I am a highly experienced and qualified specialist teacher and SENCo from UCL and have 20 years experience in working with children with special educational needs. With an MSc in Psychology of Education, and specialist understanding on what motivates learning and fosters a love for education, children experience bespoke lessons tailored to their individual needs, likes, personalities and voices. Since leaving school and class practice, I have focused exclusively on private tutoring and consultation, and support SEN students using widely-researched, individualised and diverse approaches across all the 4 broad areas of SEN. My years of extensive practice and research in SEN education have helped me develop a deep understanding of the plethora of factors that contribute to a child’s emotional, social, academic and physical development and how to best support them so that they not only meet and master their developmental goals but do so in a highly motivating ways that fosters a true sense of enjoyment in learning.
How I can help:
Specialist support for students with SEN to develop trusting and meaningful relationships:
Through the research I have conducted at UCL on student engagement and relationships, I can bring the most effective tools of connection and collaboration to your child, by carefully considering their needs, interests and voice in bespoke activities rooted in fostering inclusion, connection and friendship. I have additionally used this research to design and implement programs within schools which ensured the cultivation of a welcoming environment for all children with SEN. A key element was that a true sense of belonging was nurtured, that helped students with SEN develop trusting and meaningful relationships. Integral aspects of the programs involved networks and platforms that encouraged and formed strong bonds and open communication with parents, guardians and carers of children with SEN so that they could feel the confidence and ease to share any concerns about their children.
I firmly believe that an essential ingredient in a child’s progress is the trust they build with the people who support them. I am very committed to building bonds with my students that are based on trust and I support them on their learning journeys to believe in their own strengths and abilities. Recognising and appreciating their own potentials and talents is a fundamental stepping stone towards effectively managing SEMH needs and developing the resilience and independence that can help them not only meet their goals but thrive in all areas of their development.
Specialist support for anxiety
I support SEN students in managing anxiety by fostering a secure and empathetic environment where they feel valued and understood. Utilizing personalized strategies and interventions, I assist them in developing coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques tailored to their unique needs. This involves providing sensory tools, establishing structured routines, and encouraging avenues for self-expression and introspection. Collaboration with parents, caregivers, and professionals ensures a comprehensive approach to addressing anxiety and nurturing emotional well-being. Central to my philosophy is empowering children to independently utilize anxiety-soothing techniques and supporting them in acquiring the necessary skills so that they overcome obstacles autonomously. Through cultivating a sense of empowerment and resilience, I guide SEN students towards confidently navigating anxiety across various aspects of their lives, whether academic or everyday situations.
Specialist support for children with ASC and Speech, Language and Communication needs
Many of the tools I use with students that have proven highly effective are in line with the Speech, Language and Communication Framework (SLCF) and include: reduced language demand, social stories and non-verbal communication tools and I ensure continual formative assessment of development. A fundamental component when working specifically with ASC students is managing anxiety and I ensure that children feel safe, in control and empowered within their environment through clear, agreed routines and good rapport. My lesson content is always bespokely planned and structured to provide the sequencing and organisation needed for the individual child with ASC so that they are able to effectively engage with the content and master their learning goals. Using motivating methods and drawing upon your child’s individual interests, I support then in: accessing a broad and interactive curriculum, social understanding and communication, managing change and transition and sensory and information processing. I also ensure that children with ASC develop good knowledge and awareness of their strengths so that they build their self-awareness and develop the self-esteem to reduce frustration and take on new challenges with ease.
Specialist support for students with Dyslexia:
As a qualified SENCO and inclusion specialist I have had the privilege of teaching a great number of students with dyslexia. I use specialist techniques for phonological processing, working memory and processing speed which include: multisensory input, learner choice and control, CCQs, rhyming, zoning and many more. Supporting students by helping them engage with texts using their individual learning style can have profound effects not only on their learning and confidence but on developing the independence needed to thrive in any learning setting. Other key impactful techniques include: text overload prevention and management, extraneous stimuli block-out and audio and video glossaries. A key focus of my work in helping students with dyslexia is supporting them in changing their narrative around it. It has always been intriguing to see how powerful the effects can be when students identify and appreciate that their challenges and individual learning styles can also be their strength.
Specialist support for students with ADD and ADHD:
Over a course of twenty years, I have had the opportunity to engage in extensive professional development on focus and attention and I have supported students in both school and home settings . I use effective techniques such as kinaesthetic and interactive learning and concrete manipulatives to help students not only connect to their learning but find and use their own voice within it. Typically, children facing attention challenges experience anxiety which can affect their memory and processing in all core areas such as maths, reading and writing. An integral part of my teaching practice involves techniques which eliminate anxiety and help children approach their tasks in manageable ways which help them not only reach their outcomes but find joy and excitement in their learning. By using highly effective practices such as: pattern finding, repetition, rhyming, I ensure that all children reach a deep level of understanding of a particular concept so that they can independently build and extend on a topic or task and gain further autonomy in their learning.
Specialist support for working memory, processing, cognition and executive functioning needs:
With extensive experience in distributed practice and spaced learning, both rooted in Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting curve, I specialize in supporting children across key areas such as reading, writing, spelling, numeracy skills, comprehension, and processing difficulties which include: sequencing, inference, working memory, and executive function challenges. I prioritize creating a safe and confident learning environment where children feel empowered to ask questions and foster self-advocacy and pride in their learning journeys. By implementing these methods and emphasizing self-awareness and ownership, children can overcome anxieties associated with their challenges and make significant progress in their educational endeavors. Having conducted a research project at UCL on working memory, processing, cognition and executive functioning needs I can support children in effectively managing their attentional control and provide the most recent methods in cognitive flexibility, processing, and memory compensation.
Expert teaching in secondary English and Maths:
Having provided teacher training on maths mastery, talk for writing and the shape coding method, I can support your child with expert knowledge 0n how to develop their literacy and maths skills so that they gain mastery of their personal goals in these areas. I support students in developing fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills using bespoke methods that both honour the individual child’s strengths and provide strong support for the areas in which they need most development. Having worked as a class teacher, school leader and SENCO in leading and outstanding state and private schools, I am very well versed in the national curriculum and the goals children need to meet so that they excel in all areas of Maths and English.
Challenges with attention and/or fine motor skills can often provoke anxiety and resistance in children which can negatively affect their written expression in both Maths and English. By using techniques which hone students’ attention and motor skills in enjoyable ways, I help soften and remove resistance to written expression in both maths and literacy. Using differentiated methods to develop writing structure and language, I support children in embracing and celebrating their individual learning styles in both of these fundamental areas of the curriculum.
Specialist support in secondary History
I find immense joy in guiding students to appreciate the power of storytelling in their history education. My lessons are crafted with individualized learning styles in mind, aiming to foster lively discussions and debates that illuminate the relevance of historical events in today’s context and inspire critical thinking. I enjoy helping students bridge the gap between the past and present, employing various techniques such as kinaesthetic learning, role play, and art to bring history to life. Integrating technology into my teaching further enriches the learning experience, making it both engaging and pertinent. Witnessing students immerse themselves in historical topics and using the knowledge they acquire to develop their own perspectives and interpretations is very inspiring.
Student confidence and self-esteem coach:
Helping students develop their confidence and self -esteem, lies at the core of all the work I do. A fundamental aspect in supporting children boost their self-esteem is to help them understand that it is very much about being brave and sharing their ideas and truth in whatever way truly expresses them. I ensure that opportunities are continually created in each lesson to allow students to share their stories and experience a positive reaction. Helping children see the enormous benefits of effort as well as the creative power of failure and how we can use that to adjust and innovate, plays a crucial role in building resilience which is the cornerstone to confidence and self-esteem.
My extensive experience providing engaging sessions that foster a love of learning:
My teaching style and philosophy is firmly rooted in the development of children’s innate curiosity. Through activities that are relatable, challenging and motivating I ensure that children’s natural love for learning is nurtured by turning dry activities into engaging experiences. I invest time in getting to know a child’s learning style and tailoring activities so that they are fun, multi-sensory and disruptive to monotonous learning. Activities include: puzzle making, game show quizzes, art approaches, and gaming academic learning to help with digital education. I have 20 years experience in creating learning adventures for children that celebrate education and motivate children into developing their own desire to take deep dives into their learning.
Expertise in fostering student independence:
Independence can have profound effects both on a student’s learning and their general wellbeing in life. It has always been a pleasure and privilege to see my students, as a result of the work that we do, improve their academic performance and increase their motivation and confidence. This boost in self-esteem benefits children both socially and in taking on more varied tasks that help them find a greater sense of belonging in their learning and social environments. The techniques I use include: scaffolded questioning to promote problem-solving, offering choice in activities to encourage accountability and connection to the work, reflection and building a collaborative rapport.
