© Marie Smith Special Educational Needs 2021
About
A career in special educational needs…
I have been a qualified teacher for 16 years, working in both Early Years
and Primary education with a focus on special educational needs,
disabilities and a specialism in autism and associated conditions.
I have worked as a primary SENCO and most recently as an Assistant
Head teacher for Inclusion and Behaviour and Safety. In this role I was
responsible for co-ordinating SEND support across the school, working as
part of the strategic team in preparation for Ofsted and in collation of
whole school data and in Pupil Progress meetings, completing paperwork
and leading reviews as well as being the school’s Designated Senior
Leader for Child Protection and Designated Teacher for Looked After
Children.
I spent 7 very happy years as a specialist teacher for Walsall’s Early Years
SEN Team working with children birth to five with special educational
needs and disabilities and having responsibility for autism. This was an
exciting and varied role that allowed me to work within schools, the
community and within the family home. I worked closely with families as
they accessed health and education services for the first time and
supported them through the diagnostic process and into school.
I then went on to spend 3 years developing and leading Dudley Local
Authority’s first primary autism base. The base was a wonderful place
where we supported the children to manage their sensory and behaviour
needs and helped them access mainstream school. We used a mix of
autism-specific teaching methods and a creative curriculum with a holistic
approach that included cookery, gardening, sensory play, relaxation and
water play. We had lots of fun out and about in the local area meeting
people and spent time developing social skills by holding celebration
events and leading assemblies and parties for World Autism Day. During
this time I further developed my personal knowledge and skills by
completing a Post Graduate Certificate in autism (children) at
Birmingham University and used the knowledge I gained to design and
create an autism-specific outdoor area in conjunction with Forest Schools
Birmingham, which included an allotment, orchard, circle time area, fire
pit and ‘mini-mountain’, perfect for climbing up and rolling down!!
I now work as an independent SEND consultant delivering high quality,
bespoke training and packages of support within early years settings,
schools and groups within the community with an aim to develop the
capacity of all staff to provide the best support for children with
additional needs in their setting.
My C.V.
As you can well imagine my full C.V. is rather
more detailed than the brief account above.
Should you wish to view my full C.V. you can
download a copy (PDF format) by clicking the
button below.