My specialist experience working with young people with SEN to develop trusting and meaningful relationships
Having a naturally calm, positive and caring persona has enabled me to develop strong and trusting bonds with all the SEN young people I work with. I work one-to-one online with a young person with SEN and in my current school I teach a specialist SEN group of children. I find creating a strong relationship with the individual child one of the real pleasures of educating children, as it is only in this way that a child can flourish in their learning, which is what I have done successfully throughout my teaching career. From the outset I get to know the young person with whom I am working, talk to them about their interests, understand how they like to learn and then use this information to build personalised learning outcomes for them through activities that they enjoy and in which they see purpose.
My experience working with young people with ASC (autism)
I have extensive experience of working with young people with ASC having taught in over 7 different secondary schools including teaching in secondary schools in Solihull and Birmingham local authorities. Currently I provide one to one tuition to a young person online who has autism and PDA and we have built up an excellent rapport through me developing a strong understanding of his interests (computer games and politics) and then using these to enthuse him in his learning.
My experience working with young people with Anxiety
Providing gentle reassurance and having a naturally calm manner have enabled me to excel in the support of students with Anxiety. I believe in creating a learning environment where a child does not feel under pressure to accomplish tasks in a rigid timeframe and in enabling a young person to direct their own learning through the incorporation of their interests. Currently I work with a young person with PDA (pathological demand avoidance) and he has flourished by being able to lead the learning where my role is to add in key pedagogical opportunities when they arise.
My experience working with young people with learning disabilities
The key to effective working with young people with learning disabilities is the provision of support that enables each young person to be accomplish their goals and be independent. I have had much success in supporting learners who have learning disabilities in the form of visual, physical or hearing impairments. When working with a young person with learning disabilities I advocate the adoption of a calm, supportive and patient approach rooted in a thorough understanding of their learning disability. In this way a young person can flourish, where my role becomes that of a facilitator to enable to them to triumph.
My experience teaching Functional Skills (English and Maths)
In order to teach French and German one must have an extensive and complete understanding of the English language, which is something I possess. When teaching English I am able to use my expertise to explain in a child-friendly, engaging and creative manner the learning content. My A-level in Maths means that I am well-qualified to teach Functional Maths and I am passionate about linking Maths with the wider world as this motivates children, because they can then see the purpose for their learning.
My experience teaching Social Communication and Language skills
As a linguist I have a huge repertoire of skills needed to enable students to build strong social communication and language skills. I see all interactions as opportunities to improve a young person's ability to communicate and I subconsciously teach this by modelling effective communication through the use of tone and visual gestures. Above all I ensure that I understand the young person whom I am teaching by speaking to all adults involved in their care and building upon their knowledge.
My experience teaching Community Support and Outside activities
In my teaching career I have organised a huge number of days out as well as residential trips in the UK and abroad. From visits to the Cologne Christmas market, a trip to the French Opal Coast, a tour of Villa Park, a trip to Disneyland Paris and a student exchange trip to Germany, I have vast experience in the organisation of outside activities and am highly proficient in the completion of all safeguarding documentation, risk assessments and necessary travel arrangements.
My specialist experience providing engaging sessions to inspire a love of learning
Children in my care thoroughly enjoy their learning and are motivated in their lessons. I have a vast array of teaching techniques and ideas. For example, I have used Lego to teach about The Berlin Wall, made jigsaw puzzles to teach meanings of words, used the Quizlet and Kahoot online learning platforms for in-lesson competitions, played netball in French and used Katy Perry's “Firework” song to learn a German verb.
I am passionate about incorporating students personal interests into lessons in order to build up a rapport with them, so that they feel comfortable in their learning environment and so that they can explore new things through the medium of their own interests. Most importantly, though, is the need to quickly change an activity that a child starts to lose interest so that they remain enthused by their learning.
My skills and experience supporting young people to develop their independence.
In order to support a young person in developing their independence it is essential to have a calming approach, which encourages trying and sees all attempts that have not quite gone right as key learning moments. In every session I explain to the young people how they can do a task themselves, then build upon this independence by gradually taking away the support. I model all activities by using the “I do”, “we do”, “you do” methodology.
