Olivia Gardner

I experienced three years teaching Year 5 (age 9-10) and one year in Year 6 (age 10-11).

I completed two ECT years where I was supported and received training as I started my teaching career.

I led the subject of Geography for three years where I worked to implement a new curriculum, skills and fieldwork opportunities across the school as well as improving pupils' enjoyment of the subject.

I created classroom environments that were safe, inclusive and happy places to be.

I planned interactive and practical lessons where children were encouraged to explore, inquire and ask meaningful questions.

I contributed to the wider school community by leading before and after school clubs, accompanying and leading various school trips and residentials, supporting work in the local school diocese at weekends and leading many fundraising opportunities.

I built excellent professional relationships between colleagues and parents. I improved communication and became a person to be trusted and relied upon.

I supported children with learning needs by implementing differentiated teaching methods and building their self-confidence in their personal ability.

I supported children with special needs who needed extra reassurance when experiencing self-doubt and emotional triggers. I adapted my teaching style according to their needs and gave them time, patience and a listening ear along with words of advice.

I implemented strategies to manage classroom behaviour effectively and maintained a focused learning environment that was praised by visitors and parents.

I worked collaboratively with colleagues across the year group to create and share planning and resources.

I experienced and helped lead end of key stage 2 assessments in Year 6. I raised pupil attainment, achieved excellent class results and ensured the children were calm and positive throughout the experience.

I followed appropriate safeguarding protocols when I felt anything should be raised.

I supported the store during the peaks of summer and Christmas where I experienced the fast-paced nature of Retail.

I replenished stock when necessary.

I enjoyed assisting customers on the shop floor.

I served customers at the till point.

I handled cash and card exchanges.

I managed online orders and packed up stock ready for dispatch.

I worked effectively in a team and was flexible with shift times.

I balances multiple tasks simultaneously whilst maintaining customer care.

During this six week university placement, I worked in a Year 6 class where I conducted 70% of the teaching.

I worked alongside the class teacher to plan and prepare a wide range of lessons.

I observed many teachers across different year groups to see different teaching styles, classroom environments and student tasks.

I built strong relationships with students and improved pupil behaviour by enforcing classroom rules and the school ethos consistently.

I utilised teaching assistants effectively through creating intervention tasks and guiding them on how to best support special needs students.

I provided support to students during independent work periods.

I assisted the class teacher with the preparation of materials for lessons.

I experienced a week in Year 1 where I observed the teaching of phonics and was observed teaching a lesson myself.

I participated in staff meetings, phase meetings, professional development meetings and school events.

I worked closely with my mentor to discuss my teaching strengths and areas for development.

During a university placement in Kenya, I spent three weeks teaching in a local primary school.

I observed and taught in a number of year groups.

I taught English, mathematics, science, PE, music and phonics.

Alongside fellow trainee teachers, I set up a reading and writing intervention during the school afternoon. The children practised sounding phonemes, reading graphemes, reading stories and writing words.

Everyday after school I played sports with the children.

I had the opportunity to observe lessons as another local primary school and a local secondary school.

I spent two days in a special needs school as part of my university training.

I observed a KS1 classroom with children with ASD and/or ADHD.

I observed lessons, play time and interventions for the children.

I observed the importance of routine, plan, Makaton, visuals in learning and the strong relationships between pupils and their teachers.

I observed the use of specialist resources and facilities such as a sensory room.

As part of my university training I experienced 40 days in this school across the school year.

I taught in a Year 6 class and also spent time observing a Reception class and a Year 1 phonics lesson.

This placement involved lots of observing teaching practice and supporting the children in groups of one-to-one.

I experienced the end of key stage 2 assessments.

I placed customer orders, always with a friendly nature, and handled cash exchanges responsibly.

I communicated clearly with colleagues to state orders and any special requests.

I kept the catering environment clean with high hygiene standards.

I replenished stock and assisted with the ordering of new stock.