Catherine

I have 15 years experience of teaching across all age ranges and abilities. I qualified as a science teacher in 2006 with a PGCE in secondary science after studying a degree in Biology but since then I have also worked in primary schools working with children finding it hard to access the curriculum needing extra support in their learning or helping in speech and language therapies.

I have also tutored alongside my teaching across all subjects and age ranges. I currently teach maths in at Somerset Progressive School where many students have found it difficult to access mainstream learning. Many of my lessons are 1:1 and I have to tailor them to the individual much like tutoring.

I see great progress and success in all my students recently seeing two year 11 students pass linear exams they sat in November. When I first started working with them they were scared of maths! I am calm, patient, happy and dedicated which helps my students become confident in themselves making excellent progress!

Willing to travel: 15 miles

Experience: I began my career in teaching working in a mainstream secondary school across all ability ranges but I formed my best relationships with my students that displayed barriers to learning for a variety of reasons. It is this ability to form positive relationships and trust with disaffected or SEN students that is a great strength of mine and led me to work with children who have behavioural and special educational needs.

In my post as LSA, I undertook a variety of roles across the school showing a range of skills and the ability to work well with different people and my adaptability. I spent time across both key stages from working 1.1 with an ASC pupil in year 1 needing specific work with motor skills and sensory processing to working as a LSA in years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

I have experience in implementing multi-sensory strategies and understand each student has different sensory needs writing sensory stories visual timetables as well as using PECs and Makaton.

I have also tutored children from age 5 –16 in intensive 1:1 sessions which has given me further skills to understand the importance of planning small activities for individuals to meet targets and assessing if they have met those targets as well as next steps to move them further forwards.
In my current role as teacher of Maths I bring a caring attitude and strong understanding of children where behaviour can be challenging. In my role I offer the tools to help a child succeed helping them develop independence in all aspects of life becoming confident in their learning and communicating with others.

All children’s needs are different which may be related to speech, language or communication difficulties. I can use my skills and training to help with these needs.

I am a very calm, patient and caring individual with high expectations of myself and want the best outcome for all the students I work with.
My ability to be able to change a task if it is not working and to think on my feet helps to insure that students succeed and therefore achieve positive outcomes.