Based at Westbourne Academy, Ipswich
Areas of expertise: TA deployment and development, SEND
Background and Experience:
With twenty years’ experience as a teaching assistant, and then English HLTA, at Westbourne Academy, I have an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s in education focused on SEND, with specialisms in dyslexia and reading interventions.
I led an IOA evidence-based project, with Unity Research School, delivering the Making Best Use of TAs (MBUTA) programme to secondary schools in Ipswich. As a licenced trainer, I deliver the Maximising the Practice of TAs (MPTA) course to teaching assistants and teachers to develop pupil independence.
I launched the Suffolk TA Network in December 2020 to promote and support the work of teaching assistants across the county through a range of training and networking opportunities. This now has a thriving membership, supporting hundreds of TAs across the county.
I am excited to help schools effectively deploy and develop teaching assistants and support with SEND.