Mencap casts a spell over schools with the Weasley twins from Harry Potter!

Tuesday 06 November 2007

Mencap is challenging schools across the UK to join in this year's Spellathon.

Now in its 15th year, Mencap's national sponsored spelling challenge makes spelling fun for children whilst raising awareness of learning disability. It is simple for teachers to organise and ties in with the national curriculum, including literacy and citizenship modules. Pupils can also apply their phonic knowledge to help them and there are new activities and lesson ideas for students with special needs.

This exciting challenge is open to children in mainstream schools, up to the age of 13 (key stage 3), and also to special schools. A Teacher Resource Pack, produced with the Oxford University Press, includes spelling lists for all ages and abilities and activity sheets that are suitable for pupils with a learning disability and of pre-school age. The resource pack is also available in Welsh.

Spellathon is supported by James and Oliver Phelps, the actors who play the mischievous Weasley twins in the Harry Potter films. They comment: "Spellathon is a fun way for children to improve their spelling, whilst at the same time learning about the great work that Mencap does".

Pupils are sponsored per word. 25% of funds raised can be kept by the school. The remaining funds raised by the school will help Mencap continue to support children and adults with a learning disability and their families and carers. The school that raises the most money will receive a special visit from the Weasley twins!(1)

For more information or to register for your free Spellathon Teacher Resource Pack call Mencap on 020 7696 6983, or visit: http://www.mencap.org.uk/spellathon%22%3Ewww.mencap.org.uk/spellathon%3C/a or email: spellathon@mencap.org.uk

ends
(1) James and Oliver Phelps will visit a school in both England and also in Northern Ireland.

• Jpeg images available of James and Oliver Phelps.