Emily Defries

• Successfully led and supported teaching assistants and individual needs assistants within nurturing, inclusive culture, ensuring all staff felt empowered to contribute to high-quality support for children.
• Collaborated closely with parents, colleagues and external agencies to navigate complex needs and competing priorities, supporting informed decision-making and achieving best outcomes for all learners.
• Promoted inclusion and equality within the classroom, creating a safe, welcoming space where every child felt valued, supported and able to thrive, underpinned by up-to-date safeguarding practice.
• Designed rich, cross-curricular learning experiences incorporating outdoor and nature-based activities to enhance wellbeing, engagement and understanding of the natural world.
• Relationship-building and positive culture: Built strong, trusting relationships with pupils through encouragement, high expectations and genuine interest in their development, supporting personal growth and confidence.

• Completed training in inclusion, neurodiversity, safeguarding, child protection and mental health and wellbeing.
• Provided specialist advisory support to five schools to strengthen inclusive practice, offering guidance, training and practical strategies, including outdoor learning approaches to promote wellbeing and mental health.
• Designed and delivered personalised, nature-based and creative interventions, including sensory garden projects, outdoor learning activities, art therapy, yoga and drama, to support young people’s emotional wellbeing, communication and engagement.
• Worked collaboratively with teachers, families and external agencies, ensuring coordinated support for pupils and contributing to the development of inclusive, wellbeing-focused school environments.
• Demonstrated adaptability, creativity and professional judgement in an advisory capacity, responding effectively to complex situations, supporting staff development and promoting positive, inclusive learning cultures.

Lead Climate Change Teacher & Class Teacher (5 years)

• Combined classroom teaching with a leadership role as Climate Leader, embedding climate change, sustainability and environmental education across the curriculum and school ethos, while driving collaboration with educators and professionals through the Our City, Our World programme.
• Collaborated with Sussex Wildlife Trust and local educators to identify priorities for addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency in schools, supported children to create a beetle bank to take positive action and strengthen biodiversity in our school grounds—featured on CBBC Newsround—and co-organised a twilight professional development session for Brighton & Hove teachers focused on climate and biodiversity action in schools.
• Became a UN Climate Change accredited teacher and led INSET days, staff meetings sessions on carbon literacy, environmental education and effective approaches to teaching climate change.
• Embedded outdoor learning and nature connection across the curriculum, using these approaches to enrich learning and support pupil wellbeing and mental health.
• Led Eco Club, sustainability audits and the 'Green Team' , empowering pupils, staff and the wider community to take practical action to protect and care for the natural environment.

• Promoted inclusion within the classroom, ensuring equal opportunities for all learners.
• Adapted teaching methods for diverse student needs and abilities.
• Participated actively in staff development training programmes and workshops.