Rachel

My experience with special educational needs

I have been a secondary Maths teacher for 20 years, supporting young people with a wide range of additional needs. My experience includes senior leadership for behaviour, pastoral leadership, mentoring, mental health support and, most recently, working as an Assistant SENCo, with my SENCo qualification assessment underway. I work closely with individuals to understand their needs, remove barriers and make reasonable adjustments to support access to education. I have completed neurodiversity referrals, developed processes to evidence support and enjoy finding creative, individual solutions. I have developed SEN resources, mentored pupils, delivered staff training and completed CPD in Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and trauma-informed practice. I am committed to inclusive practice and helping every young person feel safe, valued and able to succeed.

A bit about me

I am a people person: empathetic, curious, trustworthy and caring. I enjoy getting to know people, building relationships and understanding what makes them tick. Outside work, I love reading and the outdoors, especially walking, camping and the occasional wild swim. My passion for teaching began during work experience in a secondary school, where I supported a young girl with Down’s syndrome with her writing. Seeing her joy and pride when she wrote her own name for the first time showed me how powerful it is to help someone achieve what they may have thought impossible. I was hooked! Teaching has taught me so much, which I also draw on as a parent to 14-year-old twin boys. At the heart of everything I do is a belief in people and a passion for helping young people discover their strengths, build confidence and find their own path to success.

My teaching philosophy

My approach to teaching and coaching is flexible, clear and simple, with the individual always at the heart of what I do. I love working with young people, getting to know their individual strengths, skills and interests, as well as understanding what motivates and inspires them. I believe every young person should experience a sense of success, regardless of their starting point or ability. My aim is to create a positive and supportive environment where they can develop their skills, build confidence and recognise their own potential, giving them the foundations to thrive in an ever-changing world. I am adaptable and continually learning and developing my own knowledge and skills so that I can best meet the needs of the person in front of me. There is no single approach that works for everyone so for me, effective teaching and coaching is about building strong relationships, understanding the individual and finding the approach that enables them to learn, grow and succeed.

Schedule

Tutoring specialisation

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