Experienced Support Worker/Educator
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Having worked for over 20 years with children and young people who have faced challenges, I am in no doubt that being in a supportive role is what I want to do and is where my strengths lie. I started as a Pupil Support Assistant in mainstream primary schools, supporting a range of additional needs in children from nursery to P7. When my own two children left home, I was able to apply for teacher training, gained a place at Edinburgh University and graduated in 2019.
Following a probationary period as class teacher in a mainstream school, I joined Harmeny Education Trust, a residential school for children with complex emotional, social and behavioural needs, where I currently work as a Social Educator. In all of my roles to date I have been afforded the opportunity to access a wide range of training: courses include child development, assessment and planning, attachment theory, trauma-informed practice, additional needs, solution-focused practice, parental substance misuse and child protection. I enjoy being part of a team for whom the young person's needs are at the centre, and have developed the communication skills to be able to do this effectively.
While I love working at Harmeny, my circumstances are changing and I am looking for a new challenge.
Social Educator - Harmeny Education Trust - Edinburgh
(2021-08)
I currently work with children between 5 and 8 years, partly within the classroom environment and partly out-with. The role involves my planning and delivering one-to-one or small group activities, based on the specific social, emotional and educational needs of individuals, with a view to each fulfilling their potential. I work as part of the classroom team which includes the Class Teacher, an Education Support Worker, Learning Support Teacher, Music and Art teachers, Outdoor Education Team and various other individuals supporting our children. Working to specific individualised targets, we follow the Curriculum for Excellence framework and deliver lessons which take into account the individual challenges each child faces, planning achievable goals to foster self-esteem and success.
Educator I also provide a link between home and school, communicating regularly with care staff who look after our children in their on-site homes. On occasion I communicate with family members, foster carers, and external agencies. I plan around the child's individual needs, identified in assessments based on Harmeny's Resilience Matrix. Activities include play-based educational tasks, off-s
Adult Literacies Volunteer Support Worker - Community Education, Langlee, Galashiels - Galashiels, Scottish Borders
(2020-02 - 2022-11)
In line with my ITALL qualification, I supported adult learners in literacy and numeracy, according to their individual needs. Topics included fractions, punctuation, spelling and imaginative writing. In this role I was able to apply communication and relationship-building skills, as well as my prior learning in education and support work.
Class Teacher - Philiphaugh Community School - Selkirk
(2019-08 - 2022-11)
Having successfully completed the Post Graduate Diploma in Education at Edinburgh University, I was placed at Philiphaugh Community School where I was responsible for a class of 23 children in a mainstream setting. I was able to apply my learning around child development, Curriculum for Excellence, planning and assessment and the theories around teaching and learning. It also gave me valuable experience of working in partnership with colleagues, parents and outside agencies, as well as children with a variety of needs.
Education Support Worker - Harmeny Education Trust - Edinburgh
(2020-08 - 2021-10)
I took the role of ESW at Harmeny to gain experience in a Residential Care setting, supporting children who had experienced trauma, and in so doing, extended my knowledge, understanding and skills in this complex field. My prior work experience, together with my teacher training, as well as a passion for supporting vulnerable children, meant I strongly believed I had something to offer in this more specialised role. Duties and responsibilities included
Additional Needs Assistant - Burgh Primary School - Galashiels
(2001-10 - 2018-08)
As an Additional Needs Assistant, I supported children in accessing the curriculum and promoted a positive school experience - educationally, socially and emotionally. Working with small groups and individuals, I gained an insight into the broad range of difficulties which can pose a barrier to learning. These include hearing impairment, ADHD and ASD; Kabuki Syndrome (resulting in physical, learning and behavioural difficulties); language, social and emotional needs (e.g. supporting Syrian refugees), and more general difficulties in literacy and numeracy.
School in-service days and Continued Professional Development courses meant that I was learning all the time. I gained a Professional Development Award in Supported Learning and Additional Needs shortly after joining the school. I also worked on a supply basis at the Enhanced Provision at Langlee Primary School and at the Spectrum Unit at St.
Ronan's Primary School, Innerleithen. I very much enjoyed working in the school environment, alongside a team of adults for whom the child's needs are at the centre.
Full-Time Mother - Scottish Borders - Scottish Borders
(1997-04 - 2001-10)
Motherhood allowed me to develop skills and knowledge around the needs of a child, which I have been able to transfer to my current and previous roles supporting children. While some aspects of motherhood came naturally, it was an ongoing learning process and a role I wanted to fulfil to the best of my ability. I developed skills such as effective listening, communicating in an age-appropriate way, supporting routines and encouraging self-development and, where appropriate, independence; I provided the nurture required to foster self-esteem and self-belief, as well as guidance in how to play with others, to share and to demonstrate empathy.
I tried to imbue in my own children the value of education, as well as a sense of personal responsibility. I became a single mother when my children were very young (4 and 7) which brought with it its own challenges. I developed excellent communication skills, regularly communicating with school, extra-curricular clubs, other mothers, and other children, as well as effective time-management, the skills required to run a household effectively, and 'working under pressure'.
Our personal circumstances were at times challenging, but I believe such c
Travelled and worked abroad - Various
(1996-05 - 1996-12)
Jobs included waitressing in Greece and working in a tulip bulb factory in Holland.
Desktop Publisher - Scottish Borders Council - St Boswells
(1990-10 - 1996-05)
Within the printing department I was responsible for typesetting and designing in-house published material including letterheads, business cards, complex financial forms and council tax leaflets. Besides desktop publishing skills, the role required me to communicate regularly and effectively with clients, use my initiative and work to tight deadlines.
Graphics Operator/Proofreader - Lyle Publications - Selkirk
(1990-07 - 1990-10)
In this role I enhanced and developed photographs of antiques and proofread copy for a small company publishing annual reference books in this field.
Education (Primary Teaching) - Primary Teaching - The University of Edinburgh (2018-08 - 2019-07)
BA Hons (1st) - Literature - Open University (2011-06 - 2016-06)
Introductory Training in Adult Literacies Learning - Adult Literacies - Langlee Community Education Centre (2007-04 - 2007-06)
Diploma - Book and Periodical Publishing - Napier Polytechnic (now University) (1987-10 - 1990-06)
