Sean P

About me, my expertise, qualifications and SEND experience

I am a qualified Teacher of deaf/HI children with 8 years of experience in primary and secondary Education. I hold a PGDip in deaf education, QTS and I have an NVQ Level 4 qualification in British Sign Language (BSL).  I have supported learners of varying needs, known as deaf+, during my time in a specialist provision for deaf learners.  My varied profile that incorporates lots of different skills makes me ideally placed to work with a variety of children with different SEND needs.

How I teach students with SEND

I always consider the best interests of the child and follow child centred ideologies from the UN Convention and the Lundy Model.  Developing positive relationships with a learner is key to recognising their interests, strengths and areas of development.  I am patient and allow learners to learn at their own pace whilst also challenging them to develop their skills and abilities further.  I try to link learning to real life experiences for the learner where they can demonstrate their understanding and widen their curiosities.  Learning should be fun and I want my learners to look forward to their tutoring sessions and to develop into becoming a lifelong learner.   

How I teach Maths

I have extensive experience of teaching maths to SEND learners.  I approach maths by observing how the learner likes to complete tasks.  This may be through wishing to complete tasks independently or by engaging in practical activities, such as playing maths games and making use of media, to support understanding.    

Practical hands-on activities relevant to real life can be an excellent way to bring Math to life for the learner. Budgeting and planning a meal incorporate themes like estimation and bookkeeping strategies.  It can easily translate into percentages, fractions, and decimals, encompassing a wide area of maths, but using just one example.

How I teach English

I like to focus on learning English through books that meet and challenge their ability levels.  These books often have fun and humorous stories that engage learners and motivate them to want to read on.  Finding out about the learner’s interests helps me to select books that will support engagements.  I find pictorial representations very helpful, mainly when children are presented with abstract ideas. Writing stories with solid characters, an exciting plot, and good structure helps illustrate an abstract idea. In addition, having a word count per paragraph helps children write the required amount for each section of the story.  I also engage learners by getting them to summarise books by completing comic strips.  Using media sources is also a good way of supporting learners to develop a good understanding of the reading content.

How I help students communicate

Some of the strategies I utilise when working with students who need their confidence boosted include working at the child’s pace, displaying a positive attitude, showing respect, and giving the child the freedom to choose and control activity. I enjoy interaction with learners and work with them to develop their speech and language through games and reading activities. 

How I help students engage with learning

I like to engage learners by finding out about their interests and what motivates them.  I build positive relationships with learners by considering what they enjoy doing and plan and deliver my lessons around this.  I also have a passion for teaching and the subjects I deliver so my enthusiasm is passed on to my learners.

How I make lessons fun

I like to use a play-based approach to instil a lifelong love of learning. Making lessons fun and engaging ensures sustained motivation and builds resilience. I love the subjects I teach and know how to make them come alive for my pupils.

How I help students with focus, attention and emotional regulation

I have over eight years of experience working with students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Establishing a meaningful and trusting relationship with the student, family, and other professionals is critical. One strategy I use to support children with focus and concentration difficulties is going over prior lesson content and reinforcing learning.