Sundiata

My experience with special educational needs

I have had particular experience working with students that have ADHD, ASD, SLCN and Dyslexia in my previous working positions for over 7 years. I have worked as a tutor working solely with SEN students with EHCPs, not attending mainstream education. I have worked with students during my time as a teacher whereby in my classrooms I work to develop strategies with them that can manage their individual challenges, for example my students with ADHD, be that impulsive, hyperactive, or inattentive. Through high-level training to become a qualified teacher with PGCE (with specialism in research around ADHD in the classroom), I have developed a relationship first approach to supporting all students. I am a firm believer that there us undue stigma around the inability for students to achieve due to SEN, and I work to change that expectation, emphasising that all can achieve with the appropriate support in place.

A bit about me

I am a young professional, a dancer, traveller, sport enthusiast with a crazy interest in brain psychology and learning languages. Born and raised in the UK I have lived in places from home in Uganda, to Spain to Japan and speak all languages as such. I am a sport scientist with a lifelong passion in martial arts, competing at an international level. Professionally I have always worked in education, and look to work with young individuals to whom the mainstream educational setting fails to provide appropriate learning for. As someone who was home-schooled and out of school for my first 13 years of life, I have developed such a big impression of how important individualised learning is to young people. Education is more than grades and for young people to achieve it is paramount that they feel safe with strong relationships with their educators. I have never worked a position that does not involve supporting students with SEN in my 7+ years of educating and I will continue to do so.

My teaching philosophy

Relationships first. This is both my approach from a personal and research based standpoint. My approach is perhaps unique and interpersonal due to my background learning outside of school. One can teach in the most effective ways known in education, with the best techniques, explanations, activities, subject knowledge etc. However, there is no student SEN or not that will learn well if they are not engaged with their learning. The majority of young people's engagement is equivalent to their interest and desire to learn about the subject, but also by the person teaching them. Additionally, all people learn best in completely different ways. Therefore, my approach is founded in getting to know my students personally in a way where they look forward to seeing me, and I am able to bring real-life context based on their interests to their learning, and teach them in the way that they understand. There are over 30 general methods for multiplying numbers for a reason.

Schedule

Tutoring specialisation

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