Wordshark and Numbershark were originally designed to help those with dyslexia and dyscalculia. However, they are now used widely by students of all abilities.
White Space has been supplying software to the education market for many years. It has continually revised and updated its programs to reflect best educational practice and to take into account feedback from users.
Both programs owe much to the advice and support of a great many specialists. In particular, thanks are due to members of the British Dyslexia Association who gave advice and comment in the early development of Wordshark. We are also grateful to the late Dr Bevé Hornsby for allowing us to base certain word lists on those of Alpha to Omega. Finally, the program owes much to the many children, parents, educational psychologists and teachers who have provided suggestions and ideas for improving the programs.
The Company’s stated aim is “To develop innovative, stimulating and flexible computer programs which assist the memory in acquiring literacy and numeracy: both with and without specialist teaching support. In particular to address the perceptual and conceptual difficulties likely to be found in dyslexia."
The programs have been developed jointly by professional computer programmer Roger Burton and practising SEN teacher Ruth Savery.
Roger qualified as a teacher after his degree in Pure Mathematics at Oxford. He ran his own software company in the USA and worked as a consultant for organisations such as IBM and TSB.
Ruth is a qualified teacher and social worker and holds a RSA Diploma for teaching pupils with specific learning difficulties. She continues to work part time as a SEN teacher in a mainstream London school.
White Space is a member of BESA (the British Educational Suppliers Association) and subscribes to their code of practice.
White Space Ltd 45 St. Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RE
Company Reg in England and Wales no. 908615