" For schools and families, not knowing where to turn to receive the right kind of help for a struggling child can be a distressing and tiring minefield. There is always a reason why a younger child has difficulties to learn, and I have made it my duty to find out why. 

​

I have extensive knowledge and experience from teaching and management in state and independent schools in London, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. My support has ranged from the gifted and talented to the disruptive, children needing alternative provisions between school placements to those impacted by the Covid years, those with diagnosed Autism and other complex SpLDs to those who just find learning hard.

 

My specialist journey started on what I saw as a significant gap in the market. As a result of this, I have promoted, supported and built my own provision from the ground up. I have established, designed and perfected my Non-Diagnostic Assessment whereby I can evaluate a child’s ability and understanding in the key areas of Maths and English for KS1-2, enabling a SENCO or qualified teacher to plan an individual teaching programme to teach those

educational gaps.

​

It is proven that if we can identify and re-teach children the specific micro-gaps missing from their learning journey when they are younger, they will have a greater chance at becoming independent learners when they are older. The probability of a diagnostic assessment at the end of KS2/3 increases if learning gaps in children are not addressed or ignored, as some children may go on to develop more severe learning difficulties and lower self-esteem, making their education more difficult and their current curriculum even more difficult to access.

​​

My academic assessment and results have transformed the learning paths for many children who are left behind with the speed of the every-day curriculum. It has repeatedly shown adults that many younger children may not have speculative learning difficulties, but rather difficulties to learn due to gaps in their education.

​

I believe that being an accomplished specialist in the world of SEN, you have to be part warrior as it is a selfless profession fighting for those less able, frequently silenced or left behind, yet deserve and need a voice. It is important to give these incredibly hardworking children, and their teachers, whatever their ability or difficulty, the necessary tools they need to access their curriculum, to have self-belief and to help them to express themselves and their knowledge so they are ready for formal exams and life beyond school. 

​

It's not that they can't do it - they just can't do it yet."

Jo Packard