Date:     Monday 12th October 2026
Time:     7.00 - 8.30 pm
Venue:  Online via Zoom

Target Audience: Primary School teachers working in special classes and special schools & SET teachers

This webinar will provide an overview of the Edmark Reading Programme, which is designed to support literacy development for children with additional needs. This is an updated version of courses previously offered by Laois and Kildare Education Centres. This programme is often recommended for Autistic students or those with a strong visual memory. There is anecdotal evidence that Edmark can be helpful for Gestalt Language Processors and those with potential for hyperlexia.

The course will cover the resources and teaching approaches of Edmark, as well as assessment, planning, and how Edmark can be used in an AEN/SEN setting. Course participants will be given an overview of the contents of the Edmark kit and will receive access to a bank of resources and interactive online games for Edmark.

The course will also provide a very brief overview of Gestalt Language Processing and its potential role in literacy development, particularly in the context of scientific research into how reading develops in the brain. Please note that research into literacy development in Gestalt Language Processors is currently limited so the information provided is based on anecdotal evidence in the education and speech and language communities.

Course attendees will be enabled to:

• Describe the rationale and benefits of the Edmark Reading programme
• Identify students who might benefit from the Edmark Programme
• Become familiar with with the materials and teaching methods of the Edmark Programme
• Develop strategies for implementing the Edmark Programme in an AEN/SET setting
• Explain the main features of Gestalt Language Processing

Bio of Presenter: Nicola O' Lone

Nicola O’Lone has extensive experience supporting children with additional needs in various settings throughout her two decades of teaching. She is currently teaching in the Nurture room in Scoil na Naomh Uilig following three years teaching in an autism class. She has used Edmark extensively and supported colleagues in its use, in addition to developing her own resources to support the teaching of Edmark. Nicola is passionate about inclusive, neurodiversity affirming practice, sensory and emotional regulation, literacy, and playful learning. She has done extensive professional development in the areas of literacy, wellbeing and AEN, which she has brought to her own teaching practice.