Special School Deputy Head Teacher, Licensed Thrive Practitioner, Advanced Team Teach Tutor

I’ve been in teaching for 18 years, having started in mainstream Secondary Education as a PE Teacher and then Head of PE in a Sports College. After 8 years I moved into Special Education and have worked in Secondary SEMHD, Secondary Generic Special and 2-19 Generic Special Schools, taking on roles such as Head of PE, Head of Maths, SEMH Lead, SLT member and Deputy Head Teacher. I have always built my teaching on sound and productive relationships with pupils and am fully committed and wholeheartedly believe in a relational approach to maximise the life chances of young people.. Like everyone, I have made mistakes along the way and have learnt very much from them. Whilst in Special Education, have embarked upon a journey of research and learning in a wide number of areas. I have a specific passion for child development, a relational approach, trauma informed practices and the impact of ACES, having used these to implement systemic change over the last 3 years, in the special school in which I am currently Deputy Head. I am very committed to work outside of my current setting and spreading the message of why some children are special and the approaches required to make them feel accepted and safe in our often large organisations, whilst maximising their potential, both academically and emotionally.