’Tis the season to be jolly, tra la la la la la la la la!   The theme of the season of goodwill and sharing has continued from last year to this, with Lauren and Emma sharing third place! Only just ahead, Ananya takes second place, but in first place, is Sylvia! Congratulations Sylvia on being our Christmas Champion! Will she be able to hold onto her Santa hat CROWN, or will she be challenged? Wishing all our students and teachers a wonderful Christmas and the best for 2025! The team at KAZ  

Software Updates and Other News Following our last newsletter and many requests from teachers, we have now made entry into the touch typing tournament, automatic. This means less work for teachers. Once a licence is purchased, learners are automatically entered into the tournament. A trophy emblem will appear in the top header bar of their course and all they have to do is 'click' on it to enter and take a test!   The tournament is now in full swing, and schools are entering from everywhere! ’Tis the season to be jolly, tra la la la la la la la la! The theme of the season of goodwill and sharing has continued from last year to this, with Lauren and Emma sharing third place! Only just ahead, Ananya takes second place, but in first place, is Sylvia! Congratulations Sylvia on being our Christmas Champion! Will she be able to hold onto her Santa hat CROWN, or will she be challenged? Wishing all our students and teachers a wonderful Christmas and the best for 2025! The team at KAZ   November 24 Software Updates and Other News   1. We have updated your admin panel for better data and statistical analysis. You can now view and export data, including problematic keys by student or group, allowing easier monitoring of learner progress.  2. We have successfully integrated with a number of partners but should you have any further recommendations, please do not hesitate to get in touch. 3. We maintain strict security across all our courses, platforms and admin panels. If you see anything untoward or out of the ordinary, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. 4. If you have any insights or student achievements you would like us to include in our future newsletters: sherleen@kaz-type.com 5. The new typing tournament has begun!  Administrators, please enrol your students by simply 'clicking' on the red button on your admin panel: Once entered, all pupils will see and then 'click' the 'trophy' symbol at the top of their course for a simple one-touch login to the tournament. All results will display in your admin panel and added to our worldwide tournament. However, you can also use the statistics for an in-school tournament. The tournament is entirely free to enter, and with Pearson introducing digital exams for English, there isn't a better time to get your pupils learning and honing their skills.  It'll serve them well for FE, the workplace and for life. Several teachers/administrators have requested that we make this feature an automatic entry. We will be looking into this shortly - if there are any concerns, please get in touch: info@kaz-type.com Please tag us on social media @KazType   Could YOUR school be the next winners?   ------------------------------------ DofE Awards -Skill Section. We are thrilled to announce that 41 students passed their DofE skills award in the past quarter - Bronze, Silver and Gold. Several students went further and achieved an Ofqual qualification, too! Congratulations to all these students representing schools across the country. Options are available at all levels and accommodate mainstream and learners with SEND: Online Course only or Online Course & Qualification.  Pricing starts from a special discounted price of £30 per pupil (schools administrate) or £90 per pupil (parents purchase - KAZ assessors administrate). An excellent way to learn a life skill and complete the skill section of the DofE.  For more information, please visit:  https://kaz-type.com/duke-of-edinburgh-bronze-silver-gold-award  Well done to student Lara for successfully completing the skill section of her DofE Bronze Award and attaining a Level 1 Ofqual regulated qualification.  "I really enjoyed the course and thought it was easy to follow and a good way of teaching how to touch type. I loved the flexibility, so I could do it when it was convenient and I found it fun to do."       ------------------------------------   National Ofqual Regulated Touch Typing Qualifications (Levels 1 & 2).Developed in partnership with Open Awards. For more information, please visit our website or ring 01926 423424. Please note that some schools are using the results of this qualification to add to their school’s overall 'value-added'. Congratulations to Moon Hall School Reigate, Yesodey and Parmiter's schools on the recent successes of their students. We are thrilled to hear that attaining a touch typing qualification makes such a difference in your learners' confidence. As an ex-Moon Hall student commented:  "I felt the exam went well as I was confident in my ability, but I also liked the way it was a digital exam and I could answer the questions online.  I started learning to touch type in year 6. I find it helpful as I can type without thinking, which means I can concentrate on what I’m trying to say. It’s very helpful in exams as I can type a lot quicker than I can write. " ------------------------------------   KAZ for iPad We are also pleased to confirm that our iPad app is live and available in the Apple store, making it easier than ever to incorporate digital learning into your curriculum.  However, ensure your learners use a docking station or keypad to learn. All results are updated in teachers' admin panels in real time. As the sole provider of software that seamlessly operates across all platforms, including Chromebooks, Laptops, Macs, PC, iPads and SCORM, we ensure a versatile learning experience. (Our download files are used in settings where the internet is unavailable or not allowed, such as in our faith schools or remote areas. Please email for further details.) Thank you for your continued support - The KAZ team    

As we mark ADHD Awareness Month, it’s vital to reflect on strategies, tools and skills that can support individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in their daily lives. One such skill that can make a significant difference is touch-typing. Touch typing, the ability to type without looking at the keyboard, can simultaneously reduce anxiety and promote confidence by enhancing focus, productivity, and efficiency - three key areas that can be challenging for individuals with ADHD. Distractions and difficulty in organizing thoughts can make completing tasks feel overwhelming. Touch typing offers a structured approach to writing, where muscle- memory/automaticity takes over, reducing the cognitive effort required to locate individual keys. This frees up mental space, allowing more attention to be focused on the written content rather than the mechanics of typing. For individuals with ADHD, minimising these minor distractions can improve overall focus. Many individuals with ADHD struggle with impulse control and racing thoughts, often thinking faster than they can write or type. Touch-typing allows for faster typing, helping individuals capture their thoughts and put them into words more efficiently while reducing the frustration of lost ideas. For those with ADHD, maintaining momentum is crucial in preventing distractions. Additionally, the tactile sensation of typing on a keyboard can provide sensory input that helps some individuals with ADHD stay grounded. This feedback loop can act as a form of stimming’ or self-regulation, improving concentration. In educational and work environments, touch-typing can be especially empowering. For students, typing assignments and papers becomes a quicker, more organized process, leaving them with more time to focus on understanding the subject matter. In professional settings, the ability to type fluently can increase productivity and enable individuals to keep pace with their colleagues. In both scenarios, confidence and self-esteem are increased tenfold. Following feedback from assessors, the KAZ course has been thoughtfully adapted to cater to learners with ADHD, amongst other challenges. Its specialised features and the inclusion of word lists, specially chosen to include commonly transposed letters, have had a positive impact on learners learning the skill.  As we celebrate ADHD Awareness Month, let’s highlight touch typing as a simple yet powerful tool that can enhance the lives of those with ADHD, helping them overcome challenges and unlock their full potential.  

The End of 23/24 review   St. Paul’s Girls’ School, London W6 have done it again and retained the trophy.    We are delighted to announce that Michelle has been crowned champion, with a score of 101 WPM and 99% accuracy. (Yes, you’ve read correctly!)   Thank you to all our teachers and pupils for making it such an exciting tournament. You and especially your students are all winners. This year, we had our best-ever number of participants since the tournament began - please help us continue that trend.   Entry is FREE.   Please tag us on social media @KazType     May     As we enter the final month, the same three pupils occupy the top positions!   Michelle, Emily, and Vanessa all now have the same score, with their accuracy being the only thing separating them!      However, Emily and Vanessa are also tied on an accuracy of 95%!      Could it be any closer?     It’s the last month to enter our tournament. Thank you to all our teachers and pupils for making it so exciting. You are all winners.         April    Well done Michelle! You’ve retained the crown for another month.   With just two months to go until the end of another year, will any faster fingers steal the lead?     Welcome to our new schools entering the tournament for the first time. It is so refreshing to see so many new pupils honing their skills         March      Wow, wow and wow!   Students from St. Pauls' have entered the tournament and are not in the mood to relinquish their trophy!   However, will Michelle keep the crown with last month's champion not far behind?   Well done, Michelle, on leading the way.     There are only three months to go, and with digital exams in the pipeline, why not hone those typing skills. It's free to enter, and you may win that trophy!           February         Regina is still top of the leaderboard and is our first-ever leap-year champion!   She’s outstanding but don’t rest on your laurels, Regina, as Leonard and William are very close!     With more schools entering, will it stay the same in March?   Can Regina remain at No. 1, or will we have a new leader?   It really is up to YOU.    Hone your typing skills by entering the tournament; it’s free, and you may just land on the leaderboard!       January          Regina has ended January as she ended 2023!   No. 1   However, with a flurry of new schools entering the tournament and lots of jostling for positions, February is already looking interesting.       Well done to all our pupils and   very well done, Regina, in retaining the crown.         December     With joint places on the leaderboard, it really has been a season of goodwill and sharing to all!   Welcome to 2024.  We wish all our students the best for the year ahead and preparedness for their exams, careers and future. The crown has now changed ownership for January.  Regina has thrown down her gloves and is our New Year leader.  Very well done, Regina. Will she guard her leadership, or will she be challenged?   Happy New Year and best wishes for 2024!         November       There is a first for everything and here is something that has never happened before but is very, very Christmassy! After all, ’tis the season of goodwill to all and one especially for sharing.   First place is being shared by three pupils!   Second place is being shared by two pupils and   Third place is also being shared by two!   Well done Daniel, Zafer and Regina on being our Christmas leaders!     There is no better message to send at this time of year than one of sharing.     We also welcome to the tournament CSET, Kings Academy Binfield, and Beaumont schools and we look forward to highlighting some of your pupils on the leaderboard in the coming months. This year's uptake has been fantastic, with numbers already up on last year.    Entering the tournament encourages pupils to hone and develop their typing skills. It's a skill that can be developed during the holidays and one that, with practise, will get them typing and on the leaderboard!   Who will be our 2024 NEW Year's Champion? Could it be YOU?   Please tag us on social media @KazType             October      Well, the ruthless streak in competitors has resurfaced yet again.    Q. Is there any room for friendship in this competition?  Ans. NO.   Daniel still leads the way, but Fin has ‘touched-typed’ Junming into third!     Come on, everyone, automatise those skills!   Calling all schools, it’s never too early to join the tournament.     Administrators, simply 'click' the red button on your admin panel to automatically enter your pupils into the tournament.    Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.           September 2023   And, we're off!   Well, they do say, 'the early bird…’     Hastings High School have assumed the lead with a flurry of activity! However, ESMS and Benenden are close on their heels.      Although their scores won't count, some teachers are creating excitement and joining in the fun by entering themselves, and creating inter-school competitions.      Come on, pupils, show the teachers!   A new trophy awaits the winning school and, let's not forget… the prestige.        To all our other schools who still need to enroll - administrators, simply 'click' the red button on your admin panel to automatically enter your pupils into the tournament.      Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their sc     reen for a one-touch login to the tournament.         KAZ’s 2023/2024 Touch Typing Tournament   So, another school year begins. What will it bring? A new champion?    YOU decide.   Welcome to all our new schools.   Last year's competition had a record number of tests taken. We hope that the spirit of the competition and the commitment and effort put in by teachers has impressed on pupils that learning can be enjoyable!    Some teachers used the competition as an inter-school tournament. They took part themselves and challenged pupils for the top spot.   Imagine the fun of competing against Sir or Miss. The best part is that by entering the competition pupils don't even realise they're improving their skills! It's a win for the teachers and a win for the pupils.    Learning this skill improves productivity and workflow and allows pupils to focus on planning and creative writing.  As of the end of September, several of our schools are already off the mark and pupil determination to win the tournament is clear!   Come on, teachers, don't wait. Get your pupils learning now. The sooner they start, the sooner they can put their new skill to practise. Once automatised, it'll become as easy as their A, B, C's!     Administrators: Simply ‘click’ the red button in your admin panel to automatically enrol your pupils into the tournament!     Once entered, they simply ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.         Last year’s winners, were St. Paul’s Girls’ School. Well done to Alex who claimed first prize, and well done to Giles Bennett , Deputy Head and Director of Innovation for his continual enthusiasm and encouragement to all 800+ pupils in learning the skill of touch typing.     “In about 1997, my late father bought a CD-ROM from a discount bin at Makro. It was KAZ - Learn To Touch Type in 90 Minutes (PC). At that time, I was a teenager who loved everything to do with computers, so I tried it out and sure enough, within 90 minutes I could touch type. I was convinced!     When I became a teacher, I thought I would like to recreate that same enthusiasm for touch typing in my learners, using the same platform if possible. I was delighted to find a web version of KAZ with options such as audio guidance, different fonts and colour schemes to personalise it for neurodiverse students. We have students with a wide range of SEND (from dyslexia to visual impairment), all of whom are fully supported by the KAZ platform, with a wide range of adaptations embedded within the product.     It might seem odd to focus on touch typing with all the newer technologies we have today. As exciting as voice dictation and other such technologies are, they aren't always perfect. Voice recognition isn't particularly good at dealing with regional dialects and accents. It is not practicable in a traditional working environment, in an office or a school classroom because of the background noise. Touch typing will be a core skill for decades: it is one of the building blocks of digital competence.”   Well done to Alex and St. Paul’s Girls’ School.   There is a first for everything and here is something that has never happened before but is very, very Christmassy! After all, ’tis the season of goodwill to all and one especially for sharing.   Administrators, simply 'click' the red button on your admin panel to automatically enter your pupils into the tournament.    Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.    

Simply download KAZ from the App Store. Use your email address and password to activate.    To use this course correctly, go to Settings, select Keyboard and turn off Auto-Correction and Auto-Capitalisation. All functions work with the touch screen. * When using multiple devices, to ensure results are saved and sync'd correctly, please do not 'log out' of the course when working offline.  

The UK’s leading exhibition dedicated to dyslexia and neurodiversity.   15th to the 16th of March 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham   Come and speak to us and learn about our software.

KAZ are proud to be a sponsor for the upcoming FREE webinar on Tuesday 26th March, 7.30-8.30 pm GMT:   'Dyslexia Uncovered - Ultimate success in the classroom & beyond'.   It will be hosted by Paloma and Andrew from The Invisible Gift, a community dedicated to raising awareness and helping answer questions or concerns you may have on neurodiversity.    Are you curious about dyslexia and how it impacts learning?  This webinar is designed to provide an introduction to dyslexia, shedding light on its challenges and offering valuable insights for educators, parents, and individuals alike.     For FREE signup to the webinar: https://screening4dyslexia.cademy.co.uk/dyslexia-ultimate-success-in-the-classroom-beyond   For free signup and future updates, please join the TIG community.    https://www.theinvisiblegift.com/   This webinar is crafted to equip educators and parents with a wealth of strategies, tips, and tricks to effectively support your students or child both at home and in school.   In this captivating session, our expert speakers, Paloma Forde (a highly experienced SEN Educator and speaker) and Andrew Kitley (Founder of The Invisible Gift, a successful multi-business owner battling severe dyslexia and ADHD), will immerse you in the world of dyslexia. Explore its defining characteristics, debunk common misconceptions, and understand its impact on academic performance. Gain a deeper insight into dyslexia and uncover practical strategies to assist learners with dyslexia on their educational journey. Key highlights of the webinar include: - Unpacking the definition and essential characteristics of dyslexia - Exploring effective teaching methods and adaptations for dyslexic learners - Providing teachers, caregivers, teaching assistants, and parents with practical tips to enhance learning - Sharing success stories and inspiring examples of individuals flourishing with dyslexia Seize this opportunity to expand your knowledge and positively impact the lives of individuals with dyslexia. Register now for our FREE webinar and unlock a treasure trove of insights, tips, tricks, and strategies to support learning for all.

#ATIA2024 We’re excited to be exhibiting at ATIA 2024, Booth 124 January 25–27 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.   Presentation: January 27, 2024  11:55 AM - 12:15 PM EST EDU-95             How touch typing can free the conscious mind and be a powerful medium for learning, literacy, and communication Member/Exhibitor 20-Minute Product Demo Center (PDC) Session Product Demo Center, Central Atrium- Orlando World Center Marriott - Convention Center   January 27, 2024  2:15 PM - 3:15 PM EST  EDU-96             How touch typing can free the conscious mind and be a powerful medium for learning, literacy, and communication Member/Exhibitor 60-Minute Education Breakout Session Grand Ballroom 9- Orlando World Center Marriott - Convention Center   Gather with practitioners, teachers, caregivers, persons with disabilities and more to learn, network and share on the best in assistive technology.   Conference webpage: https://www.atia.org/24conference/   To register:   atia.org/register

After approximately a year and a half of development, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new VI edition, developed with advice and guidance from the Thomas Pocklington Trust.    This edition has been incorporated as a free option in all KAZ courses.   Learning to touch type is considered one of the most beneficial skills for visually impaired and blind individuals, allowing the transfer of thoughts quickly and automatically onto a screen. It provides an invaluable tool and asset for independent learning and communicating.   Learning to touch type at any age can dramatically boost confidence, self-belief and independence. However, teaching learners with visual impairment early can drastically transform their experience at school and in FE/HE, putting them on a more even standing with their sighted peers and opening up new career opportunities.   It is achieving muscle memory and automaticity when touch typing, that increases efficiency and productivity. However and most importantly, learning this skill frees the conscious mind to concentrate on planning, composing, processing and editing, significantly improving the quality of the work produced.   The KAZ course has been designed to work as a stand-alone product or alongside Jaws and other screen readers, SuperNova and other magnifying software/hardware products and captioning software. It has been completely rewritten to cater to VI and blind users.    “We have used and incorporated the most up-to-date technology while developing the course and are thrilled to have finally released this edition, which has been many years in the planning. We are further delighted that Teach Secondary has just awarded the edition first prize, SEND category.”  Sheraleen Braganza, Director of Education & SEND.   “Of all the traditional teaching methods I’ve seen, KAZ offers a unique teaching style that I feel could be more engaging for students learning to touch type. It’s pleasing to see such a comprehensive course out there.” Graham Page – Technology officer, Thomas Pocklington Trust (The Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity that supports blind and partially sighted people with a focus on education, employment and engagement. Their mission is to support visually impaired people of all ages to live the life they want to lead.)   Additionally, the course has just won the Teach Secondary prize for best resource, SEND category 2023. Teach Secondary Judge, Rebecca Leek commented, “This is a product that does what it says it does really well. Adaptations have been well-researched and it will make a difference to so many learners as it is an accessible tool that enables students to develop an invaluable life skill. It is good value for money and has been sensitively developed over time, with consideration of different learners’ needs.”    

KAZ are proud to be a sponsor for the upcoming FREE webinar on Thursday 16th November, 7.30-8.30 pm GMT:   'An Introduction to Dyslexia. Tips, Tricks & Strategies to support learning'.   It will be hosted by Paloma and Andrew from The Invisible Gift, a community dedicated to raising awareness and helping answer questions or concerns you may have on neurodiversity.    Are you curious about dyslexia and how it impacts learning?  This webinar is designed to provide an introduction to dyslexia, shedding light on its challenges and offering valuable insights for educators, parents, and individuals alike.   For FREE signup to the webinar: https://cademy.co.uk/screening4dyslexia/an-introduction-to-dyslexia-tips-tricks-strategies-to-support-learning   For free signup and future updates, please join the TIG community.    https://www.theinvisiblegift.com/