Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Timeline
Volunteer

Helen Bourke

Birmingham,West Midlands

Summary

I am currently employed as a level 3 teaching assistant at Bartley Green Secondary School, supporting pupils with additional special needs, including ; social, emotional and behavioural.

I consider myself a passionate Teaching Assistant offering 40 plus-years working with students mainly in a secondary environment. I am skilled in assisting teachers with classroom functions, but I have been responsible for setting my own lesson plans for individual and group intervention, where we cover literacy skills, from the basic phonic skills for lesser abled students to supporting students with exam based work enabling them to gain excellent grades.

I am solely responsible for applying tests and keeping records and then liaising with parents and staff with the information, to help provide the correct support.

I use the Lass literacy screener and the YARC assessment to assess the students, the Lass gives an indication of where the student is struggling with literacy and can show up signs of possible dyslexia, the YARC is used to measure a students comprehension skills. Both of these tests are used to make sure that they are receiving the correct level of intervention and to record progress.

I would class myself as an excellent assistant for students with special educational needs with experience in defining engaging curriculums for the students to complete.

I can use my communication and organisation skills and different methods to teach the subjects I am asked to cover. I am dedicated to motivating, encouraging and maximising full potential to achieve successful results.

I am good with time management, conflict resolution where I can use various strategies to model positive behaviour and maintain classroom discipline.

I have excellent relationship building abilities, recently I have assisted students on their Duke Of Edinburgh expeditions.

I am willing to take part in any in-house or other training that you may wish for me to attend

I would be most grateful if you would please consider me for interview.

Many thanks


Overview

41
41
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Teaching Assistant in Special Educational Needs

Birmingham City Council
Birmingham
04.2007 - Current
  • Worked with students in small groups and 1:1 to provide additional support with activities and lessons, offering constructive feedback and advice to develop literacy skills.
  • Assisted students with a range of learning differences, including ADD, ADHD, and ASPERGERS to achieve their full potential for independence.
  • Prepared additional learning resources and aids to promote inclusivity in learning especially pupils with Dyslexia
  • Provided feedback to students in relation to progress and attainment following instructions from teachers.
  • Monitored students response to learning activities and modified appropriately to achieve intended learning outcomes.
  • Managed and monitored classroom stock and supplies.
  • Provided individual support during examinations.
  • Developed broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum, improving test scores .
  • Supervised students during break times, lunchtimes and after school clubs.
  • Observed children to identify changes in behaviour and reported such changes to classroom teacher.
  • Escorted and supervised students on educational visits and out-of-school activities, including The Duke of Edinburgh award.
  • Took part in school training activities to advance knowledge in working with students with specific learning difficulties.
  • Delivered accelerated reading lessons
  • Supported classroom teacher in monitoring, assessing and recording students progress.
  • Developed broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum.
  • Created a friendly, positive and inspiring learning environment to facilitate interactions amongst students.
  • Identified signs of distress in students, resolving behavioural and emotional issues.
  • Supported teachers in managing challenging student behaviour, contributing to progress meetings to provide feedback, raise concerns and recommend appropriate action.
  • Worked independently delivering literacy lessons, monitoring and recording results.
  • Tested students using LASS SCREENER, YARC.
  • Prepared additional learning resources and aids to promote inclusivity in learning.

Teaching Assistant in Secondary Schools

Birmingham city council
Birmingham
09.1991 - 03.2007
  • Supported Hearing Impaired pupils in mainstream education, using : sign language (BSL), Note taking
  • Identified learning gaps and issues and provided solutions to address needs.
  • Extended assistance to students with learning disabilities or English as second language.
  • Recommended additional materials and resources to improve student skills.
  • Oversaw safety of children, promoting and safeguarding welfare in and outside the classroom.
  • Built strong rapport with students by attending to personal needs, including social, hygiene and welfare matters.
  • Assisted lead teacher to monitor class schedule and breaks.
  • Delivered well-structured one-on-one support sessions to students with learning difficulties to improve test scores.
  • Provided supervision to guarantee safety of students during group activities, events and school trips.
  • Determined achievement of learning goals, providing detailed and regular feedback to teachers on student progress.
  • Supported development of appropriate resources, working with teachers to ensure provision met learning needs.
  • Invigilated tests and exams with excellent planning and procedural knowledge.
  • Set-up equipment and gathered teaching materials to prepare for lessons.
  • Prevented student misbehaviour through constant classroom monitoring and prompt interventions.
  • Managed pupil behaviour to cultivate focused and productive classes.
  • Recorded student progress and informed parents regarding developments.
  • Supervised pupils during lunchtimes and educational visits.
  • Maximised student learning time by providing smooth transitioning support between lessons.

Classroom Assistant

Birmingham Royal Institute for the Blind
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
01.1989 - 07.1991
  • Provided students with personalised educational, behavioural and emotional support through counselling.
  • Enforced appropriate repercussions in cases of student misbehaviour.
  • Encouraged student interaction in group activities, maintaining sensitivity to various special needs requirements.
  • Offered reliable assistance to teachers through administrative support and classroom management.
  • Safeguarded student health and wellbeing within educational settings, taking appropriate action when needed.
  • Ensured individual pupils and groups received additional required support, appropriate to developmental needs.
  • Supervised pupils during lunchtimes and educational visits.
  • Assisted with planning and preparing lessons, evaluating and adjusting teachings to suit student age and capability.
  • Developed and maintained positive, impactful relationships with students, facilitating improved learning outcomes.

Special Education Assistant

Wasley Hills High School
Birmingham
12.1987 - 01.1988
  • Supported pupils in class using BSL sign language, Note taking
  • Assisted students to reach social development milestones.
  • Identified signs of distress in students, resolving behavioural and emotional issues.
  • Monitored students response to learning activities and modified appropriately to achieve intended learning outcomes.
  • Provided feedback to students in relation to progress and attainment following instructions from teachers.
  • Escorted and supervised students on educational visits and out-of-school activities.
  • Supported classroom teacher in monitoring, assessing and recording students progress.
  • Marked students work following directions from class teacher.
  • Worked with students in small groups and 1:1 to provide additional support with activities and lessons, offering constructive feedback and advice to develop [Type] skills.
  • Prepared additional learning resources and aids to promote inclusivity in learning.

Assistant House Mother

Summerfield School for the Hearing Impaired
Malvern Link, Worcestershire
01.1983 - 05.1987
  • Coordinated age-appropriate activities to enhance learning development, including art, music and physical pursuits.
  • Managed and administered medications and minor first aid treatments, prioritising child safety and wellbeing.
  • Conducted risk assessments for activities to uphold Health and Safety.
  • Prepared nutritious meals and snacks, carefully adhering to individual dietary requirements and portioning standards.
  • Communicated daily observations with guardians, maintaining detailed development records.
  • Established rapport with families and delivered comprehensive progress reports.
  • Used phonics to build reading and writing skills.
  • Implemented Safeguarding Procedures to monitor and protect children.

Education

GCSEs -

Waseley Hills High School
Birmingham
09.1976 - 07.1980

Preliminary Certificate In Social Care -

North Worcestershire College
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
09.1980 - 07.1982

Mentoring training course LEVELS 1 & 2 -

Bournville College
Birmingham
02.2005 - 02.2006

Supporting teaching and learning in schools - Child Care

Bournville College
Birmingham
10.2010 - 06.2011

Skills

  • Dyslexia expertise
  • Inclusive learning practices
  • Special educational needs communication
  • Classroom management support
  • Early intervention techniques
  • Differentiated instruction
  • Behaviour management strategies
  • Individual learning support
  • Special education support
  • Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) compliance
  • Group learning support

Timeline

Supporting teaching and learning in schools - Child Care

Bournville College
10.2010 - 06.2011

Teaching Assistant in Special Educational Needs

Birmingham City Council
04.2007 - Current

Mentoring training course LEVELS 1 & 2 -

Bournville College
02.2005 - 02.2006

Teaching Assistant in Secondary Schools

Birmingham city council
09.1991 - 03.2007

Classroom Assistant

Birmingham Royal Institute for the Blind
01.1989 - 07.1991

Special Education Assistant

Wasley Hills High School
12.1987 - 01.1988

Assistant House Mother

Summerfield School for the Hearing Impaired
01.1983 - 05.1987

Preliminary Certificate In Social Care -

North Worcestershire College
09.1980 - 07.1982

GCSEs -

Waseley Hills High School
09.1976 - 07.1980

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Helen Bourke