Name: KS1 and KS2 Teaching Assistant
Price: 11.99 GBP
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optimise leadership solutions

London

As a former primary Head Teacher of three substantive posts and one interim headship, I now enjoy my role in providing independent consultancy support and challenge to leaders at all levels in a wide range of context. I am former School Improvement Partner (SIP) across four Local Authority areas, Ofsted and Diocesan Inspector. I am an accedited and experienced leadership coach and employ a coaching approach to much of my work with the school leaders. I have trained many leaders to become effective coaches and facilitated the implementation of a coaching culture in a number of schools. I continue to facilitate and lead the review of Head Teachers’ performance since its introduction in 2001, across many part of the country. I am tuned into the needs of governors with regard to this and offer training to governors who are new to the process. I have assisted the development of governing bodies in many areas of governance. NICKI BELL Former Head Teacher I first became a Head Teacher in January 1995 and was substantive Head Teacher of three schools and an interim Head Teacher of a fourth. Between my last two headships I worked for four years for a national training company in Cambridge that was, at that time, an affiliated centre for the National College. I was responsible for rolling out a number of a national programmes in the East region, including Leading from the Middle. I retired from headship in 2016. My final school was a three-form entry Infant and Nursery School in Birmingham judged by Ofsted to be an outstanding school. We were federated to our adjoining Junior school which was the lead school in a Teaching School Alliance, (TSA) and I was heavily involved in the CPD element of this. My career has offered lots of opportunities to do exciting things. I was a seconded National College Associate for four years supporting school leadership in the West Midlands. I have been lucky enough to write and deliver leadership training in many different places, the two most distant being in the Middle East and China. I now have two roles. I am Director of Primary Education for a Trust for 40% of my time and the rest of my working life is freelance, frequently working with Alistair. We write and deliver training for leaders, at all levels, in primary schools and develop resources to support head teachers with many of the bureaucratic tasks of headship. Alongside this I do a lot of 1-1 support of schools, acting as an Improvement Partner, supporting HT performance management and providing CPD.

exploring choices

Newark

Heather Rushton: Director of Exploring Choices Ltd. Heather has been a teacher, adviser, senior officer with national and international experience. She has extensive experience of working in Children’s Services within the public sector, particularly in Education but also in, partnership working and integrated services. Heather has held very senior positions in schools, local authorities and nationally. Starting working life as a teacher, Heather became a head teacher, adviser, senior adviser and Director for School Improvement. Heather has worked with and for children in areas of high social deprivation, she has a sincere desire to give children the very best start in life. She has worked in large Local Authorities, metropolitan areas and across regions as a Children’s Services Adviser. Her experience includes improving departmental performance, Health, Children’s Social care, Youth and Education. Heather is curious about what is happening in children’s lives and exploring why it has happened. Her skills to evaluate lead to pertinent identification of changes that need to be made to help them easily benefit from education, care or health programmes. Heather has significant experience with SEN, Literacy and Early Years, Prior to becoming an independent consultant Heather lead the national improvement programme with the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes working with 152 Local Authorities, and 64 voluntary agencies, SCIE, RIP, NfER and RIP. As an independent consultant. Heather inspires confidence in individuals, supports staff to see new ways of working and improve outcomes. Picture David Connor has extensive experience of working in Children’s Services within the public sector, particularly in Education but also in commissioning, partnership working and integrated services. David's experience includes over twenty years in teaching including Headships in three schools, university lecturing with a specialism in Early Years education and work in Eastern Europe developing systems and structures for the delivery of effective education. Following his work in schools, David joined a Local Authority advisory service, initially as an adviser for primary education and then as a senior adviser with responsibility for a team of forty advisers and consultants before eventually becoming Chief Adviser for a large Local Authority with over 430 schools. After a spell as Deputy Director of Education, he was promoted to the post of Strategic Deputy Director of Children’s Services with responsibility for departmental planning, evaluation and quality assurance (Education and Social Care), information and data, external partnerships, commissioning – public, private and voluntary sectors, oversight of schools and workforce development. Since 2010, David has worked as an Independent Consultant undertaking commissions for the Centre for Excellence, National Children’s Bureau, National College and Children’s Improvement Board. This has included evaluations of Local Authority structures and services and assessment against the Test of Assurance, support to Local Authorities to develop new systems and structures for Children’s services and school improvement systems, a scoping study for the development of a Knowledge Transfer Centre in Northern Ireland and the provision of support to aspiring leaders in Children’s Services.

springboard4education (uk)

London

Last but not least, attending a UK university means you’ll be able to make connections and develop a high-quality network that can prove very useful when the time comes to look for a job. Besides, the UK is a multicultural society, and as such, you’ll easily be able to meet friends for life. Education Systems in the UK The UK education system can be divided into four distinct levels, and the national curriculum is organised into ‘’key stages’’: Primary education: Students will attend between ages five and age 11 and undertake key stage 1 and 2 with compulsory subjects and tests to assess their English and Maths skills Secondary education: Students will typically be between 11 and 16 years of age, undertake key stages 3 and 4 and work towards taking their GCSE’s. Further education: Students who have completed their secondary education and wish to gain access to university or college must complete further education. They’ll have to obtain qualifications such as A-Levels, BTEC's, or other qualifications based on the type of curriculum they wish to pursue. Higher education: With over 33% of British people entering the higher education level every year, the competition is fierce. A-Levels are the main criteria to get into university. However, there are some entry pathways, such as enrolling for an Access to Higher Education (Access to HE) course. If you’re an international student, you‘ll need to complete the equivalent to the UK’s further education. Note that all four regions of the UK, including Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland, have their own forms of education systems. The main difference pertains to primary and secondary education, where each region has its own qualifications. Higher Education Higher education in the UK offers students multiple options ranging from bachelors and masters to doctoral degrees. As an international student, you can apply for pathway programme in order to improve your English skills while accessing foundation courses to consolidate your basic knowledge in some specific areas before enrolling for university. This will ensure you acquire both the English and academic qualifications you need to get access to better universities. Note that both universities and private institutions offer pathway programs. Undergraduate courses Undergraduate courses are a great way for students to transition to the university level after high-school. Indeed, undertaking an undergraduate course in the UK will provide you with a first-degree level (Bachelor) while allowing you to explore different subjects and better define your preferences. To help you understand the different types of programs you can choose from, we’ve added a table below. Postgraduate studies Postgraduate courses allow students to obtain a postgraduate diploma, a professional degree, a master’s degree, or a doctorate and usually require having a first degree to enter (Bachelor). More specifically, there are four main types of postgraduate degrees: Taught courses: Master’s degrees or postgraduate diplomas Research degrees: PhDs, DPhils, integrated PhDs, and professional doctorates Conversion courses: Certificates and diplomas based on crash courses designed to get you up to speed on a subject you haven’t studied before Professional qualifications: Practical training to enter a specific profession To help you understand the different types of programs you can choose from, we’ve added a table below. Tuition Fees Tuition fees will greatly vary depending on your location, the institution you’re studying at, the study level, the program, and the duration of the program. Normally, the tuition fees range from 10,000GBP to 20000GBP+ per year, depend on the university or college you are going to attend. Students life in the UK The UK includes four different countries, including England, Scotland, North Ireland, and Wales, and is home to 66.65 million inhabitants. A few general facts you should be familiar with when enrolling for a British university: British people like law and order Respect and politeness are expected Punctuality is important Universities and college campuses are non-smoking zones Although the UK is usually safe, travel in a group at night, lock your doors, and avoid leaving your valuables in plain sight Accommodation There are a few different types of accommodation options available when it comes to accommodation for international students depending on your location, your budget, and whether or not your university features halls of residence: Halls of residence Finding accommodation will most likely be one of the first obstacles to tackle as an international student. One of the most popular options for a foreign student who starts the first year of study in the UK is to stay in a hall of residence. Halls of residence are buildings offering small single or shared flats usually provided by universities or colleges to accommodate students. Living in a hall of residence is an excellent way to meet other students as they feature common facilities and communal areas such as canteens, pool tables, or bars. This option is usually cheaper than renting a flat or a house. Private Flats or Houses While choosing to live in a flat or a house is more costly than staying in a hall of residence, this option allows for flexibility as you’ll be able to choose the location you live in. However, choosing to live by yourself might make meeting new people more challenging. According to a study led by the World University Ranking in 2020, the average student rent is £126 per week on average, and the average annual rent cost is £4,914. Note that around 70% of rents include bills. Shared flats Some websites, such as studentspareroom.co.uk or room.go.uk , allow students to research shared houses and shared flat options. Less expensive than renting a private flat, this option will also allow you to meet other people (may they be students or not). It also means you won’t have to consistently stay on the college or university premises. Public Transport The UK is well connected through different types of transport: Trains: Most cities and towns in the UK have a train station. You can plan your journey and book your tickets on thetrainline.com . As a full-time international student under the age of 25, you are eligible for a 30% discounted pass . Coaches: Coaches are a great option if you’re planning to explore the UK as these large buses are designed for long journeys. Buses: Buses are the cheapest way to travel around and are very popular among students. You can use the app city mapper to plan your journey. You can find tickets based on your destination here . Underground: Whether you’re studying in London or just exploring for a couple of days, you’ll most likely use ‘’the tube’’ to travel around. As an international student under the age of 25, you can apply for the 18+ student Oyster card , which will give you access to a 30% discount on fares. Social Life Two great ways to immerse yourself into the UK culture and embrace the local way of life is to learn English and join student clubs or societies. Some campuses, including Loughborough University, Lancaster, or Liverpool Hope, offer great facilities such as spas, gyms, shops, bars, and clubs, which can help you meet other students. The towns and campuses brim with bars, restaurants, and clubs welcoming countless students every night. Going out on the weekends is an integral part of the UK way of life and is a widespread activity among students. Note that, if you’re invited to a house party or for dinner, you’ll be expected to bring something along (dessert if it’s a dinner, for instance, or a drink if it’s a party). Note that the pub culture is embedded in the UK way of life as it’s a way for people to relax and socialise. Although the country is multicultural and international cuisines are an integral part of the UK food scene, Britons have a few specialties you might want to try on a day out with friends. Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, Shepherd’s pie or steak & kidney pudding are some of the British favourites to try. Last but not least, the local sense of humour might surprise you. Indeed, Brits use sarcasm and irony a lot (famous British sense of humour) so make sure you don’t take things to the first degree as they’ll often be teasing you. You can deleted it The UK student visa Cost of Visa The fee for the Tier 4 General Visa is £348. In addition to the general visa fee, you’ll have to pay for the healthcare surcharge up to £470 a year, depending on your location, home country, and the type, of course, you choose to enroll in. The fees for the Short-term Student Visa range currently between £97 for visas up to 6 months and £186 for visas up to 11 months. Healthcare As a Tier 4 student visa holder who is studying in the UK for six months or longer, you will have access to the NHS (the British Healthcare System). If you’re not eligible via your visa, you will need to look into private insurance. Note: For students who apply with SpringBoard4Education in any countries, we help you prepare the necessary documents for your student visa application, as well as other steps in the process, completely free of charge. Work opportunities International students who hold a Tier 4 student visa are allowed to work part-time while studying in the UK. Let’s take a look at the working rights before diving into working options. Working rights If you hold a Tier 4 visa issued for full-time degree-level studies, you’ll be allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during vacations or summer holidays. Your institutions must be listed on the official UKVI Sponsor list and the list of “recognised bodies .” Note that you’re not allowed to work, may it be work placement or work experience, on a Short-term Student Visa. Reinstatement of the two-year post-study work visa In 2019, the UK government announced the reinstatement of the two-year post-study work visa ( Graduate Route ) for international students studying in the UK, starting from September 2020. This will allow international students enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree to be able to work in the UK for up to two years after completing their master’s degree and up to three years after completing their Ph.D. There will be no restrictions regarding the type of work that can be performed by former international students. Sponsorship For international students who wish to find long term work in the UK (up to 5 years), the Tier 2 Visa is the best option. To be eligible for this visa, the first step will be to find an employer who is a licensed sponsor and is willing to hire you. They must also demonstrate that they’ve advertised the role but couldn’t fill it. You’ll find more information on this visa here . Opportunities Working part-time while studying can be a great way to help fund the cost related to your study. It can also be an excellent way for students to develop their work experience and critical employability skills and ultimately increase your chances of being offered a job at the end of your studies. Popular part-time jobs for international students include: Server Bartender Student Ambassador Admin jobs Animal Caretaker Childminder Tutor Retail assistant Customer Service

as mentoring

Ealing Green,

Aeryn Priyanu , Employment Consultant Aeryn has always had an interest in language and communication. Starting her early career in teaching English as a foreign language, she went on to shadow a Speech and Language Therapist and this started her interest in working with people on the autism spectrum. She worked in primary schools as a Learning Support Assistant then moved on to work for the National Autistic Society in a day centre. Aeryn started off as a Support Worker, moving up to become Deputy Manager of the day service. She supported individuals in their daily life and helped them gain work experience and vocational skills. As well as working as a consultant with AS Mentoring, Aeryn works in a college for young people with autism, facilitating individuals with functional and social aspects of life, supporting students to meet their targets and maintain long life independent living skills. Photo of Alan Alan Castellaro, Employment Consultant Alan's interest in Autism began when he attended St Andrew's primary school in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, one of the first schools in the country to teach Autistic children one to one. In 2009 he volunteered on a project for Kith and Kids supporting a young man with Autism and they have remained in regular contact ever since. He then worked for 4 years with Dimensions as an Assistant Service Manager of a residential home for adults with severe physical disabilities and Autism. For the last 4 years he has worked for Ambitious About Autism starting off as a Learning Behaviour Specialist and moving up to become a Learning Support Co-ordinator, and was instrumental in helping set up Ambitious College, London's first College for young adults with Autism. He has a BA Hons in Writing and Publishing and has a rich and varied employment history to draw upon. Photo of Alice Alice Mitra-Hall, Employment Consultant Alice previously worked for The National Autistic Society where she ran a Day Centre and facilitated a weekly social group. During this time Alice supported adults on the spectrum to develop their independent living and social skills, as well as supporting service users to apply for and attend college and work schemes, CV writing and interview practice. Alice has a BA Hons degree in Psychology and has also worked in a number of schools supporting teenagers with autism and has provided specialist individualised support for a family for over 10 years. Photo of Amira Amira Hassan, Employment Consultant Amira has been a mentor at AS Mentoring for 4 years. Amira has a variety of clients for both workplace and job-seeking support. After completing her PhD in Neuroscience from Imperial College London, Amira decided to be involved with AS Mentoring full time and is currently managing the Workshops Programme, overseeing the development and online delivery of workshops and group events throughout the year. Amira is warm and friendly, providing individual, autism-specific support and advice. Photo of Anna Anna Roads, Employment Consultant Anna spent 24 years in the investment management sector, working in sales, marketing, product development and client relationships for a number of blue chip firms including Lazards, Fidelity and Goldman Sachs. She developed successful business relationships with large corporates, consultancies and public sector organisations. In her leadership roles, she also enjoyed coaching and developing careers for younger team members. These are skills and contacts she brings to ASM clients. Over the past 6 years she has developed a number of voluntary roles; relaunched the local NAS branch as Chair (2011-2015), served on a local parents special needs forum (2012-2014), been elected a parent governor at a special needs school and worked as a volunteer mentor on a Research Autism Project. Her focus has been on education and now employment, both as a parent of a young person with ASC and through the influence of autistic colleagues she has served with before. Before joining the City, she gained a law degree from Cambridge University, an MBA from Cranfield Business School and qualified as a solicitor. Photo of Charlotte Charlotte Leighton, Employment Consultant Charlotte specialises in providing workplace support for individuals as well as working with organisations to provide autism specific support and advice. This experience has been honed through her work at ASM and her previous role as an Employment Support worker and trainer at The National Autistic Society. Charlotte has subsequently worked for HAIL in Haringey for two years managing social enterprises staffed entirely of employees with autism and learning disabilities. She has also worked as an Appropriate Adult supporting vulnerable individuals whilst in police custody. For the past ten years Charlotte has confidently designed and delivered social skills groups and workshops for adults with autism. As well as working for ASM she is also employed part-time for Resources for Autism in Barnet managing their adult services. Charlotte is able to support individuals emotionally as well practically as she holds certificates in Person Centered counselling and a diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. David Perkins, Director David was Head of Services at Prospects, the National Autistic Society's specialist employment service, from 2007 – 2013; he left in June 2013 to set up AS Mentoring. He has extensive experience of supporting people with an ASC into employment across the UK and abroad, and of providing a wide range of training, assessment and consultancy services to employers and other organisations in the UK, Europe and the US. He has worked continuously with people with autism since the early 1980s. David has spent the bulk of his working life in the voluntary sector and prior to the NAS spent many years running a group of specialist adventure playgrounds in London for over 1200 disabled children, (some 30% of whom were autistic). He has a BSc (Hons) in Operational Research from Lancaster University. Photo of Emma Emma Hills, Employment Consultant Emma has been teaching psychology and health related subjects to adults since 2009 with the majority of her work focusing on providing social purpose education in the community to hard-to-reach groups, including those with disabilities. Much of her work focuses on supporting learners through transition and has led her to develop herself as a coach as well as an educator. More recently she has found herself key-working with learners with disabilities in a transition college as well as training and supervising the staff who support them. Emma mentors and tutors a diverse range of learners including learners on the autism spectrum in her continuing work in the community. Emma works part-time as an Employment Consultant with ASM and finds her knowledge and experience gained from facilitating community courses such as 'confidence building', 'communication skills' or 'interviewing skills' compliments the role well. She has a BSc Hons Psychology, PG-dip Social research, PGCE in post-compulsory education and is a registered health and social care trainer as well as a full member of the Association for Coaching. Emma is also currently studying for an MA in Education: Culture and Identity, at Goldsmith university. Photo of Eve Eve Riches, Employment Consultant Eve Riches is an employment consultant for AS Mentoring, where she provides one to one support and workshop creation and delivery. Eve has a background in teaching Psychology and has been involved in mentoring for her whole career. She has a lifetime of lived experience of neurodiversity. Outside of ASM, Eve works as a life coach and mentor. Photo of Gurleen Gené Wyrley-Birch, Employment Consultant Gené is committed to raising awareness and understanding of ASC to improve social inclusion, acceptance and understanding; to making a real difference to the lives of people on the autism spectrum and in broader society. Over the past 12 years, while caring for and advocating for her son, Gené has developed an in-depth knowledge and understanding of autism as well as related challenges including ADHD, PDA, Social Communication Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder. She has a creative, positive and flexible approach and is determined to combined her personal and professional experiences to help clients into work and successfully retain their jobs. Throughout her previous roles in both Investment Banking at JP Morgan and UBS Warburg and Commercial Conferencing, Gené had an active role in recruiting, training and mentoring new team members. Gené has worked across many sectors, including Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Defence, Utilities, Aviation and Telecommunication. Gené Holds a BA degree in Industrial & Organisational Sociology and Industrial & Organisational Psychology from the University of Cape Town. Photo of Gurleen Georgia Thursting, Employment Consultant Georgia has worked with autistic adults and children in a variety of settings including education, play and social settings for the past year. As a support worker with Resources for Autism, she continues to support her clients in achieving their personal and work goals and loves to get creative with her approach. Georgia also works for Share Community in Battersea as a music tutor/ therapist, building the confidence of adults through music and artistic expression. She also enjoys planning and delivering online workshops for adults with Autism, focusing on well-being, physical health and emotional expression through music making. Outside of her work in Autism, is a trained musician, singer/ guitarist and enjoys performing at events across the UK. Photo of Gurleen Gurleen Manku, Regional Employment Consultant Gurleen has 18 years' experience of autism. She has a sibling on the spectrum, and has previously worked in primary education for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), and has been a SEN Secondary School Govenor. In 2015 Gurleen volunteered at Autism West Midlands to support adults with autism to find employment. She then worked for Enable, Shropshire Council as a Job Coach in various workplaces supporting adults with autism and learning disabilities. Gurleen is highly experienced in delivering Pre-employment support, mentoring and Workplace support at AS Mentoring across the West Midlands since 2015. Gurleen holds a BSc in Business Psychology and is a member of the British Psychological Society, within the Division of Occupational Psychology. She has also completed her Masters in Occupational Psychology. Photo of Gurleen Mahlia Amatina, Employment Consultant Diagnosed with autism as an adult, Mahlia has first-hand experience of the challenges that can arise from a range of workplace settings, but more importantly; how to overcome these. Outside of AS Mentoring, Mahlia works as a visual artist, where she raises awareness and understanding of neurodiversity through different art forms. With a special interest in autism and work, Mahlia is keen to combine lived workplace experience with her mentoring skills as an employment consultant to support clients. Photo of Helen Mark Blake, Employment Consultant Mark has a broad range of experience across social care with several client groups and in varied settings. Following an arts degree he spent a couple of years on voluntary projects with disabled adults living independently, and with homeless men in an emergency night shelter in central London with subsequent paid roles including community support work with disabled adults moving back into the community following long periods in residential hospitals. Mark has also spent time as a residential care worker in adolescent residential units. The last 30 years has seen a focus on Adults and Children with Disabilities in a both a Day Service and Residential Home setting. As a Manager of services in these fields Mark has increasingly focused his support to children and adults on the autistic spectrum and has become keenly aware of the challenges faced by them and their families in achieving independence and realizing their potential. It is this interest that has led to an involvement in a mentoring role with AS mentoring and employment. Photo of Helen Mike Leat, Employment Consultant Mike comes from a background in advocacy, design and communication. Through his own business he previously ran an Easy Read design service which employed people with a learning disability and autism. In 2015 he co-produced a DVD on Autism and Mental Health for the Autism Partnership Board in Surrey. Mike previously worked for The National Autistic Society Assist service providing one to one support/mentoring sessions, and facilitating social and support groups for autistic adults. After completing an undergraduate module in autism with The Open University, Mike went on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Autism and Asperger syndrome. Mike also works with a project called ‘Autism by Experience’ which is a team of mostly autistic adults providing Understanding Autism training to staff in a variety of roles including health and social care. Photo of Laura Lauren Moore, Employment Consultant Lauren has a number of years experience of supporting people with autism as well as additional needs. Her main influence for working with people on the spectrum is her younger sibling who was diagnosed with autism at a young age. Over the past decade she has worked in a school specifically of young people with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, starting as a Teaching Assistant and then working as the Intervention Co-ordinator for the secondary department. Lauren also worked in a specialist autism college as a Learning and Behaviour Specialist, moving up to become a Learning Support Co-ordinator. She studied History at undergraduate level and has more recently graduated with a Masters in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in July 2018. Photo of Rachel Rachel Pearson, Senior Regional Employment Consultant Following a successful 13-year career in the City Rachel moved into HR and Business Consultancy specialising in organisation restructuring projects involving (often large scale) job review, recruitment and redundancy programmes. She has extensive experience of working with SME employers and large organisations in the public and private sectors around all aspects of the employment relationship. Rachel previously volunteered with the National Autistic Society's Prospects Team and she now works as an employment consultant specialising in supporting people with an ASC to find and retain work. She also works with the NAS's Employment Training and Adult Services Teams supporting students and employees, and providing advice and guidance to employers. With a close family member on the autistic spectrum, Rachel also volunteers with her local NAS branch in Surrey. She holds an MSc in Human Resource Management and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. Photo of Siobhan Siobhan Pauley, Employment Consultant Siobhan has first-hand experience of supporting someone with Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD as her son has moved through various life transitions, experiencing the hurdles faced by people on the autistic spectrum. She spent 30 years working within Human Resources of a large financial institution attaining her MCIPD status, where she became the company’s Reasonable Adjustment Officer. It was her responsibility to ensure that employees with disabilities were able to receive the right workplace accommodations to enable them to access various roles in the company. This has given her considerable insight to enable her to support our clients. Following a career move, Siobhan is setting up AS Mentoring services in and around Poole, Dorset- as well as working part time to support an individual with profound learning difficulties within an independent living service.