Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Temporary Shop Closure


Hi everyone,

The Learning Shop will be shut during the month of June as part of the renovations of New Bridge Street.

In the next few weeks, we will be getting in touch with everyone who uses the Learning Shop to try to make alternative arrangements for their learning. We want as many students as possible to be able to continue meeting their tutors during the closure.

Even though the Shop will be shut, the staff will still be working at various locations throughout South Ayrshire. You will be able to contact us, as usual, via email or by phoning 01292 263304.

We hope to keep the disruption to a minimum and we look forward to welcoming you back to the renovated Learning Shop at the beginning of July!
Thanks
Eric

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Learner Poems

Vicky Mitchell has been meeting her tutor, Lisa Masiello, for a year now. She had expressed an interest in writing some poetry and she was happy to have it shared here on our site. We hope you enjoy reading them.


A Mother to a Disabled Child



I am a mother of a child with learning disabilities,

My son has Global Developmental Delay and Microcephaly amongst other disabilities.

He has problems speaking and gets frustrated.

When out and about he at times get frustrated and lashes out or lies on the floor refusing to move, People stand and stare making comments and giving looks as though my son is out control or if I’m an unfit mother.

No one ever thinks it may be a disability my son has, they don’t seem to think disabilities can come in all sorts of form.

My son is just like any other child, He’s a Happy, Healthy and Well looked after little boy. He’s also just a little boy with special needs.

Instead of people standing judging making comments or just looking as though they are embarrassed when my son gets frustrated or nervous and has a little melt down, don’t stand and judge but instead try and think that my child could have a disability.

People need to have knowledge of disabilities and all the different kinds of disabilities there are.

I am a parent of a child with disabilities please don’t stand and stare.

My child isn’t bad, just special.

 

By Vicky Mitchell


Proud Mummy to A Special Needs Child


I am very proud mummy to a special needs child.

My son went to nursery from age 2 till 4,

While there he had a hard time as no one really knew how to work with him.

 
He didn’t speak, just screeched and screamed, due to this he was put down as trouble.

He sat by himself with no one to play with or even sit and comfort him.

 
He had meeting after meeting to try and move him with No Avail,

He eventually was given a placement at a special needs school,

And has come on leaps and bounds.

 
He now says words and is just learning three word sentences, he also does puzzles and is learning to swim.

My child is a brave little boy with lots of things to learn BUT with his disabilities he’s not afraid to try new things, even when he gets wrong.

He’ll try and try till he gets it.

 
I am a proud mummy to a special needs child,

He’s the brightest, Cleverest, Smashing wee boy,

That only improves each and every day.

 
By Vicky Mitchell

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Chloe's Story from the Big Plus




Councillor Margaret Toner, Lifelong Learning Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: “Chloe’s learning journey is truly inspirational and clearly demonstrates that there are many learning paths that can lead to improving literacy skills.

“Many people take for granted their reading, writing and numeracy skills, so I think that campaigns such as this are very important to highlight the learning obstacles some people face.

“Chloe wanted to improve her skills, sought help, worked hard and the result is a young woman who now has the tools that will help her reach her goals in the future.”

Look out for Chloe's story in the local press.


Monday, 17 February 2014

Adult Learning Groups


We have beginner IT Groups running in Ayr, Girvan, Maybole and Troon. These are for learners over the age of 16 who want to get started using a computer, going on the internet and sending emails.

There are 2 reading groups in Ayr and one in Girvan. This is where a member of staff reads a story and then the learners discuss it – what they liked or disliked, whether it was any good or not. Sometimes they will discuss what they think the ending might be or the meanings of words from the stories. The groups are fun, interesting and a good way of meeting people and becoming more confident in groups at a pace that suits the learners.

We have a CV group in the Learning Shop on a Tuesday between 11 and 1 for people who need to update or create a CV from scratch.

There’s also a group who meet on Mondays in the Learning Shop for Supported Education and they work on things like telling time and counting money.

For more information on all of our ESOL Groups (English for Speakers of Other Languages) please get in touch. The group abilities range from complete beginner through to those that are ready to start college. We have groups in the Learning Shop and the John Pollock Centre in Ayr.


If you are a learner who would like more information or if you know someone who might be interested in being referred please give us a ring on 01292 263304 to find out more.

Thursday, 30 January 2014

CONVERSATION CLASS FOR ESOL LEARNERS


Friday mornings from 11 – 12.30
New 8 week block starts  Friday 14th February 2014  until Friday 4th April

At the John Pollock Centre
Mainholm Road
Ayr
KA8 OQD
Practise your English conversation skills and meet new friends.
Free childcare places for pre-school children aged 4 may be available
For further information and to register.  Please contact:
Ann Gentilomo at the Learning Shop

Telephone:   01292 263304

Friday, 10 January 2014

Happy New Year!








Everyone at The Learning Shop would like to wish our learners and tutors all the best for 2014. We’d love to hear if you have any resolutions and if we can help you to achieve your goals in the coming year.

Thursday, 12 December 2013

Merry Christmas!


We would like to wish all of our learners and tutors a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the coming year. We look forward to hearing all about your festive break and hope it's filled with the good things in life. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that's involved with Adult Learning wherever you are in South Ayrshire!

The Learning Shop will be closed on the 20th December and will open again on the 6th January.

Merry Christmas.