Rachel Ferraby
Leeds,West Yorkshire
Summary
Dedicated and skilled educator with a strong background in collaborative learning, student-centred teaching, and school event coordination. Expertise in Autism and Social and Emotional Support, combined with a QTS teaching qualification and ELSA certification. Proven ability to create varied lesson plans, write assessments, and provide effective exam preparation. Strong collaborator with excellent public speaking skills, adept at building relationships with parents and colleagues. Committed to professional ethics, positive reinforcement, and behavioural interventions to support student success. Career goal: To continue fostering an inclusive learning environment that promotes academic excellence and personal growth for all students.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Learning support assistant
Oulton Academy
Leeds, West Yorkshire
04.2021 - 01.2025
- Supported Key Stage 3 and 4 students with varying additional needs, from Autism and ADHD to SEMH support.
- Partnered with teachers to plan and execute lessons following school curriculum, objectives and philosophies and assisted in creating lesson materials, improving educational effectiveness.
- Accompanied school trips, including residential visits ensuring safety and enjoyment for all pupils involved.
- Supported at whole school events such as open evenings, productions, discos and parent evenings and demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Encouraged independent learning habits amongst pupils through consistent mentoring and designed learning plans tailored to individual needs.
- Maximised student engagement and receptive learning through the planning and implementation of individual interventions.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive academic action plans for vulnerable students to achieve grade 4+ at GCSE, providing personalised support to students, improving their academic performance.
- Evaluated students using standardised criteria to determine abilities and learning needs and taught students important points to prepare for examinations and implemented individual revision sessions
- Promoted perseverance and determination as key components of student success.
- Delivered one-on-one sessions to guide students through various subjects and challenges.
- Established effective communication channels with parents to discuss student progress from interventions
- Personalised instruction and personal mentoring based on individual strengths and abilities.
- Supported students to identify problems impeding education.
- Implemented appropriate actions in cases of misbehaviour, producing detailed incident and CPoms reports to ensure safeguarding was followed
- Built positive, professional relationships with students through effective communication and behaviour management, aiding continued academic and personal development.
- Facilitated a positive learning environment, ensuring safe and inclusive spaces for all students through ELSA intervention
- Organised extracurricular activities contributing towards holistic child development.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of student safeguarding procedures, to provide effective care and maintain compliance with Academy policies.
- Supported Key Stage 3 and 4 students with varying additional needs, from Autism and ADHD to SEMH support.
- Provided students with personalised educational, behavioural and emotional support through ELSA support interventions
- Provided one-to-one support to students struggling with coursework, aiding their understanding of complex topics and aided students with homework, fostering academic success by adapting teaching materials to suit individual learner needs.
- Provided classroom support as well as delivering additional learning support opportunities to small groups, enabling improved academic confidence and offered support to special needs students, guaranteeing safety and access to learning.
- Promoted positive behaviour within the classroom setting, enhancing overall learning experience, identifying disruptions to learning and discretely addressed issues where possible.
- Accompanied students on field trips for safety and logistic support.
- Responded to changing needs of pupils and staff to provide maximum help and support.
- Managed challenging behaviour, running ELSA interventions to understand concerns and implement appropriate action, aiding improvements in educational, emotional and social development.
- Guided and supported students through large transitions and emotional challenges such as leading transition days.
- Advocated for social, emotional and educational stability of children with complex emotional and behavioural needs.
Carer
for elderly parent
01.2021 - 03.2021
Class Teacher
Middleton St Mary's CE Primary School
Leeds, West Yorkshire
09.1997 - 12.2020
- Experience of teaching across all age groups in KS1 and KS2
- Full time class teacher 1997 - 2006.
- Part time class teacher 2006 - 2009
- Part time intervention teacher 2009 - 2016
- Part Time Computing teacher (Whole school) 2016/17
- Part time class teacher 2017- 2020
- Subject leader of Computing, Art and RE during time
- Educational Visits Coordinator
- Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs and interests, implementing proven methods to overcome common barriers to learning and employed variety of mediums to convey learning concepts.
- Encouraged a love of learning in students of varying abilities, enhancing positive educational experiences, making a positive differences to pupil confidence and happiness through nurturing support and care.
- Completed training courses to keep up-to-date with new teaching methods and developments in the field.
- Used National Curriculum and teaching expertise to plan learning programmes.
- Administered assessments to determine each student's specific educational and social needs and designed learning plans tailored to individual needs.
- Evaluated students using standardised criteria to determine abilities and learning needs.
- Assisted in organising school trips, providing pupils with enriching experiences outside the classroom as Educational Visits coordinator
- Successfully built positive rapport with Key Stage 1 and 2 students, increasing class engagement.
- Applied Key Stage 1 and 2 curriculum knowledge to create robust lesson plans.
- Inspired love of reading and literature to Key Stage 2 pupils through creating reading spaces in the classroom
- Supported Key Stage 2 students throughout SATs learning, aiding improvement in confidence and ability to tackle work.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of Key Stage 1 and 2 curriculum, leading a variety of subjects including computing, RE and Art.
- Supported student transitions between years and key stages smoothly.
Class Teacher
Kirkstall St Stephen's CE Primary School
Leeds, West Yorkshire
09.1996 - 08.1997
- 1 Year Temporary Contract
- Taught multiple subjects to students in Y3
- Created inclusive classroom setting to ensure all students felt accepted and valued.
- Created lesson plans and scheduled each day to promote maximum student engagement.
- Adhered National Curriculum guidelines whilst teaching various subjects across different levels.
- Fostered a positive learning environment for student engagement through effective classroom management.
- Coordinated school trips, broadened the pupils' cultural exposure and understanding.
- Coordinated Art and Design within the school.
Class Teacher
Dresden CE Primary School
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
09.1995 - 08.1996
- Temporary 12 months contract
- Adapted teaching styles for varying student capabilities and requirements.
- Maintained daily records of class attendance and liaised with caregivers to address issues.
- Improved student literacy skills through reading comprehension exercises.
- Conducted parent-teacher meetings to discuss pupil progress and behaviour issues.
- Fulfilled curriculum requirements by planning and delivering engaging lessons.
- Regularly updated parents about their child's progress maintaining open lines of communication.
- Encouraged active participation in class discussions, fostering a positive learning environment.
- Contributed to planning long-term learning schemes for History and Art
- Art Subject coordinator
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English Studies
University of Leeds
Leeds 09.1991 - 06.1995
Certificate of Higher Education - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
University of Leeds
LeedsA-Levels -
Graham Balfour High School
Stafford, Staffordshire 09.1989 - 06.1991
GCSEs -
Graham Balfour High School
Stafford, Staffordshire 09.1987 - 06.1989
Skills
- Collaborative learning
- Student-centred learning
- Teaching/tutoring
- School event coordination
- Public speaking
- Negotiation
- Exam preparation
- Examination supervision
- Varied lesson plans
- Writing assessments
- Peer collaboration
- QTS teaching qualification
- Qualified ELSA
- Homework assistance
- Creative questioning
- Parent-teacher communication
- Relationship-building
- Effectively work with parents
- Professional ethics
- Behavioural interventions
- Expertise in Autism
- Expertise in Social and Emotional Support
- Positive reinforcement
- Strong collaborator
- First-aid certified
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Education policy understanding
- Literacy support
- Professional and smart presentation
- Social intelligence and communication
- ELSA
- Secondary education
- Problem Resolution
- Special Educational Needs (SEN) support
- Child safeguarding
Affiliations
- Reading - particularly a good murder or thriller
- Dancing - Social Ballroom dancing with my husband
- Outdoors - I love walking and visiting places of historical interest
- Theatre - Watching musicals in particular. Help and support my daughter's theatre group shows.
- Travelling - interested in visiting new places and experiencing different cultures
Accomplishments
Yorkshire and Humber Region NEU Rep of the Year 2025
Voluntary Positions - School Governance
Co-opted Governor
Rothwell Victoria Junior School, Leeds
Vice-chair of the Governing Body
Chair of Teaching and Learning/Pupil Support Committee
Safeguarding Governor
Now in 3rd term of office.
Voluntary positions - Trade Union Duties
National Education Union Workplace Representative, Oulton Academy
Support Staff Officer, Leeds National Education Union
Delegate to the National Education Union Yorkshire and Humber Regional Council
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Learning support assistant
Oulton Academy
04.2021 - 01.2025
Carer
for elderly parent
01.2021 - 03.2021
Class Teacher
Middleton St Mary's CE Primary School
09.1997 - 12.2020
Class Teacher
Kirkstall St Stephen's CE Primary School
09.1996 - 08.1997
Class Teacher
Dresden CE Primary School
09.1995 - 08.1996
Bachelor of Arts - English Studies
University of Leeds
09.1991 - 06.1995
A-Levels -
Graham Balfour High School
09.1989 - 06.1991
GCSEs -
Graham Balfour High School
09.1987 - 06.1989
Certificate of Higher Education - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
University of Leeds
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