An opportunity to follow your vocation where your skills meet a real need

Thank you for your interest in the opportunity for tutors. Please read through the following information, and if you’d then like to proceed to the next stage please complete and return the Statement of Interest Form by direct email to info@ttrs.co.uk  or fax it to us on 020 8313 9454. If you would prefer a personal conversation please provide your telephone number and Jill Hardie-Bick will be happy to contact you. If you are not already familiar with TTRS we will be pleased to make arrangements for a "hands on" experience. The qualifications of those delivering the course vary across the country and TTRS is delivered by teachers, parents, dyslexia associations, education officers, charities and parents after intial TTRS training, certification and all subject to an annual licence renewal.

TTRS is aimed at those with reading, writing and spelling difficulties, dyslexia and other learning differences. TTRS aims to develop literacy skills, confidence, self esteem and motivation and uses word lists based on the text book Alpha to Omega.

No TTRS Tutor of an Independent Centre "buys into the program" but all are trained in the delivery of the TTRS course and then licensed annually by mutual agreement for a token licence fee.

Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS) was established in 1992 as the result of a research degree and with the kind help and assistance of The Rev. Dr. Jessica Aidley, The British Dyslexia Association Computer Committee - Jean Hutchins, London Borough of Bexley Advisory Service - Marjorie Lishman, Irene Heskett, The North Kent Dyslexia Association and Pam Morley, Brother Matthew Sasse and Dr. Beve Hornsby of the Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre.

TTRS is based on the word lists of the text book Alpha to Omega by Dr. Beve Hornsby, Frula Shear and Julie Pool, available from Heinemann Press. Alpha to Omega acknowledges "the roots of the ideas that form the basis of this programme lie in the work of Anne Gillingham and Bessie Stillman, who, in conjunction with Samuel T. Orton, began to devise a phonetically based scheme for the teaching of dyslexics in the 1930's. This was later expounded in the UK by Sally B. Childs."

TTRS seek excellent teachers to open independent after school centres on a part time basis from two hours per week. TTRS are a growing team who work as associates to deliver Touch-type Read and Spell courses around the country and overseas. The TTRS courses are held after school and/or Saturday mornings. After school centres are often established as a joint project between the hosting school/college/ or other computer equipped venue, the teacher and TTRS. Many TTRS Centres are run by local dyslexia associations, groups or companies developing literacy, schools, colleges and self employed teachers who we help find a suitable venue.

Our clients are students who have some form of difficulty with reading, writing or spelling. This may be for a number of reasons and are mainly a specific learning difficulty, sensory impairment or simply through a lack of past teaching and learning. The age of our students range from 7 years to 80 years.

Growing Demand
The TTRS course is uniquely designed to assist students of all ages who have literacy difficulties with a method of delivery that teaches touch-typing in a “dyslexia friendly”, multi-sensory way aiming to develop literacy, confidence and self esteem with measurable success right from the start. In addition to term time courses, there is growing demand for TTRS holiday courses.

Length of the Course
There are twenty-four levels to TTRS, each consisting of thirty modules, covering four thousand words. Word lists are based on the book Alpha to Omega by Beve Hornsby et al, and works through from stage one to stage three of the text book. Students complete the whole literacy course in approximately one to two years, based on one hour per week.

Financial Return
From five to ten students per hour is the ideal group size for delivery, depending on various factors. For more information on the financial and administrative aspects of running TTRS please contact Jill Hardie-Bick at info@ttrs.co.uk 

Who can teach TTRS
For all tutors, what is of paramount importance is the ability to create a supportive, motivating and positive learning environment and to have an excellent rapport with parents and/or adult learners. You do not need to be able to touch-type to deliver TTRS, nor do you need to be highly computer literate. Full training in the method, approach and delivery will be given. You will have the opportunity to pilot the TTRS course with a number of students and thoroughly evaluate TTRS with successful delivery before entering into a licence between us. Teaching and learning assistants with empathy and understanding of literacy difficulties often make excellent tutors under the guidance of a qualified and experienced teacher of those with learning difficulties.

Background and Acknowledgements
Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS) was established in 1992  as the result of a research degree and with the kind help and assistance of The Rev. Dr. Jessica Aidley, The British Dyslexia Association Computer Committee - Jean Hutchins, London Borough of Bexley Advisory Service, Brother Matthew Sasse, Marjorie Lishman, Irene Heskett, The North Kent Dyslexia Association and Pam Morley,  Dr. Beve Hornsby of the Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre. 

TTRS is based on the word lists of the text book Alpha to Omega by Dr. Beve Hornsby, Frula Shear and Julie Pool, available from Heinemann Press. Alpha to Omega acknowledges "the roots of the ideas that form the basis of this programme lie in the work of Anne Gillingham and Bessie Stillman, who, in conjunction with Samuel T. Orton, began to devise a phonetically based scheme for the teaching of dyslexics in the 1930's. This was later expounded in the UK by Sally B. Childs."

October 1994
The first TTRS Independent Centre in Croydon, England was officially opened by former Speaker of the House of Commons, Lord Weatherill with Richard Ottaway MP, Member of Parliament for Croydon South.

Picture of Lord Weatherill cutting the tape