Visitors to the show can also check out Texthelp’s (www.texthelp.com) Fluency Tutor tool; new online software to improve oral reading skills in early learners, and the latest version of Read&Write GOLD for Schools.

Designed to help increase engagement and self-sufficiency for learning, Schools Access Software Suite will help SEN learners to develop their creativity and achieve their full potential both inside and outside of the classroom. A major element of the package; Texthelp’s Read&Write GOLD for Schools software, has been designed specifically to address the needs of students with reading and writing difficulties. The software works discreetly in the background on all mainstream Windows applications to assist pupils with their reading, writing and research.

Read&Write GOLD for Schools’ text-to-speech functionality improves comprehension levels and access to the curriculum for students and contains features such as spelling support, a talking dictionary, word prediction, study skills, a translator tool and a fact-mapper that enables users to produce a visual representation of ideas. It encourages independent and inclusive learning while helping all pupils achieve greater access to the curriculum and improves access to Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and Digital Exams.

MindView is a visual study aid tool based on mind-mapping theory that assists students with the research, organisation and planning of projects across the curriculum. MindView’s different layouts allow students of all levels to personalise how they structure information to enhance creativity, clarify thinking and improve memory. The tool’s strong integration with MS Office means that mind maps can be converted to an outline in Word or a PowerPoint presentation with a simple mouse click.

iZoom is an easy-to-use screen magnification and reading package integrated into a single application. Students with a visual impairment can use the tool to enlarge and enhance the appearance of the computer screen to read emails, web pages, word documents, course materials, exams and more.

Texthelp will also be showcasing the new Fluency Tutor tool, the latest online software to improve oral reading skills in early learners. Children as young as five years old can log-on to Fluency Tutor at school or at home and practise their reading. The tool enables learners to listen to passages being read aloud before they record themselves reading and submit assessments to their teacher for marking. Feedback is provided to the pupil through a series of easy to understand graphical displays.

Fluency Tutor also benefits teachers through the provision of an innovative method of developing and assessing the oral reading fluency levels of their class. The software allows teachers to select the right text difficulty level of exercises for each pupil and to monitor a reading running record of their progress. Teachers can evaluate the fluency errors made, words correct per minute score and level of prosody (expression of reading) for every pupil.

Fluency Tutor delivers significant fluency gains for students and also facilitates the provision of targeted individualised instruction. The software has been designed to be fun to use and will provide motivation to improve oral reading skills.

For further information please contact Elaine Emerson, Marketing Manager on Tel: 028 9442 8105, Email: fluency@texthelp.com or visit our Website:  www.texthelp.com/fluencytutor

‘The Big Bang’ feature is certainly going to be a highlight of the show, which has been put on in conjunction with the Science Association, and is designed to make science ‘fashionable’ once again for both teachers and pupils. Hopefully ‘The Big Bang’ will create a real buzz in the exhibition giving school suppliers lots of happy potential customers to talk to.

The show is expected to pull in the region of 15,000 visitors through it’s doors during its 3 day run, and has over 600 exhibitors in attendance.

Interestingly the organisers claim that on average each visitor has £3,988 to spend, accumulating to over £59m, which on the face of it is fantastic news for school suppliers that are showcasing their products and services.

What will be interesting to see is whether the show can still pull the same visitor numbers as it has in previous years, and whether schools are still in a position to spend the same sort of sums they have in the past. With many trade events this year having drops of between 15-25% in visitor numbers, the real test will be whether the guys at Emap have done enough to persuade people to make the trip to The Education Show.

School Furniture Suppliers, C2 Furniture Contracts, which specialises in the turn-key design and creation of working environments in the education sector, will be exhibiting for the first time at the Education Show in 2009.

The company will be showing examples of the many university, college and school projects that it has undertaken.  These include the remodelling of Esher College’s Learning Resource Centre,  the furnishing of three new student accommodation blocks for the University of Sussex, and the redesign and refurbishment of the refectory at Esher College.  C2 will also be launching the Danish-designed Chat-Board^® range of glass magnetic wall-mounted memo boards.

For more information please contact Clive Cookson at the show on 07956 121361 or visit www.c2-contracts.co.uk