Laura Robinson
paignton,Devon
Summary
I have been working within my family business for the past 19 years alongside raising my children, I have excellent communications skills - I can communicate clearly, accurately and in a positive manner, I enjoy engaging in discussions and am very open minded when dealing with new situations, I am able to listen to other peoples views and am non-judgemental.
I have worked within educational settings in which I have needed to adhere to policies and procedures, prepared reports involving the needs of children and their families, and have helped identify additional needs that the child, or family, were not receiving.
I have first-hand experience in liaising with SEND teams (Torbay Council and Sendiass Torbay) in obtaining both diagnoses (ADHD and Autism) and additional educational support. I had to make the difficult decision to remove my teenage son from mainstream schooling as his own SEND needs were not being met (thankfully, he now attends South Devon College home-schooling department).
I am passionate about working with children and young people, and have vast experience and knowledge in this area both personal and professional. I am a confident person willing to take on new and exciting projects - I set achievable goals and am happy to take on any advice and/or training onboard.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work history
Director
Stoke Gabriel Cars
Paignton , devon
2017.03 - Current
This is a family-ran car sales company, in which I was partly responsible for the management of accounts and logistics, such as management of employee travel and merchandise delivery.
Holiday representative
TUI (Thompsons Holidays at the time)
spanish resort towns
2004.03 - 2006.04
- Orchestrated special events to boost guest engagement.
- Conducted resort tours to familiarise guests with facilities.
- Handled customer queries efficiently, fostered a positive relationship between the company and clients.
- Assisted guests with booking tickets, eliminated travel hassles.
- Improved company image with professional and friendly demeanour.
- Solved guest complaints for improved holiday experience.
- Provided informative orientation briefings to enhance guest knowledge of the area.
Customer services and sales advisor
British Telecom
Bristol, Bristol
1998.06 - 2004.02
- Delivered an excellent customer experience to retain and optimise customer accounts
- demonstrated a high level of knowledge regarding BT's full product and service portfolio
- Resolved customer complaints swiftly, maintaining company reputation.
- regularly ranked in the top ten employees for the call centre in which I was employed
- appointed assistant managed in the absence of my former team manager
- temporarily seconded to deliver training programmes to new recruits
play worker/senior holiday play co-ordinator
Whitehall Junior School
Bristol, Bristol
1997.01 - 2004.02
- responsible for the organisation and planning of after-school activities
- adhered to all policies and procedures, such as child protection, safeguarding, equal-opportunities, anti-discriminatory, and data protection policies
- Tailored activities to individual needs, ensuring inclusive participation from all members of the group.
- Implemented creative arts and crafts projects to encourage self-expression and creativity in children.
- Initiated outdoor exploration trips, encouraging curiosity about nature in young minds.
- Fostered positive relationships with parents to ensure consistent communication regarding child's progress and behaviour.
- Developed strong rapport with children by actively engaging in creative play and learning activities.
play worker
Sefton Park after-school
Bristol, Bristol
1995.04 - 1997.02
see; play worker and holiday play co-ordinator at Whitehall school (duties unchanged)
Education
NVQ Level 2 - Art Therapy
Centre of Excellence (online)
Paignton, Torbay 2024.09 -
GCSEs - mixed
Hengrove comprehensive school
Bristol 1988.09 - 1994.07
NFCE CACHE level 3 - Playwork
Bristol Based Association (BAND)
Bristol 2003.09 - 2004.07
Diploma - Mindfulness
New Skills Academy (online)
Paignton, Torbay 2019.02 - 2019.03
Diploma - Life Coaching
New Skills Academy (online)
Paignton, Torbay 2019.04 - 2019.05
NVQ Level 2 - Child Psychology
Center of Excellence (online)
Paignton, Torbay 2022.09 - 2023.06
NVQ Level 2 - Understanding Autism
North Hertfordshire College (training qualifications UK)
Paignton, Torbay 2023.09 - 2024.06
Skills
- Great Parks Community Centre - QED, Paignton (current): I am currently volunteering here on Wednesdays; this is an after-school drop-in group catering for children aged 5-11 and a Friday night youth club for ages 11-17 These sessions offer a safe and engaging environment for the children with various activities to participate in, with myself and the team being responsible for for planning and organising activities such as arts and crafts, baking, nature walks and forest school activities, and/or outdoor sports
- Action for Children - Paignton (2023): volunteered as a member of staff within the SEND toddler group (online programmes were necessary to attend this work: Safeguarding Foundation, Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety essentials, fire awareness)
- Additional courses I have attended (may need revision) : Child Protection, Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities and Anti-discrimination, Managing Challenging Behaviour, First Aid, HIV and Aids Awareness
- Current Enhanced DBS holder
Timeline
NVQ Level 2 - Art Therapy
Centre of Excellence (online)
2024.09 -
NVQ Level 2 - Understanding Autism
North Hertfordshire College (training qualifications UK)
2023.09 - 2024.06
NVQ Level 2 - Child Psychology
Center of Excellence (online)
2022.09 - 2023.06
Diploma - Life Coaching
New Skills Academy (online)
2019.04 - 2019.05
Diploma - Mindfulness
New Skills Academy (online)
2019.02 - 2019.03
Director
Stoke Gabriel Cars
2017.03 - Current
Holiday representative
TUI (Thompsons Holidays at the time)
2004.03 - 2006.04
NFCE CACHE level 3 - Playwork
Bristol Based Association (BAND)
2003.09 - 2004.07
Customer services and sales advisor
British Telecom
1998.06 - 2004.02
play worker/senior holiday play co-ordinator
Whitehall Junior School
1997.01 - 2004.02
play worker
Sefton Park after-school
1995.04 - 1997.02
GCSEs - mixed
Hengrove comprehensive school
1988.09 - 1994.07