Marie Harper
16 Woodchurch View, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth,West Yorkshire
Summary
Special Needs Teacher and Senior Leader with over 25 years of experience. Passionate and dedicated to enhancing student engagement through multi sensory, highly personalised and motivating learning activities.
Overview
1
1
Certification
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Staff Development Manager (SEND)
Coop Academy Southfield
Bradford, West Yorkshire
11.2023 - 07.2026
- Strategic leadership of all staff, coordinating, developing and assessing the impact of whole school CPD.
- Lead for Performance & Professional Development Reviews (PPDR) and Probationary process.
- Lead for Induction to support staff retention.
- Lead for the Wellbeing Committee.
- Lead for welfare meetings, absence meetings, flexible working requests, produce phased returns and risk assessments etc.
- Line manager and budget holder.
- Lead for sourcing and implementing placements, volunteers, apprenticeships.
Assistant Head Teacher (SEND)
Wellspring Academy Trust (Greencare School)
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
09.2014 - 10.2023
- Worked alongside senior leaders, staff and governors in developing, implementing and reviewing school improvement plans.
- Lead for the Life Skills Department, around 100 students from Year 9-Year 11 (including Satellite provisions)
- Collaborative quality assessment with senior leaders to measure teaching performance and provide constructive feedback for all staff.
- Lead teacher and LSA development through high quality CPD, ensuring highly effective teaching and learning across the school.
- Organise and lead school events and assemblies, fostering a sense of community and celebrating achievements.
- Weekly teaching responsibility for Year 11.
- Lead for PMLD provision, including curriculum development and assessment using Areas of Engagement.
- Oversaw the creation and implementation of Personalised Learning Maps (from EHCP targets)
- Regularly monitored student progress against subject and individual targets.
Class Teacher (SEND)
Wellspring Academy Trust (Greenacre School)
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
01.2010 - 08.2014
- Planned and delivered a highly differentiated and exciting curriculum to Year 11 learners with a wide range of additional needs.
- Adapted lessons to ensure accessibility for all in a positive, nurturing and fun environment.
- Led initiatives for accredited outcomes (NOCN, ASDAN) alongside exams team.
- Collaborated with both internal and external professionals to ensure the very best outcomes for all students.
- Assessed, recorded and reported student progress.
- Lead for Literacy across school.
- Participated in CPD with Wider Leadership Team to improve teaching practices..
- Mentored new teachers, sharing effective strategies for classroom management and teaching techniques.
Class Teacher (SEND)
Calderdale LA (Wood Bank School)
Halifax, West Yorkshire
01.2006 - 12.2009
- Planned and delivered a highly differentiated and exciting curriculum for Key Stage 2 learners with a wide range of additional needs.
- Adapted lessons to ensure accessibility for all in a stimulating, multi-sensory environment.
- Lead for Expressive and Creative Arts initiatives, enhancing student engagement and creativity.
- Collaborated with mainstream schools and arts specialists to develop and implement enrichment activities, expanding learning opportunities for students with additional needs.
- Assessed, recorded and reported student progress.
- Participated in CPD to enhance teaching strategies and support for students with diverse needs.
Class Teacher (SEND)
Kirklees LA (Highfields School)
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
09.2000 - 01.2006
- Planned and delivered a highly differentiated and exciting curriculum for Key Stage 1 & 2 learners with PMLD.
- Adapted lessons to ensure accessibility for all in a stimulating, multi sensory environment.
- Lead for Arts & Music (devised a scheme of work for Key Stages 1-4)
- Collaborated with arts specialists to provide enrichment activities.
- Assessed, recorded and reported on student progress.
- Participated in continuous professional development workshops to enhance teaching skills.
Teaching Assistant (SEND)
Kirklees LA (Longley School)
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
02.1997 - 08.2000
- Supported learners with MLD/SEMH across Key Stages 1 & 2.
- Lead for small group and 1:1 interventions to enhance student learning..
- Offered emotional support and guidance to pupils, fostering resilience and well-being.
- Collaborated with the teacher to devise challenging, stimulating lessons.
- Maintained student safety inside and outside classrooms in line with school safeguarding policies.
- Established positive relationships with students, leading by example and responding appropriately and positively to challenging behaviour.
- Completed a work based PGCE which included a year long placement in a mainstream setting alongside experience in Early Years/Reception.
Education
PGCE - SEND
University of Huddersfield
Huddersfield01-2000
Bachelor of Science - Behavioural Sciences
University of Huddersfield
Huddersfield01-1996
BTEC - National Diploma Social Care
Lowestoft Colllege
Lowestoft, Suffolk01-1993
GCSEs - Maths, English Lit/Lang
Bungay High School
Bungay, Suffolk01-1990
Skills
- Extensive SEND knowledge
- Curriculum development
- Personalised Learning
- Differentiated learning techniques
- Collaborative teaching and learning
- Student engagement methods
- Excellent classroom management
- Creative strategies
- Staff mentoring
- Professional development
- Communication strategies
- Diverse classroom settings
Certification
- Team Teach
- Dysphagia
- HANDLE
- PEC's
- Safeguarding
- On Body Signing
- Makaton
- The Engagement Model
- VI and SEND
- Dance and Drama for SEND
Hobbies and interests
- I am an Elvis enthusiast and I love attending events which celebrate his life and music.
- I love theatre and enjoy attending both amateur and professional productions.
- I am a passionate about sports and regularly attend live football, snooker and darts.
Additional Information
- In depth knowledge and understanding of SEND with experience of PMLD, ASD, SEMH etc.
- Able to provide a stimulating and exciting environment for students where they thrive and feel safe.
- I am a PA for a young lady with ASD and support her on a weekly basis to develop independence skills through shopping, visits to animal parks etc.
- As an experienced senior leader I am able to develop colleagues in a supportive and professional way.
- I am a calm, positive and highly organised professional.
Timeline
Staff Development Manager (SEND)
Coop Academy Southfield
11.2023 - 07.2026
Assistant Head Teacher (SEND)
Wellspring Academy Trust (Greencare School)
09.2014 - 10.2023
Class Teacher (SEND)
Wellspring Academy Trust (Greenacre School)
01.2010 - 08.2014
Class Teacher (SEND)
Calderdale LA (Wood Bank School)
01.2006 - 12.2009
Class Teacher (SEND)
Kirklees LA (Highfields School)
09.2000 - 01.2006
Teaching Assistant (SEND)
Kirklees LA (Longley School)
02.1997 - 08.2000
PGCE - SEND
University of Huddersfield
Bachelor of Science - Behavioural Sciences
University of Huddersfield
BTEC - National Diploma Social Care
Lowestoft Colllege
GCSEs - Maths, English Lit/Lang
Bungay High School