Helpful Hint for SENDCOs: In addition to the one page pupil profiles/pupil passports, create a small 'to support my learning I need:' card - 8 x 8cm max - with up to 6 of the most useful strategies for that pupil. This can be stuck in the planner and gives the pupil a clear voice!
Thesis on School Inspections
Appendices from thesis - discussions with Daniel Muijs & advice sheet for SLT.
"Hélène was absolutely fantastic when visiting my class. She spoke to a level that the children understood and they all came away having learnt different things and able to use some of the religious vocabulary Hélène had used. The hands on elements of her talk engaged the children, especially the Shofar, with all loving that they managed to get a note, speaking about it for the rest of the day. My class had a great morning, a massive thank you to Hélène for coming in to teach us!" Small Haven School. October 2022
"I liked Helene coming in as I learnt lots and got to see some different things. I really liked the shofar, and the apple and honey." MD – aged 8
"Helene was really nice and made it easy for me to understand. She had lots of stories and things to show us. I really liked the shofar and got better at it each time I tried it. " BNH – aged 11
"It was so lovely to see the children so engaged with Helene, as normally they struggle when out of routine. She adapted to the children in the class and accepted their different needs. Although I was the TA in the class, I also learnt a lot about the Jewish religion, with Helene making it accessible to all and allowing time for questions too. A really lovely morning, thank you." Ki – Teaching assistant
"Thank you for everything, not only did you give me confidence to wear my hearing aids with pride, you have been so helpful with the last two modules, so thank you again and I hope we get to have you again in year "
Victoria, May 2022
"I heard you on the Teachers' podcast. Your insights on living with dyslexia were really useful both professionally and personally." Stella Gentle. January 2021
"I urge everyone to find their own ‘Helene’, someone to encourage, support
and make you feel just like everyone else." Charlotte Golding, Jan 2019
Research
Hélène's Doctoral thesis analyses teachers’ emotional responses to inspection and how they differ according to their setting - state or independent sector?
Bespoke research within your own setting can be key to the success of your school. With experience of researching within the state and independent sector; at Primary and Secondary schools, from Masters to doctoral research projects, we can help your school to grow, effecting successful change. Areas researched include: the impact of inspection on teachers - Ofsted and ISI; effective use of teaching assistants; peer teaching; various aspects of assessment; AG&T provision; writing and implementing effective policy; team teaching; leading and managing change in schools. Research can enhance your school, and we can undertake that research for you.
Contact Hélène for further information and advice about research in your school.
Some research Findings:
There is a strong sense of working together to develop schools at all levels, with this being a two-way process, epitomised by the phrases, “seek out good practice and promote innovation.” and “disseminate good practice” Education Scotland (2011, p.2). It is this proactive, two-way approach that clearly shows the Scottish framework to have constructed a purpose of collaborative leadership.
For TAs to be led and managed effectively there does, ideally, need to be time set aside for dialogue as communication is essential to effective leadership and management.
Finally, it is also vital, as implied by the idea of a moral purpose, that the pupils remain integral to the whole process. Policy in education is about providing what is best for the pupils, thus research and modelling of good practice are crucial. It is also ideal to include pupils and their parents, if possible, at key stages in the process so that their perspectives can be considered when devising policy
