Stephen

My Summary

My Experience

I spent 13 years working as a student support worker at St Piers College, Young Epilepsy in Lingfield. During this period, I worked with many young people with complex needs, including epilepsy and autism. Due to my flair for sport and ability to engage young people in sporting activities, I was also promoted to be an unqualified sports teacher. I led a minimum of four sports sessions per week teaching various sports including swimming, archery, trampolining, cricket and golf. Alongside the sporting activities, I was responsible for one-to-one support of students, including administering medication, personal care, supervising lunch, and assisting them in all aspects of their learning.

Prior to working at Young Epilepsy, I gained experience working with younger children with special educational needs as a volunteer teaching assistant at a range of schools, including Ide Hill School, Four Elms Primary School, Penshurst Primary School and Oakley School in Tunbridge Wells. In these voluntary roles, I worked one-to-one with SEN children helping with maths and reading and I also helped deliver sports lessons for larger groups of pupils. It has always been important to me to ensure the sports lessons are adapted so that all children, whatever their abilities, can engage with the session and have fun.

My early career was spent working in agriculture and construction. It was while working on a construction project to renovate the Leonard Cheshire Disability Care Home in Pembury that I was inspired to work with people with special needs. I enjoyed the opportunities to interact with the home's disabled residents and built up a good rapport with a number of them, including some who had problems communicating. Since childhood, I have always enjoyed finding ways to create connection with people who find it hard to communicate, and my experience at the Leonard Cheshire Disability Care Home encouraged me to change careers to work in SEN.

My Qualifications

6 O'Levels including maths and English. STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching - People with Disabilities. Archery GB Instructors Award.

My Availability

I am looking for part-time work, preferably around three hours per day during the week.

My Fees

• Babysitting from £13.00 per hour