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ABOUT

​MISSION AND HISTORY

I am an experienced Special Needs Teacher and have started a private practice in the Claremont/Rondebosch area.  I offer private tutoring and also run a tiny Cottage School catering for pupils with Special Needs.  The Cottage School is a member of Pestalozzi Trust as well as the Association for Alternative Education, and offers an integrated studies approach to multisensory learning in order to enable learners to engage with subject matter more effectively.

I have over tweny years' experience with teaching across the curriculum, as well as experience of Special Needs teaching in primary schools in South Africa and secondary schools in the United Kingdom. 

The pupils I have worked with have ranged in age from seven years old to 16.  I have worked with students with a range of learning difficulties, including Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, language delays, ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorders amongst others.  

In my experience, I have found that working 1:1 once or twice a week provides a level of support that often enables students to perform better in class.

During my career I have had additional training in the following areas:

  • Working with children on the Autistic Spectrum

  • Working with children with complex medical problems such as Biliary Atresia, Cerebral Palsy, Leukaemia and more.

  • Understanding and working with children with Specific Learning Difficulties and Dyslexia 

  • Teaching English as a Foreign Language in the Mainstream

  • Teaching Mathematics to Special Needs pupils.

  • Brain Gym 

  • Implementing a Life Skills Course for GCSE Students 

  • Assessing students for Access Arrangments for GCSE and A Level examinations (although I cannot carry out formal assessments that will grant access arrangements in South Africa, my experience allows me to determine whether such arrangements can be pursued.)

For updates on activities or tips please check out facebook page:

My Qualifications:

I hold the following Professional Certifications:

  • Chartered London Teacher

  • Fellow of the College of London Teachers

  • SA Council of Educators Registration

 

My Professional Qualifications:

  • Higher Diploma in Secondary Education (Rhodes)

  • BA Honours (Psychology) (Rhodes)

  • BA in Psychology and Linguistics (Rhodes)

 

Other Training:

  • Education For All: Disability, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Cape Town                          6 week comprehensive overview of Inclusive Education, Disability and Diversity.   2016 (Cape Town).

  • Vera School Autism Course

    6 part comprehensive overview of Autism and strategies to manage learners with Autism in the classroom.   2012-13 (Cape Town).

  • Running the Asdan Youth Award Programe

  • 1 day course on how to teach, compile portfolios and assess the ASDAN Youth Awards programme for Bronze and Silver levels.   2005 (UK).

  • Brain Gym for special needs

    1 day course on using Brain Gym with learners with Special Educational Needs both within the mainstream classroom and in specialist lessons.  2005 (UK).

  • D.I.C.E. Course in teaching the least able pupils in the secondary school

    2 courses in working with the least able pupils within the secondary school classroom – devising strategies to help them access the curriculum. 2002 (UK).

  • E.M.T.A.P. – ESL in the mainstream

    A six part, Melbourne University accredited course on teaching ESL in the mainstream classroom. January to April 2002 (UK).

  • Network Training – Teaching Mathematics to the Weakest Pupils

    A one day course in working with mathematical learning difficulties. 2001 (UK).

  • LONDON DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION

    Four part course on dyslexia in the classroom and  ideas on how to manage it, 2001 (UK).

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