Solent Dyslexia Services:

My experience as an English teacher and individual support teacher in comprehensive, secondary schools in London and Hampshire has developed my awareness of the issues affecting students with specific learning differences in a mainstream classroom environment.

 

As a private tutor of English, I prepared students from the age of 6 upwards for Common Entrance Examinations, SAT, GCSE and A Level examinations. I understand the ways in which the confidence of the learner must be built in order to successfully undertake examinations.

 

In the FE sector, as a literacy lecturer, I worked with adults to enable development of their literacy skills. My experience of working with learners with specific learning differences across the age ranges has enabled me to develop a real sense of the needs of these learners and the ways in which these needs may be met.

 

Building on my experience and developing my knowledge further, I became specialised in teaching and assessing students of all ages with specific learning differences and have been accredited by the British Dyslexia Association. I am also a member of Patoss (Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

 

Now working in the university sector, I provide study skills tuition to students with specific learning differences, advising on strategies for time management, organisation and motivation; reading and research strategies including accessing electronic and hard copy information; effective note-taking and note-making techniques; decoding strategies including phonics; multisensory learning strategies including colour coding, visualisation and mnemonics; essay planning and writing; presentation planning and delivery; examination and revision techniques/strategies; utilisation of IT/assistive technologies and concept mapping techniques/methods.

 

I also carry out comprehensive education assessments to identify specific learning differences for learners of all ages. Following assessment, I write comprehensive reports to explain the findings of the assessment and make recommendations as to how the learner's needs can be met in the education environment.

 

I am highly sensitive to the needs of each learner and will ensure that reports are as 'accessible' as possible in terms of readability/meaning, and as 'positive' as possible in terms of safeguarding/enhancing the candidate's view of himself/herself as a learner.

 

I really enjoy helping learners to reach their potential and feel privileged to be able to do so.