James

I am a newly qualified teacher who is passionate about teaching and strongly believes that all children can succeed with the right support and guidance, to this end I aim to provide teaching that not only cultivates academic excellence, but also self confidence. Central to the way I work is a considerate and kind approach and I believe it is vital to build up a rapport with students and understand their unique personality and approach to leaning.

I offer tuition in all primary subjects and having specialised in mathematics I can offer highly effective and empowering tuition in this area. I have a large amount of experience in several different school contexts and, before I qualified, a year working as a Teaching Assistant and Cover Teacher.

When teaching maths I use the Maths Mastery approach that I have received extensive training in. This approach maintains that any child can succeed in mathematics by building a strong conceptual understanding of mathematical processes instead of rote learning. Pupils will build a tool box of skills and hone their reasoning ability which will allow them to confidently tackle all kinds of mathematical problems. Mathematics is a subject that can instil dread in children and adults alike, I however believe that it can be taught in such a way as to inspire excitement and fascination. I have seen the moment pupils realise they can succeed in a subject they never believed they could, this confidence is empowering and can carry them to success in all aspects of learning and indeed wider life.

Availability: I am currently available in the week and in the mornings on the weekend.

Willing to travel: Home Only

Experience: Professional Experience


Student Teacher and Cover Teacher at Allens Croft Primary School : September 2020 - November 2020

When my final placement was cut short because of covid-19 I chose to wait until the autumn term and complete instead of qualifying without the experience that comes with this final extended placement. Thanks to everything I learned in this final placement and the guidance of my mentors I have consolidated my previous skills and improved upon them. I have experience not only planning for and leading the class but also providing one to one and intervention support for pupils. Assessment of pupils understanding is vital for successful learning and when tutoring I take an approach that carefully assesses the pupils needs and misconceptions so that our time is used effectively. After my placement the school hired me as a cover teacher and I continued to teach my class in a full capacity.

Teaching Assistant and Cover Supervisor at Allens Croft Primary School : September 2019 - April 2020

I worked for one term in year six assisting with sats preparation and a second term in year three. Working closely with the class teachers I became practised in effective teamwork and intuiting what they required. In group learning I would support children and used various formative assessment techniques to quickly identify where misconceptions or difficulty lay. I would mark alongside the teacher, helping to identify those who had not grasped the subject and would then lead intervention groups later in the day to ensure all members of the class were confident with the days lessons. Having worked with the lead teacher in this way I am confident in how best to support a lead teacher and employ support staff in the classroom environment.

In year six I led groups aimed at supporting those children in need of additional support with GPS, comprehension and Mathematics. I would plan and mark these mini lessons and adapt them to the specific needs of the pupils in the group. In year three I worked closely alongside a child with english as an additional language. I was responsible for supporting him in lessons and helping him to develop his understanding of english. This has given me a deep understanding of the academic needs of children with EAL but also the emotional struggles and needs that can come alongside that.

I also worked as a dedicated cover teacher for two weeks and then throughout the year on an ad hoc basis. This taught me how to quickly adapt to different classes and lessons. It also allowed me to continue to hone the skills I had acquired during my university degree and placements.

Acting as a TA or teacher it was important I was someone that children can confide in when they had problems or concerns. I dealt with a variety of incidents from extreme examples such as issues at home to relationships problems and bullying. I spent time dealing with children`s concerns, listening, letting them know what I can and can’t do, helping them with the next steps or referring them to the appropriate member of staff. I always aimed to treat pupils with complete respect and believe that this is key to developing a learning environment in which pupils feel safe and confident to participate.

Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education (with a mathematics specialism) at the University of Birmingham : September 2018 - July 2019

I studied the principles of the teaching profession, from positive behavioural management techniques and safeguarding provision to effectively engaging the class and formative or summative assessment techniques. These skills and many more I have honed during the several placements I underwent and can confidently deploy within the classroom. I completed several assignments on teaching English and on the latest mastery techniques within Mathematics which required a deep exploration and understanding