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“As a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand how assistive reading technologies, such as the new version of the scanning pen, can benefit students with reading difficulties. And let me tell you, this little gadget has been nothing short of a game-changer for the students I trialled it with.”
One of the standout features of the new scanning pen is its enlarged screen size. No longer will students have to squint and strain their eyes to read small print - this bad boy has a screen that's practically the size of a billboard (okay, maybe not THAT big, but you get the idea). And trust me, for those with vision impairments, this feature alone is worth its weight in gold.
But the audio boost feature is a close second in terms of awesomeness. It ensures that the words being read are crystal clear and easy to understand, which is a huge help for those with hearing impairments or who may struggle to decipher mumbled or unclear speech.
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
“ReaderPen has helped children access work independently where they’d needed adult support before. It has also helped children achieve their potential in maths, as struggles with reading have been taken away so they can focus on the maths. It has built confidence in reading to make them enjoy reading and become more independent.”
- Kate McWade, Assistant Head, Walwayne Court Primary School
“Since using the ReaderPen, it is wonderful to see how much more independent the pupil is. She can access the curriculum without relying on an adult. It has increased independent learning.”
- Mrs Rebecca Humpreys, SENCO, Walwayne Court Primary School
“The ReaderPen works well for older pupils. They can help pupils access more curriculum lessons, as they can access more text. Pupils have used the ReaderPen to read more age-appropriate texts.
“One year six pupil a few years ago had great success with it, using it throughout the day. She tried to support other pupils using it and offered them advice and ‘training’. This was very positive.”
- Danielle Davenport, SENCO, West Hill Primary Academy
“The ReaderPen is easy to use and has increased confidence and independence in the child.”
- Miss Sarah Boyle, SENCO, Seaford Primary School
“ReaderPen gives pupils independence, raises self-esteem and allows access learning.”
- Phillipa Dennis, SENCO, Balfour Junior Academy
“ReaderPen is helpful for those pupils diagnosed with dyslexia and also those who find reading a challenge to help them access the wider curriculum. Students have enjoyed using it at home.”
- Miss Sam Jaycock, SENCO, Beaufort Primary School
“The ReaderPen has been amazing to allow a child who was working two years behind to actually be able to access the Y6 curriculum. So easy to use and the child loves showing and explaining to others how it works. The Y6 child can now access the curriculum, whereas without it, he was two years behind.
“The ReaderPen enables children who struggle to read the ability to access the curriculum independently. We have a number of students who are able mathematicians but struggled to access the reasoning problems due to the worded problems. They can now do this on their own and have excelled since the introduction of a ReaderPen.”
- Mr Daniel Pring, Deputy Head, Snodland CEP Primary School
“The ReaderPen has increased student confidence. Giving them the ability to allow focus on comprehension skills instead of fluency. So inclusive.”
- Mrs E Smith, SENCO, Hart Plain Junior School
“The ReaderPen is very easy to set up and use. It has given the pupil a huge confidence boost. I found him offering to share one of his earbuds with a friend who also struggles to read. A real act of kindness and showed me that the pupil recognises the importance of reading.”
- Miss Claire Coverley. Literacy Coordinator, Charter Primary School
“There has been a marked improvement in the children’s ability to access their learning since using the ReaderPen. One child was completely turned off to reading. Now, he’s making fantastic gains since using the pen.”
- Elizabeth Gordan, Learning Support Manager, St Mary’s RC Primary School
“The ReaderPen has been a fantastic tool, enabling a child to function independently within the class. It is a great aid that helps with reading but also gives children the excitement and enthusiasm to choose to read, rather than seeing it as a chore.
“It has been an enormous benefit to one of our dyslexic learners. He is now happy to engage in reading activities, chooses to go to the library, and has gone up the reading stages. He is very proud of his COOL pen and loves to show others how it works. It is lovely to see him so happy and confident!”
- Elayne Robins, Teaching Assistant, Stechford Primary School
“The ReaderPen improved access to learning resources.”
- Ms Sarah Woodall, SENCO, Bournville Village Primary
“The ReaderPen is an amazing resource. The look on the face of the children when they use it for the first time and realise that they can now access any text is priceless! We use the ReaderPen with two pupils at the moment and plan to get more. They give the children confidence and opens up their world.”
- Miss Mason, SENCO, Woodhouse Primary Academy
“We have found the ReaderPen invaluable for our Y5/6 children who continue to struggle with word reading and are currently on Birmingham’s dyslexia pathway. The ReaderPen has enabled curriculum access and independence for the pupils, assisting with their self-esteem and confidence.
“Improvement seen in a year 6 pupil’s behaviour, he coached the year 5 pupil to use the pen when it arrived and is a real advocate for how the ReaderPen has opened up learning for him and made things far more accessible and less frustrating.”
- Jessica Jones, SENCO, Rednal Hill Junior School
“ReaderPen’s give children using them greater independence. Children enjoy being able to access written work more independently.”
- Mrs S Butt, SENCO, Bonnygate Primary School
“Children learn to use the ReaderPen very quickly and enjoy using it. It encourages children to be more independent.
It is great watching a dyslexic student complete a worksheet she couldn’t do initially because she couldn’t read the questions.”
- Jess Hutchison, Teaching Assistant, The Bredon Hancock’s Endowed C of E First School
“The ReaderPen encourages independence, raises self-esteem, and enables the children to feel included in the same learning as their peers. It has had a hugely positive impact on not only learning, but also on wellbeing.”
- Mrs Amy Healy, SENCO, Manor Park Primary School
“ReaderPen gives children the confidence they need to achieve. Children had a buzz about reading when using the pen.”
- Mrs Jennifer Goode, SENCO, Fleckney Church of England Primary School
“The ReaderPen increased pupil engagement with reading and the curriculum they found hard to access.
A pupil is now much more engaged in class as they can read their own questions in text and not rely on adults to read for them.”
- Mrs A Dye, SENCO, Hallbrook Primary School
“We loaned a ReaderPen last year and found it had an impact on the child. He found the pen gave him access to text which in the past was difficult and took too long to read.”
- Mr Pete Rose, Headteacher, Colney Heath Junior School
“The ReaderPen has really allowed one of my students to be more independent and feel successful.
"It has enabled one of my children to fully participate with his peers and read faster at a higher level, which currently is no longer a barrier.”
- Sarah Kirkham, SENCO, Willow Farm Primary School
“ReaderPen’s give the children increased confidence. Children are now able to access comprehension activities independently.”
- Bridget Snasdell, SENCO, Ashperton Primary Academy
“I have received the ReaderPen. The whole process of ordering, confirming, delivering, and receiving went perfectly.
"I have tried the ReaderPen for reading in French and it works fine. It was easy to program. It is a gift that I will give to my autistic son who has a severe speech disorder (dyspraxia and dysphasia). I am sure he will be delighted."
- Danielle Martel
“Our son has always struggled with his Dyslexia and auditory processing so much that he relied on symbols and pictures in picture books to read.
We came to the TES SEN show in 2018 and took back a leaflet on Scanning Pens, which he took to school. By the beginning of Year 10 they got it for him, and it has changed his outlook on life. He would never have coped with his GCSEs without it.
He pointed out your stall as soon as we walked in and said, "That pen saved my GSCEs". He went from very low grades to higher ones, allowing him to pass the courses he needed to further his education.
It not only saved his education from being wasted over the last two COVID effected years, but also his mental and emotional health. His confidence has grown greatly.”
– Elisabeth Evans (Mother) & Paul Evans (Son)
“Instant start-up of the device and immediate operation, including by an inexperienced/untrained user.
The reading function is efficient and the text recognition for copy/paste in a file seems fully functional.
It is possible to configure a grip for left-handed or right-handed people.
Use by an independent student should not be a problem.”
- Aix Marseille Académie, Jean-Baptiste Civet, Regional Academic Director of Digital School Technologies
“The two students got used to using this pen and got a clear benefit in terms of autonomy when faced with instructions. The use of the pen with headphones is discreet and perfectly suited to the context of the class group. The performance of the pen is very accurate.
In conclusion, the use of this pen scanner was very positive, for the students who benefited from it and for the teachers, freed from the task of rereading instructions. The college plans to acquire one or two more next year. We are also interested in specifications of this material type by the DANE, if they exist.”
- Académie de Nancy-Metz, Marie-Pierre Brungard, Head of Adapted School Learning
Year 7 Student A
“I like my ReaderPen as it helps me, and my friends always ask me if they can use it, but they can't, it’s mine to help me.”
Year 7 Student B
"I really like my ReaderPen, it helps me with the words I don't get. I didn't have these at my primary school."
Year 9 Student A
"I get on well with the ReaderPen now. I found it hard to start with and it took a while, but now all my teachers know that I use the ReaderPen and they give me worksheets, instead of using the main board to follow them."
Year 9 Student B
"I really like my ReaderPen, I have used it since Year 8. It helps me with all the words I can't read, as I can read but not really big words."
Year 10 Student A
“I spent some time with Assistant SENCO & Access Arrangements Officer and now I can use the ReaderPen. It gives me independence in class, and I don't have to get people to read things to me. I have just used it in my assessments and am glad I had it for the tricky words."
Year 10 Student B
"I have used a ReaderPen for a few years now and it is so much better than having someone read to me. I don't like people sitting next to me who are not my friends. I did lots of practice with the Assistant SENCO & Access Arrangements Officer. I used the ReaderPen in my assessments, and it was really good."
Year 10 Student C
"I didn't want to use a ReaderPen at first as I can read but then when the Assistant SENCO & Access Arrangements Officer said have a go I realised that I was reading the longer words wrong. The pen has made a really big difference in science as the words are really hard to read and they are long. The pen helps me to read words and sentences and I can have it read it again and again, the teacher wouldn't do that."
Year 10 Student D
"I really like my ReaderPen, it gives me the independence to read without having someone stand over me. I used to let another person use it with me and she asked if she could have one. Now we both have one. I tried to have a person read to me, but I didn't like it and they read too quickly, and I need to go back over things, so I can do this without being embarrassed and asking someone.”
- Hailsham Community College (Academy Trust)
“The ReaderPen can support individuals with reading and decoding language difficulties, especially those with dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, low vision, the elderly and others. It can support them with independent reading in their daily life, such as when reading textbooks, newspapers, and labels in English more accurately at their own speed. It also supports care takers and parents of children/adults who are blind or have cerebral palsy, to convert printed stories, and school and college textbooks into a digital format or audio, which can be read aloud by them. The advantage is that the converted text can be stored for future use. The device looks very sleek, is easy to operate and will be very helpful in workplaces for employees such as those in banks, insurance, customer service support, enquiries or helpdesk, and in libraries, for an independent and on demand reading experience.”
- Shankar Subbiah, Assistive Technology & Accessibility Consultant at Leonard Cheshire, Chennai
"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
"One key benefit of the ReaderPen is the scan to text feature onto a word document. Students find this of great benefit in relation to copying key text from books and journals. It also can be a quick way to copy references, which many students find challenging."
"Students also like the portability of the product, as they can be discreetly carried when studying. 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!"
"For both products the ability to change the speak of 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
In my opinion it is ergonomic, helpful for my six, seven and nine year old to scan words quickly so the reading process is not slowed down by them having to stumble upon words and ask for help.This is what I wanted, so I am happy with the pen.
- Caroline, Parent From Wiltshire
Everything arrived yesterday afternoon and I have to be honest I tried it yesterday evening and was very impressed with it. As a practising dyslexic I approach products like this with a very open mind with a view to hopefully being impressed. In this particular case I wasn’t disappointed.
- Edward
Awesome technology is what our 11 year old said about your ReaderPen. Thank you so much for making written content accessible to our son. We are so grateful to you.
- Parent
The two young ladies I trained did so together and they said they were so used to using mobile phones they found the pen like using a simple app. They both felt they could easily set up the pen after being shown just three times and then proceeded to do so. They were level 6 students I believe so next year will be HNC. They were both keen to use it in exams over Texthelp and given the courses they are on are generally paper based, I am thinking it will be easier for the lecturers too. They mentioned feeling conscious of being somewhere else or using a laptop when everyone was writing so felt this was far more discreet as well. It was pure coincidence they both asked to come at the same time so I just went with it, they agreed and bounced of each other talking about why and how they would use it and what it would help them with so it was quite nice.
- Michele Macleod, Fife College, Scotland
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
Harley has been using one of your ReaderPens. He said: It has helped me a lot and meant that I can be more independent, I can do tests faster, I am getting higher marks and it makes me feel better about myself. I would definitely recommend that other children who struggle to read have one, as it makes you feel so much more confident.
- Christobel Cousins, Headteacher, Lilleshall Primary School
"It is certainly a useful tool and both parents and students are happy with how the pen is working."
- Patience Adeji, International School of London, Special needs Coordinator
"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
"My school gave me the pen so I could become more confident. At the start of year 6 I was scared to read in front of everybody else in case I read out a word wrong. So, I used the ReaderPen to help me pronounce the words right so now I feel happy to come to school and read in the mornings."
- Year 6 Student, Yardley Primary School
"We have been demonstrating the ReaderPen on our training events up and down the country. People have been really quite excited about them as they are something you can physically use to read with. This is aiding reading, it’s not reading for you."
- Andrew Whitehouse- People First Education
"I first used the ReaderPen at my college for English, it works better than anything I’ve ever tried before."
- Jade Williams- Dyslexic College Student
“It is a reliable tool for people who have reading problems. It is very handy and in a small size that is easy to carry around. It has multi- languages, which is good having it when travelling”
- Graham Rice, IT Assistive Technician, University of Westminster
“The ReaderPen has served its purpose, as I wanted my child to be independent as far as possible in his reading. With school moving online, and having to submit assignments online, it's a useful tool to help my child in reading the questions and responding independently.”
- Gulshan Thanawalla - Parent
“The pen is useful in the sense that
• It reads out words/sentences aloud
• It has Collins dictionary
• Headphones are included
• Rechargeable battery
• Built in speaker
• Natural sounding text to speech voices are good – Irish and Scottish English
We are using it to read out stories from books. The ReaderPen is useful for older students and adults with dyslexia and reading difficulties.”
- Susan George, Senior Special Educator at MDA
“I am working as a psychologist and doing a PhD in learning disabilities. I have a learning disability. I was using the ReaderPen for a week. Now am trying to get used to the pen to read books. It takes a little time, but regular practice will make it much easier. Now I am planning to introduce the Pen to my students in the clinic who have learning disability.”
- Devanand S - Special Educator and PhD Student
“We do have few students with dyslexia in our school and the ReaderPen has been very useful for them. We might order more in the future. It is a great tool for children with learning challenges.”
-Shruti R. Tank, Clinical Psychologist, Fravashi International Academy, Nashik
“It’s been a total game changer for a pupil with complex needs - developing greater independence and a ‘can do’ attitude.”
- Mary Gillmartin, SENCO, St John XXIII Catholic Primary School
“I have noticed a huge difference in the children's level of independence in class. They are keen to use the pens and it is allowing them to access the curriculum on a much more 'even footing'. Yesterday they completed a maths activity and didn't require any adult support for reading the questions to them. It has been lovely to see their faces light up and realise what they can achieve once the barrier of the mechanical reading has been removed.”
- Inga Falconer, Glaitness School
“A Year 6 child with verbal dyspraxia (with EHCP) and a 1:1 reader/scribe found they did not need or want her 50% of time as the pen read for him, earphones meant others didn't have to hear how much he needed reading for him so he felt more like his peers.”
- Jill Turner, SENCO, Heathlands Academy
“I use the ReaderPen to read most of my work. It helps a lot with spelling and understanding the text. I have used it since year 7 and it has helped a lot.”
- Year 9 student, Priestnall School
ReaderPen 2 - A Scanning Pen Review
As a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand how assistive reading technologies, such as the new version of the scanning pen, can benefit students with reading difficulties. And let me tell you, this little gadget has been nothing short of a game-changer for the students I trialled it with.
One of the standout features of the new scanning pen is its enlarged screen size. No longer will students have to squint and strain their eyes to read small print - this bad boy has a screen that's practically the size of a billboard (okay, maybe not THAT big, but you get the idea). And trust me, for those with vision impairments, this feature alone is worth its weight in gold.
But the audio boost feature is a close second in terms of awesomeness. It ensures that the words being read are crystal clear and easy to understand, which is a huge help for those with hearing impairments or who may struggle to decipher mumbled or unclear speech.
Of course, the real star of the show is the AI text recognition technology. This tech accurately scans and reads even the most complex texts with ease, making it a lifesaver for students who struggle with decoding or comprehending written materials. This reduced the previous issue experienced when I reviewed the pen two years ago using a child's picture book.
With the fast speech options, students can adjust the reading speed to their preference, ensuring that they're able to fully understand and absorb the content.
But let's not forget about the overall improved speed of the pen - this feature allows for faster scanning and reading of texts, which for those students who had previously struggled to learn to control their coordination of scanning, has made a massive difference. The students and teachers where I trialled the pen were practically begging for a fleet of them to be delivered to their classrooms.
In addition to its functional capabilities, the new scanning pen has the potential to greatly improve independence and autonomy in students. In the classroom, the pen can be used to assist with reading assignments and class participation, allowing students to more fully engage with written materials and participate in discussions.
The improved speed of the pen also makes it a valuable tool for exam preparation, allowing students to efficiently access and review written materials.
The new scanning pen has the potential to significantly improve independence and autonomy in students with reading difficulties or visual impairments. Its numerous beneficial features make it a valuable resource in the classroom, during exam preparation, and in daily life.
Aside from all of its impressive features, the new scanning pen remains portable and easy to use. It fits easily in a bag and can be taken on the go, making it an excellent tool for homework and use in general life.
In conclusion, the updated version of the scanning pen has been a game-changer for the students I trialled it with. Its numerous beneficial features have significantly improved their reading abilities and overall reading experience. If you have someone who struggles with reading or has vision impairments, I highly recommend giving this pen a try - it just might change their life (or at least their reading experience).