Rachel

My experience with special educational needs

I’ve worked in education for eighteen years and I specialise in supporting children and young people with special educational needs. As a qualified SENCO and experienced teacher, I’ve worked with pupils with a wide range of needs, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, PDA, and social, emotional and mental health challenges. Due to my experience as a SENCO, and more recently as a tutor working with primary and secondary young people who are not in full-time education, I am comfortable working with young people with or without an EHCP.

A bit about me

My name is Rachel and I am a mum of three teenagers. My friends and colleagues describe me as grounded, fun, reliable and always willing to listen. I grew up in Texas, and moved to the UK almost thirty years ago. My parents are British and so I have an interesting accent! I love art and creativity and finding out about different places. As a teacher, I was always known by my pupils to be firm, fun and fair. I strongly believe that it is important to celebrate differences and this is what led me into training to be a SENCO. My calm nature means I work well with young people who may have anxiety or neurodivergence which makes it more challenging for them to access areas of learning. I have a good knowledge of all areas of the primary curriculum and am comfortable accessing areas of the secondary curriculum as well.

My teaching philosophy

I take a calm, practical approach to tutoring. Whether your child needs help with a particular subject or support with planning, organisation, or confidence, I build each session around what works best for them. I adapt my teaching style based on how your child learns, and I make sure they feel safe and encouraged to take small steps forward. I am happy to conduct sessions online or in person, as I know each child or young person varies in their preferences. With one pupil I have tutored, we have found that all sessions have to be conducted outdoors as this is how he best engages. With another, I spend my time with her using sensory 'play' to work through anxiety. For some young people, they need support with their homework as they lack the confidence to complete it on their own. I will work with each child's individual needs and plan accordingly.

Schedule

Tutoring specialisation

I’m providing tutoring sessions for students with these educational needs: