Olivia Berry

Provided one-to-one support for a child with special educational needs, engaging them in play activities, assisting with meals and daily routines, promoting their wellbeing and independence, and adapting care to meet their individual needs.

During my third-year university placement, I completed a 55-day placement in a Year 5 classroom. I worked closely alongside my mentor to support the day-to-day running of the classroom, planning and delivering engaging lessons across a range of subjects. As my confidence and experience developed, I independently taught the whole class for a full school day on multiple occasions, managing lesson transitions, behaviour, and learning activities throughout the day. I attended professional learning meetings and responded positively to feedback, using it to reflect on and improve my teaching practice. I also worked closely with pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN), adapting lessons and providing appropriate scaffolding to ensure all learners could access the curriculum and make progress. This placement further developed my skills in lesson planning, classroom management, differentiation, assessment, time management, reflective practice, and professional collaboration, while increasing my confidence in leading a classroom and meeting the diverse needs of learners.

Worked as a Cleaner responsible for cleaning and maintaining office buildings to a high standard. Duties included vacuuming, mopping floors, dusting surfaces, emptying bins, and sanitizing communal areas. Ensured a clean, safe, and hygienic working environment for employees and visitors.

During my second-year university placement, I completed a 50-day placement in a Year 1/2 classroom. Throughout this experience, I planned and delivered lessons across a range of subjects, supporting pupils' learning and development. I assisted with phonics sessions, helping children to develop their reading, writing, and communication skills. I also observed experienced teachers to develop my understanding of effective classroom practice, behaviour management, and teaching strategies. In addition, I supported the assessment process by monitoring pupil progress, gathering evidence of learning, and contributing to assessments. This placement strengthened my lesson planning, organisation, communication, assessment, and classroom management skills, while increasing my confidence in adapting teaching to meet the diverse needs of learners.

During my first-year university placement at Cardiff Metropolitan University, I was placed in a Year 1 classroom where I observed how lessons were planned and delivered, supported pupils in their learning, and worked closely with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This experience helped me develop strong communication, observation, and teamwork skills while gaining an understanding of how teaching strategies are adapted to meet individual learning needs. I learned how to support children with different abilities, promote inclusion within the classroom, and build positive relationships with pupils to encourage engagement and learning. The placement also strengthened my patience, adaptability, and confidence in working within an educational setting.

Worked as a Festive Colleague at Tesco, operating the till and processing customer transactions efficiently and accurately. Provided excellent customer service by assisting shoppers with queries and ensuring a positive shopping experience during the busy holiday period. Helped maintain an organized checkout area and supported the store team with daily tasks as required.

Responsible for stocking shelves and ensuring products were neatly displayed and readily available for customers. Operated the till, processing customer purchases accurately and providing friendly customer service. Assisted with maintaining store cleanliness and supporting daily shop operations.