25TRA720 The Edmark Reading Programme in the AEN/SEN Context

 

 

 

 

Date:     Wednesday 8th October 2025
Time:     7 - 8.30 pm
Venue:  Online via Zoom

Target Audience: Primary School teachers working in special classes and special schools & SET teachers

This webinar will provide an overview of the Edmark Reading Programme, which is designed to support literacy development for children with additional needs. This is an updated version of courses previously offered by Laois and Kildare Education Centres. This programme is often recommended for Autistic students or those with a strong visual memory. There is anecdotal evidence that Edmark can be helpful for Gestalt Language Processors and those with potential for hyperlexia.

The course will cover the resources and teaching approaches of Edmark, as well as assessment, planning, and how Edmark can be used in an AEN/SEN setting. Course participants will be given an overview of the contents of the Edmark kit and will receive access to a bank of resources and interactive online games for Edmark.

The course will also provide a very brief overview of Gestalt Language Processing and its potential role in literacy development, particularly in the context of scientific research into how reading develops in the brain. Please note that research into literacy development in Gestalt Language Processors is currently limited so the information provided is based on anecdotal evidence in the education and speech and language communities.

Course attendees will be enabled to:

• Describe the rationale and benefits of the Edmark Reading programme
• Identify students who might benefit from the Edmark Programme
• Become familiar with with the materials and teaching methods of the Edmark Programme
• Develop strategies for implementing the Edmark Programme in an AEN/SET setting
• Explain the main features of Gestalt Language Processing

Bio of Presenter: Nicola O' Lone

Nicola O’Lone has many years experience in SET at various class levels throughout her 2 decades of teaching and is currently in her second year teaching in an autism class in Scoil na Naomh Uilig. She has used Edmark extensively and supported colleagues in its use, in addition to developing her own resources to support the teaching of Edmark. Nicola is passionate about inclusive, neurodiversity affirming practice and has done extensive professional development in the areas of literacy and AEN, which she has brought to her own teaching practice.