Special Needs and Disabilities
My
route into teaching has been driven by my interest in Neurodiversity. I am
passionate about finding ways to; connect with; to build trusting relationships
with and to empower people, so that they are better able to progress their own
unique learning journeys.
My journey
into Special Needs teaching began in 2010 with, Working Parts, an excellent
training programme for artists working in special schools and my work at Penn Hall
Special School, Wolverhampton, was then featured in Black Country Touring's
Arts Council England funding evaluation video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vycqP9Czimk
Since relocating to South Yorkshire in 2014 I completed a (PGCE) Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Sheffield Hallam University and have gone on to become a Special Needs Teacher working with young people with complex additional needs.
While working on-supply assignments (Sept 2018 - Sept 2020) I worked both as a Teacher and as a Learning Support Assistant in a range of special schools across South Yorkshire.
I have a wealth of experience of working with young people with ASC (Autistic Spectrum Condition). This gained firstly through my two years as Textile Teacher at Brantwood Specialist School, a Steiner inspired special school and part of The Ruskin Mill Trust. Students there have diagnoses of ASC, complex sensory profiles, heighted anxiety and some also with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance).
Building on this initial Autism experience I have completed training via University of Bath, Good Practice in Autism Education and taught on-supply at Robert Ogden School (National Autistic Society).
Since relocating to South Yorkshire in 2014 I completed a (PGCE) Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Sheffield Hallam University and have gone on to become a Special Needs Teacher working with young people with complex additional needs.
While working on-supply assignments (Sept 2018 - Sept 2020) I worked both as a Teacher and as a Learning Support Assistant in a range of special schools across South Yorkshire.
I have a wealth of experience of working with young people with ASC (Autistic Spectrum Condition). This gained firstly through my two years as Textile Teacher at Brantwood Specialist School, a Steiner inspired special school and part of The Ruskin Mill Trust. Students there have diagnoses of ASC, complex sensory profiles, heighted anxiety and some also with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance).
Building on this initial Autism experience I have completed training via University of Bath, Good Practice in Autism Education and taught on-supply at Robert Ogden School (National Autistic Society).
A very special first session while working as part of the teaching team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital
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Decision making and ownership of their individual work is always important.
Decision making and ownership of their individual work is always important.
During my time as Special Needs Teacher at NorthRidge Community
School it was recognised that I have particular strengths in working with young people who are often non-verbal and who also have complex sensory profiles. I was lucky enough to work with the Sensory Occupational Therapist who was in school on a weekly basis.
Working with these students reminded me of my passion to work with people with non neuro-typical interpretations of the world. Previous experience in this area includes working with older people living with Dementia and also working with young people suffering from post operative brain trauma - Sheffield children's Hospital (2019).
I have now built an impressive library of resources for Sensory Stories as I have found them such a fantastic resource when working with young people with complex needs. Everyone loves a story and I believe that a well resourced, planned and presented one is hard to beat!
Working with these students reminded me of my passion to work with people with non neuro-typical interpretations of the world. Previous experience in this area includes working with older people living with Dementia and also working with young people suffering from post operative brain trauma - Sheffield children's Hospital (2019).
I have now built an impressive library of resources for Sensory Stories as I have found them such a fantastic resource when working with young people with complex needs. Everyone loves a story and I believe that a well resourced, planned and presented one is hard to beat!
So many ways to gain interest and increase visual and tactile stimulus into a learning experience
Clean Mud; one of my favourite calming sensory materials
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communication is a major key to independence
communication is a major key to independence