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About Me

 
About Me
 
I would like to tell you a little about myself, my training and experience and how I am able to help you either by offering training for teaching and non-teaching staff or diagnostic assessment of children.

 I was recently interviewed by Pearson. The interview can be viewed here
 
I am a training and assessment consultant specialising in Mathematics and Other Specific Learning Difficulties, including dyslexia, dyspraxia (Developmental Co-ordination Disorder), dyscalculia and specific language impairment.
 
I particularly specialise in atypical specific learning difficulties and the overlap of learning difficulties which create complex barriers to learning and achievement.
Biography:
 
I am a specialist in mathematical learning difficulties and other difficulties which act as barriers to learning and achievement. I have trained hundreds of teachers and Teaching Assistants in mathematical development and Special Educational Needs over the past ten years or so. I am qualified to offer detailed assessment and diagnosis to pin-point accurately where any difficulties in learning may lie. I am a member of the Expert Inclusion Panel for the QCDA (Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency), an accredited Numicon Consultant and a University Tutor for Plymouth University and Real Training. I am a tutor for the SENCO Award (post-graduate certificate) and deliver a post-graduate module in Early Mathematical Development.
 
Background History
I started my teaching career in 1992 as a Primary teacher specialising in mathematics. I later studied for a Masters degree in Special Educational Needs, specialising in the early identification and intervention of Specific Learning Difficulties and the development of multiagency working. 
 
Since specialising in SEN, I have taught within specialist settings for children with severe, multiple and profound learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties and speech, language and communication difficulties. I have developed many initiatives including outreach and support for other schools from my specialist Base, joint working with speech and language therapists and Occupational Therapists to deliver effective specialist intervention, and a multidisciplinary consultation group to ensure all agencies are singing from the same hymn sheet. 
 
I have worked as a Consultant for the national early intervention programme: Every Child Counts, which provided training for teachers in early mathematical intervention and have a post-graduate qualification in early mathematical development and intervention.

Other accomplishments:

I am currently President of nasen (National Association of Special Educational Needs) which is the only national association specialising in all Special and Additional Educational Needs and Disability. I am a member of the Early Years and Primary Advisory Group and chair the board of Trustees and the Advisory Board.

I have in the past worked closely with the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM), the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in an advisory capacity. I was a member of the Children's Emotional Wellbeing Group and I was involved in the writing of the National Service Framework for children (mental health) and worked closely with colleagues from the Department of Health and the Department for Education to develop training materials for teachers in emotional wellbeing.
 
I have been a keynote speaker at a number of national conferences through the RSM and nasen. I have chaired and organised a number of multidisciplinary events and meetings to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disability.

I am an accomplished author and have a number of published works relating to mathematical difficulties and multiagency working. Please follow this link for more information.

I am a tutor for the International Masters Programme at Plymouth University http://www.plymouth.ac.uk and an accredited Numicon Consultant.

I have developed  interest and further research in the areas of mathematical difficulties, the impact of special educational needs such as autism, upon mathematical learning, the overlap and interplay between primary causal learning difficulties and secondary sequential difficulties, and emotional wellbeing/mental health.

I champion the rights of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, for a quality education which meets their individual needs and provides them with the skills necessary to live rewarding and fulfilling lives.

I am committed to improving outcomes for children and young people who struggle to access the curriculum and may have hidden difficulties. I would like to be of help to both parents and schools to achieve this end.

Please contact me with any questions you may have, and I will endeavour to answer them by clicking here.

Best wishes,

Pearl
 
Education and Training:

I am a fully qualified teacher and have a Masters degree in Education with a specialist interest in Special Educational Needs, a Certificate of Competence in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A) as recognised by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and the British Psychological Society, and a further Post-Graduate Certificate in Early Mathematical Development (PGCertEd). 

I am registered as an accredited assessor on the Register of Competence in Psychological Testing with the Psychological Testing Centre.
2009     Real Training endorsed by Dyslexia Action and the British Psychological Society
Certificate of Competence in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A)
2008    Edge Hill University
PGCert Ed Post-graduate Certificate in Early Mathematical Development
2005    University of Plymouth
MA(Ed) Special interest in Special Educational Needs
1993    St. Luke's, University of Exeter
P.G.C.E. Primary Mathematics
1986    University of Portsmouth
BSc(Hons) Biomolecular Science (Biophysical Chemistry): Upper Second Class Honours