Employment

• Care worker

• Nanny

• Nursery volunteer/ student

• Nursery Bank Staff

• Nursery Nurse

• Teaching Assistant

• Supply Teacher

• Class Teacher

• Private Tutor

About

Growing up my mum was a Nursery Teacher, I spent most mornings helping her get the rooms ready for the day before going to school. This was my first experience working with children, which eventually led to me studying Maths, English Literature, Art and Psychology at A level in preparation for a career in working with children.

After I finished my A levels I took a year out of my studies and started training and working as a Care Worker. For a year I supported the elderly and disabled people in their homes providing personal care, administering medication, monitoring their health and wellbeing, maintaining records, reporting changes and giving household support. I then went on to study Children and Young People’s Workforce NVQ Level 3 at the City of Bristol College.

As I was studying in college I started volunteering in nurseries. Once I gained my NVQ I got a job in Bank Staffing for a local nursery group which continued through my undergrad, Childhood Studies (BAHons), at the University of the West of England.

Whilst working at the Nursery my job role varied according to who needed cover each day, however, the general job expectations were to keep the children safe, happy and stimulated, provide the parents with feedback on their child’s day, record any developmental goals that were met in the session and report back to the room leader at the end of the day. Occasionally I worked in the preschool teaching the children phonics, mark-making (starting to form letters and linking them to the sounds we learnt in phonics) and numbers (counting, recognising amounts and learning to write and recognise the written numbers).

Once I finished my undergrad I went straight onto my PGCE (5-11). The PGCE had several placement opportunities around Bristol. I got to experience working in some larger schools in the centre of Bristol with 4 form entry and I also worked in a smaller countryside school in South Gloucestershire with only 60 pupils across the whole school. It was great to experience such contrasting schools and it helped me to see where I wanted to teach in the future.

After passing my PGCE I went on to work for an agency for a year whilst figuring out which school I wanted to work in. I gained a lot of experience working as a supply teacher and teaching assistant. I worked all over Bristol working with classes ranging from reception to year 6 and thoroughly enjoyed working with all of them. Whilst doing this I also participated in part-time Steiner and Montessori education training courses to give me a better understanding of holistic approaches to education and differing curriculums offered in the UK.

I gained my first full-time teaching post at a Steiner school I enjoyed the role and the creative approach to education. After working there for a year and a half I decided to apply to university again to continue my studies at Masters level. Unfortunately, we were then hit with the Covid-19 pandemic so my studies were put on hold and I started tutoring from home.

Now having completed my master’s in psychology of education I am working full-time as a tutor, working in groups or one-to-one with children who need support to boost their attainment and confidence.

Over the years I have gained experience working with pupils with ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression, Tourette’s syndrome, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Mutism, physical disabilities, English as an additional language and behavioural struggles. I have completed various training courses throughout my career to help support the children in my care. This includes Team teach training, attachment disorder training, Autism and ADHD awareness and understanding, teaching English as a foreign language, and First aid courses for both adults and children.

Being an avid learner myself I am always looking for new opportunities to develop my education and understanding of the world. Since finishing my master’s I have been learning British Sign Language and I am looking to gain more training. I will also be attending The University of the West of England to do my Doctorate in Education EdD, starting in October 2024.