About the authors...

Charles Weedon trained as a teacher at Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh, and subsequently gained his MEd (with Distinction) at the University of Edinburgh. He won a research prize from the Scottish Council for Research in Education for his dissertation, The Diagnosis of Writing Skills, before obtaining his Diploma in Special Educational Needs at Moray House.

After five years in the mainstream classroom, teaching English and maths at high schools in Shetland and Fife, Charles followed his growing interest in learning difficulties and special educational needs, going on to become a Principal Teacher of Learning Support in 1984, and gaining his PhD at the Open University with a thesis on Expository Reading in Schools: the nature of pupils' difficulties in learning from text. Recently retired as Head of Learning Support at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, he now works part-time as the school's educational psychologist, while pursuing research into the impact of movement therapies upon learning difficulties, and aspects of nutritional interventions.

Whilst working with his own pupils in school, Charles has also pursued a variety of research and professional development interests, including research into specific learning difficulties in mathematics; devising and delivering an MEd unit on specific learning difficulties (with the Institute of Education, University of Stirling); and developing, diagnostic assessments. Charles was elected to Associate Fellowship of the British Psychological Society in 1997. He is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.

Gavin Reid was a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Studies, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, from 1991 to 2007, and is now a consultant on learning disabilities at the Centre for Child Evaluation and Teaching (CCET) based in Kuwait. His remit at CCET is to take a leading role in the development of initiatives in teacher training, assessment and intervention, with the objectives of removing barriers to inclusion and empowering individuals with learning disabilities to achieve their full potential.

Gavin is also educational psychologist to REACH Learning Center in North Vancouver, Canada, and a visiting professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, where he runs graduate courses in learning disabilities. He is also a director and consultant to the Red Rose School for children with specific learning difficulties in St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, and a trainer with Learning Works International in the UK

He has made over 700 conference and seminar presentations in over 50 countries, and currently has 21 books in print in the fields of dyslexia, literacy, learning styles and motivation and classroom management. He wrote and developed the first Masters course in Specific Learning Difficulties in the UK in 1993, and many of his books are used as course texts in courses throughout the UK and in many other countries. He has been invited to be external examiner at fifteen universities worldwide for PhD candidates and masters courses.

Gavin was a member of the British Dyslexia Association Teacher Training Accreditation Board from 1996 to 2007 and was also overseas patron for the Learning and Behaviour Charitable Trust in New Zealand. He is currently the international consultant for the Canadian Academy of Therapeutic Tutors and is advisor to the Literacy Commission in Scotland .

Rob Long is a Chartered Educational Psychologist who works independently, offering high quality training in schools and colleges to teachers and other professionals who are concerned with children and young adults.

Rob obtained a joint degree in Psychology and Sociology at University of Wales, Cardiff, before qualifying as a teacher. He lectured in Psychology and Sociology at Exeter College for several years before gaining his MEd at Exeter University. He proceeded to work as an Educational Psychologist for Wolverhampton and then Devon Education Authorities. During this time he managed a Primary Behaviour Support Team and also supported Secondary schools in reviewing their behaviour management policies and practice.

Rob’s main area of interest is supporting children who face emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. He is committed to developing, through training and project work, an understanding of these children and providing solutions and practical help to school staff involved with them.

He has written and co-written a range of books to support the work and training that he provides - including the very popular Making Sense of Behaviour and Building Success through Better Behaviour series.

In 2000 Rob Long’s Education Works Ltd was established to provide high quality training, publications and other services aimed at meeting professional needs appropriately and effectively. Rob, in partnership with his wife, believe that their business offers a service and resources to people who are often having to deal with difficult and challenging situations. Further information can be obtained at www.roblong.co.uk

Contact the authors:

Please feed back your own SNAP findings, comments and observations - anything which might inform ongoing research and guide the development of SNAP!
You can send an email to SNAP@hodder.co.uk
Or write to:

Dr Charles Weedon/Dr Gavin Reid/Dr Rob Long
C/o SNAPassessment
Hodder Education
338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BH