A controversial school program that aims to help children with learning difficulties is gaining popularity in Australia, but experts are warning there is no definitive proof that it works. The Arrowsmith Program is already run in 23 schools across the country, and South Australia will this year start a 12-month trial in its first public school. The program is offered by a private, Canada-based company and claims to use neuroplasticity exercises to change children's brains to overcome issues such as dyslexia and dyspraxia, and improve memory and reasoning skills. Key points • School program claims to address learning difficulties • Experts say there's no definitive proof it works • Supporters say they see great results in kids • Researchers say more studies are needed • Some politicians support the program It is an opt-in program, and the $CADS4,500 yearly fee is paid by the parents of participating students.

'This concept of neuroplasticity is so promising. We don't have to live with learning difficulties we once thought were life-long,' said the program's founder, Barbara Arrowsmith-Young, who used similar exercises to overcome her own learning difficulties and has written a book on the subject. The time-intensive program generally requires students to attend four 40-minute sessions each school day for three years. The rest of the time they attend regular classes alongside mainstream students. Ms Arrowsmith-Young recently completed a speaking tour in Australia promoting the program, but as Media Watch recently highlighted, there are questions about whether it even works. So what do the supporters, critics and politicians say; and what research is there on the program? What do the supporters say?

The program is now in its third year at the Holy Trinity Parish Catholic school group in Victoria, and principal Michael Juliff said it was a 'privilege' to be able to offer it. 'We have looked at the 2015, 2016 data for our Arrowsmith children against our mainstream children,' he said. 'And in years 3, 4, 5 our Arrowsmith children have increased at a greater rate than the children in the mainstream classroom.

'So hopefully we can continue to gather that data and convince powers that be that it's something we need to be looking at.' Holy Trinity's pilot includes 30 students, whose exercise data is collected by the school each month and sent to the Arrowsmith group in Canada, which analyses the reports and provides feedback. 'When I talk to parents I [say] it's not a magic bullet,' Mr Juliff said. 'It's a cognitive program, so it's not going to have an immediate effect academically. 'Regularly we get feedback from parents on their reflections and some of them have been astronomical.' Sorry, this video has expired What does the South Australian school say?

Angela Falkenberg is the principal of the Marryatville Primary School, which will offer a 12-month trial this year. She said parents of students had attended a lecture by Ms Arrowsmith-Young and had asked the school to run the program. 'From then on it was a matter of, well, could we, and going through the process of approval (from the state education department), which we now have,' she said.

'I've gone in open-minded and a sceptic. Duniya Banane Wale Kya Tere Mp3 Song Download. I mean, this is parent-driven; parents fought for us to host this.

The Arrowsmith School is a private school in Toronto, Ontario, for children in Grades 1 to 12 with learning disabilities (also referred to as 'specific learning difficulties'). The original Arrowsmith School was founded in Toronto in 1980 by Barbara Arrowsmith Young. A second location was opened in May 2005 in Peterborough, Ontario.