Sarah P

How I teach SEND children and young people

I have always been passionate about developing strong relationships with my students because I believe that this forms the basis from which learning can happen. Having worked as a primary school teacher for many years in inner city London, I have had the responsibility of integrating pupils into my classroom from referral units due to challenging behaviour. I have found the success of these transitions depends upon that relationship; if a student feels like they can trust you, that you want the best for them and you can see the best in them, they will do their best to apply themselves. I found the same is true for one to one tutoring step one for me is to always begin by building a relationship and creating learning tasks which incorporate a pupil’s interests and which aim to build their confidence.

How I teach children and young people with ADHD

When it comes to ADHD, I have found that these students benefit from having clear concise instructions in a structured environment. In my role as an SEND tutor, I have found it extremely important to have patience and empathy while also maintaining high expectations for student achievement. In using multi sensory, hands on tasks, I am able to support students with ADHD to stay on task and remain focussed and engaged. I find breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks, using visual aids as well as taking regular movement breaks helps with grounding and refocusing.

How I teach children and young people with autism

I have extensive experience working with children with autism. I understand the unique challenges these students face, including difficulties with social interaction and communication. I have found that creating a predictable routine and a safe, comfortable learning environment can help these students thrive. In my roles as a Primary School Teacher, a Senior Lecturer in Education and a SEND tutor, I have always been dedicated to building positive relationships with each of my students and their families. I have found that once a student feels that they can trust you, that you can see their potential and that together you are a team, they are motivated to learn.

It is always important for me to take the time to understand a pupil’s strengths and challenges, their knowledge and understanding of key concepts as well as understanding their level of need for sensory input.This enables me to plan effectively; to build on progress and ensure that learning is consolidated. I have found using reduced language, offering additional time for processing as well as using hands on resources and learning activities which have a real life context ensures pupils have the best chance to succeed.

How I teach children with Pathological Demand Avidance (PDA)

I have worked with many pupils who have a PDA profile which has given me time to hone my skills to be able to minimise anxieties and to disguise demands. I have found by offering simple choices during learning experiences allows pupils to have control and ownership over their learning experiences which can remove some of the barriers a pupil may face as a result of their anxieties. I find being flexible and creative in the ways a pupil can learn as well as record their learning ensures that learning remains personalised and motivating.

My experience as holistic sleep coach

I am also a certified holistic sleep coach and in this role I support families to use a range of responsive strategies (so not leaving your child to cry) which enable children to fall asleep feeling safe and secure. This is what ultimately leads them to being able to self settle during the night and sleep independently. Many people have difficulties with sleep at some point in their life but for those who are autistic, sleeping can be particularly challenging. I have found analsying the child’s individual sleep needs in detail, and then creating a consistent bedtime routine (with visuals) along with teaching sleep behaviours which support these particular sleep needs and any sensory sensitivities makes a huge difference to sleep.