My specialist experience working with young people with SEND to develop trusting and meaningful relationships
With over 18 years of experience and more than 13 years in an SLD school, I specialise in building strong, trusting relationships with young people who have a wide range of additional needs. I understand how essential safety, connection, and consistency are in enabling engagement. I take time to understand each learner’s interests, sensory profile, communication style, and emotional needs so that our sessions start from a place of trust and genuine connection.
My experience working with young people with Speech and Language needs
I have extensive experience supporting learners with a variety of speech, language, and communication needs. I regularly work alongside SaLT teams to implement personalised communication strategies, including the use of ALDs, ACC, Makaton modelling language, simplifying instructions, and embedding communication naturally into activities. My approach prioritises functional communication, helping young people express themselves, make choices, and feel understood.
My experience working with young people with complex and/or medical needs including brain injuries
Throughout my career I have supported learners with complex medical needs. I used to work in the Great Ormond Street School delivering tailored sessions in the school or in the patients ward. I am confident in adapting activities to meet physical, cognitive, and sensory needs while maintaining safety and dignity. My experience includes working closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure that learning is accessible, meaningful, and aligned with therapeutic goals.
My experience working with non-speaking young people
The majority of the learners I taught in my 13+ years in an SLD school were non-speaking, and I currently work a range of non-speaking secondary learners. I am highly experienced in using AAC, visual communication systems, gesture, and object-based referencing to support understanding and expression. I am skilled at attuning to subtle cues, body language, and behaviour as communication, ensuring that every young person has a voice and can participate fully in learning.
My experience developing social communication and language skills
I regularly plan and deliver sessions that build early interaction skills such as shared attention, turn-taking, anticipation, and reciprocal communication. I use motivating, interest-led activities and communication-rich routines to strengthen engagement. My work often focuses on functional language development, emotional expression, choice-making, and interaction within meaningful contexts.
My experience developing confidence and self-esteem
Many of the young people I support have faced significant barriers in education, which can affect their confidence. I work from a strengths-based perspective, providing achievable steps and celebrating small successes that feel genuine and motivating. Whether working academically, socially, or through independence skills, I focus on empowering learners to feel proud, capable, and in control of their progress.
My specialist experience providing engaging sessions to inspire a love of learning
I design highly personalised sessions that draw on each young person’s interests, sensory needs, and communication strengths. Whether using music, movement, sensory exploration, games, real-life tasks, or creative problem-solving, I ensure learning feels enjoyable and meaningful. My goal is to reduce pressure and increase engagement so that learners participate because they want to, not because they feel they have to.
My skills and experience supporting young people to develop their independence
I currently work with secondary learners aged 16–19 on Preparing for Adulthood modules, including communication, self-care, community participation, and functional skills. I break tasks into manageable steps, promote decision-making, and build opportunities for autonomy. My approach supports young people to grow their independence in ways that are realistic, safe, and empowering, whether in daily routines, academic learning, or community-based activities.
1 Review on “Louise”
I shall remember Louise on her first day of tuition coming in with a large pink bag and an equally big smile….. It lit up my daughter’s face. Her engaging style, adapting lessons on the go, making learning fun and creative meant a session passed very quickly. Reassuring my child that she would never tell her off no matter how many times she got it wrong helped with building trust, self-esteem and confidence. Resourceful in finding community places for sessions combining walks as a break an exercise allowed for movement and fresh air which helped a great deal. The outdoor trips were great fun …she even got a packed lunch for both !
Louise is honest and confident in responding to a child’s curiosity in a way they understand, no matter how tricky the question ! And a growing child in the world today can have a lot of questions…many that parents would struggle to answer and teachers might shy away from ! She always says, ‘we should meet children where they are’, and we saw this in practice…her approach and readiness satisfied my child’s curiosity in a nurturing way..
Louise is generous, caring and giving . My daughter not only learned the core subjects, Louise also helped embed deep values through her actions. My daughter has now returned to school, and whilst the tuitions have now come to an end, she reminisces about Louise a lot. She looked forward to every session over the last 4 months …you could expect to hear laughter , giggles and lot of fun. Louise’s boundless energy matched that of my daughter and we could often hear them singing away !
Louise understands children, she gets what is missing and how to help them along their educational journey.
Above all, her daily session feedback sessions are truly a joy to read…we only wish we had found her sooner !