Zoe Berry

• Identified signs of distress in students, resolving behavioural and emotional issues.
• Assisted students with a range of learning differences, including ASD and ADHD to achieve their full potential for independence.
• Worked with SENCO to ensure effective planning and delivery of Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
• Maintained child safety, security and good behaviour during classroom and outdoor activities.

I have had ten years of experience working with children of all ages within the care sector. The past 7 of these years I have spent in our on site classroom working as a fully qualified teaching assistant and also have an advanced TA qualification. I am responsible for working alongside the teacher to provide help and support to the children in wide range of lessons. This is usually on a 1-1 basis as it allows myself and the children to develop a positive working relationship and it helps them to engage better. The majority of the children I work with have some form of special educational needs and severe challenging behaviour. This could be in the from them having ASD or ADHD and they have struggled to concentrate in a main stream school, or some children have had huge gaps in their education due to constantly being moved around the care system or from mental health and trauma issues. It is my responsibility to try and get the children re engaged in their education and remained focused and to assess their levels of knowledge so they can work to the best of their abilities. I am also responsible for keeping the classroom to a clean standard.

I was employed by Care today as a residential care worker in various children's homes across the Staffordshire Moorlands. I was responsible for the care of lots of different children of different ages and with different backgrounds. I was responsible for safeguarding these children and helping to assist them in daily life with issues they may struggle with. I chaperoned these children on family time contacts or to medical appointments when required. These children were often dealing with severe trauma and trust issues and would shown signs of challenging behaviour in which I am fully trained in. This is from attending regular behaviour management, conflict resolution and personal intervention courses. I enjoyed this position but I wanted to try and make a difference within their education and so then began my career as a teaching assistant with the company.