1. THRASS (Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills) is a whole-school synthetic phonics programme for teaching learners of all ages and abilities using pictures and keywords. It is a multi-sensory programme that is based on developing Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic skills in learners and helps them to understand the building blocks of the English language by teaching them about the 44 phonemes (speech sounds) of spoken English and the 120 graphemes (spelling choices) of written English. 

2. Using THRASS in a balanced curriculum can more than double the normal rate of progress for learning reading and spelling for primary and secondary school children and also for dyslexics and those for whom English is not their first language. THRASS is a truly international programme and THRASS resources are used by teachers, parents, educational psychologists and speech and language therapists in thousands of schools worldwide, mostly in the UK, Europe, Africa and Australia and there is currently very strong demand for THRASS in Southern and Western Africa.  

3. Alan Davies MSc C Psychol AFBPsS is a chartered educational psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is listed on the BPS Register of Competence in Occupational Testing, having successfully secured the Statement of Competence in Educational Testing (Level A). He also has the Dyslexia Institute Diploma and British Dyslexia Association Diploma. Alan is a former teacher, college lecturer and university teacher trainer.  Alan has pioneered THRASS (Teaching Handwriting, Reading And Spelling Skills) resources and courses since 1987 and is the author of the teaching guide, TEACHING THRASS.  

4. Alan Davies and his wife Hilary believe that targeted funding to improve communications within Africa through such international languages as English, is the key to empowerment. They have already donated £40,000, which has funded a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the teaching of English at Masibambane College, in the Orange Farm township and has benefited 300 student teachers at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and 80 teachers of the deaf, following training at Fulton School in KwaZulu-Natal.
Masibambane College - An Introductory Brochure

5. Alan Davies developed the THRASS Phoneme Machine primarily for those for whom English is not their first language, for parents of children starting to read and for children finding reading difficult (including those with speech difficulties, hearing difficulties or dyslexia). It uses the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) pronunciation system (the symbols listed in the pronunciation guide at the front of many English dictionaries) and moving human lips to demonstrate the pronunciation of hundreds of words frequently found in children's reading books and give them a good understanding of the 44 sounds (phonemes) and the 120 main spelling choices (graphemes) of English.

6. The University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg is currently (5 – 9 June) hosting a five-day workshop, ‘Time for a New Phonics Approach for Teaching English in Africa?’ that is being attended by over 100 delegates from the South African Government, Ethiopia, Sudan, Namibia, Ghana and Nigeria and a delegation of head teachers and educators from the UK. 

Training Courses

7. THRASS Professional Development Courses are held regularly in the UK, Europe, West and Southern Africa. Full details can be found at http://www.thrass.co.uk/courses.htm

8. Alan Davies is also the author of an accredited 'Phonics Certificate for Parents' training course which was first run at Oxley Park Primary School, Milton Keynes, England, in September 2005 and attended by 50 parents. More information on the certificate can be found at www.phonics4parents.co.uk. The website also has links to 3D animations, a free email course (on the features, phases and stages of the THRASS programme), downloadable files (e.g. the photocopiable THRASS Calendar Chart) and streamed video of features, interviews, demonstration lessons and a school’s video diary.

Resources

9. The THRASS Phoneme Machine is available to parents and schools and costs only 10 GBP (plus VAT), which covers its use on any number of computers at the same address. It comes with a free DVD/CD DualDisc, containing over four hours of video of THRASS in action in the UK and Africa, including two one-hour presentations to parents. More information, including an online and downloadable trial versions for both PC and Mac computers can be found at www.phonememachine.com.

10. A wide range of other resources, including tapes, a CD, worksheets, big books and guided readers is available for parents and schools and can be found in the ‘Resources’ section of the main website at www.thrass.co.uk/resources.htm . 

Further Press Releases

11. Over the next few weeks further press releases will be issued to coincide with

• the ‘Day of the African Child’ on 16 June;
   
• the visit of a delegation of UK head teachers and advisers to the Farm Schools taking part in the Kwena Basin THRASS Project, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa;
   
• the visit to schools in the UK of the Third Year Foundation Stage student teachers from the University of the Witwatersrand who were taking part in the Kwena Basin THRASS Project.

Issued by: THRASS UK News Media Centre www.thrass.co.uk/nm.htm