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“We usually use the ExamReaders during mock and GCSE exams, as well as during class learning. The pens give our students the independence to understand text without the need to be accompanied by a live reader. Students are amazed by the capabilities of the pens and when I train them on their use, they are genuinely surprised at how well the pen can pick up and read the text out loud. They are even more impressed when they scan the text backwards and it still reads it out correctly! These pens have saved our school a lot of money over the last few years since we've been using them. We've significantly cut down the cost of paying for live readers for GCSE exams and students gain the independence and autonomy they need before going on to further education. I would recommend them.” - Lucy, Exams, Intervention & Access Assistant, Priestnall School
"I never cease to be amazed by the amount of effort that goes into organising exams. Hundreds of young people are having to re-sit their English & Maths GCSEs because they didn’t make the grade at school and the level of care and support they are given, so they have the best chance of succeeding is testament to my brilliant colleagues at Gateshead College. This includes providing these smart pens which help students with reading difficulties such as dyslexia sit their exams independently." - Nadine Hudspeth, Director Marketing & Communications, Gateshead College
"I have been using two ExamReader pens on a trial basis with junior students, and they used them in the Christmas exams. One of my students, who has a lot of difficulty with reading, really took to the pen and used it a lot in the exams. He did much better in the exams than was expected, and his parents were delighted. I have a number of other students who are interested in trying out the pens this term." - Nicola Woods, Wesley College
"The ExamReader is a great product to support students who struggle to understand questions in exam conditions, which can often lead to them incorrectly answering a question, of which they may often know the answer!" "The ability to change the speech using the speak feature is beneficial as students who may be nervous or do not understand the text can listen to it in a more paced manner." - Chris Hewitt, Freelance Trainer, Wyvern Business Systems
"I taught her how to use it beforehand and gave her time to practise with it. She has just passed the reading exam using it - she'd taken the exam several times before, passed the writing exam a bit back but always failed the reading exam. She was thrilled to have passed as it's also the first exam in her life that she's passed." - Gilly Miller, Learning Support Lecturer (English & Maths), Nottingham College
As the demand for exam access arrangements increases we have had to look for alternative methods that are both cost effective and pupil friendly. A laptop is not an ideal solution, and a reader plus a chaperone expensive. Over the last three months we have trialled ExamReader. Our chosen pupils will require a variety of arrangements including readers. The trial has altered our thoughts on access arrangements for such pupils. The ExamReader has been a great success for both us and the pupils. We have now taken delivery of more pens and the pupils will have their own pen and use them not only in the Summer’s public exams but also in the classroom from now on. - Bill Dewberry, Chingford Foundation School
This ExamReader pen is easy to use, it fits well in the hand and feels completely natural. The reading speed can be altered easily, however it is a nice speed as it comes on medium mode. Within 5 minutes of opening the box I felt like I was reading with my finger. - Conor Quigley. Age 14
Having tried several different technologies I was slightly sceptical but once the trial pen arrived I was very impressed with its ease of use. Very intuitive - literally needs no instructions. Very good pen. Several students have now grown used to using it which means they are actually having text read to them more often. They were students who previously did not put their hand up often enough to ask for information to be read as they were too embarrassed. A great user friendly pen. - SENCO, John Cabot Academy
We currently have both the ExamReader and ReaderPen in school. These pens are being used by 8 of our new EAL students. The pens definitely meet the needs of the students, we have discovered through the use of the pens our students are a lot more independent and their performance has increased in all areas. We had no problem with setting up the pens and have implemented these into the students everyday learning. The pens have helped a huge amount within the school, freeing up teacher time so they are able to focus on the whole class. I would highly recommend the ExamReader and ReaderPen to other schools. - Simon Glickman, Headteacher, Toras Emes Primary School
As part of our SEND & ALS Assistive Technology Service we loan a wide variety of technology (including reading pens) to supported students throughout the year. Our loan agreement allows the students to take the technology home as we have found this significantly increases the effectiveness and use of the technology. This means our students can continue to access loaned reading pens and other technologies whilst they are studying from home, allowing adjustments to learning through continued use of assistive technology. To support the use of these technologies whilst off-site we have launched a refreshed online self-serve portal (on the students learning portal) containing a range of resources and blog posts on technologies and accessibility including links to reading pen resources. In addition we are continuing to operate our Assistive Technology support service remotely using a range of tools. - Jonathan Kerry, SEND & ALS – Systems & Technology Team Leader (Bradford College)
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