handed pupils”. | One primary school headteacher who received training from Stewart said his staff were given a “wake-up call” about the need of “one of our hidden vulnerable groups – left-handed pupils”. |
A DfE spokesman said: “We trust teachers to provide support to children who are struggling for any reason.” | A DfE spokesman said: “We trust teachers to provide support to children who are struggling for any reason.” |
The Ministry of Justice said it does not record how many prisoners are left-handed. | The Ministry of Justice said it does not record how many prisoners are left-handed. |
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