Train to Teach Success Story

Kelly – Second Year Early Career Teacher (ECT)

‘Being a teacher is something I always dreamt of but never felt would be possible with a disability. I am deaf, a bilateral hearing aid wearer and during my PGCE, with the support of my course facilitator Greg and Chester University, I was diagnosed as dyslexic. Greg was very supportive ensuring that the course sessions he ran were as inclusive as possible. He liaised with other course tutors and placement schools on my behalf to ensure that adaptations, where necessary, were in place for me to succeed. I loved every second of the PGCE course and, despite the challenges, I can look back and smile.

I am now in my second year as an ECT in a year 3 class at St Peter’s CE Primary & Nursery School (an Empower Trust school) and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. My school have been welcoming and inclusive, for example, I use assistive technology in class, and they have adapted parents’ evening for me. The key to success was to have good behaviour management from day one, establishing clear routines to create a calm learning environment which has not just supported the children but my own hearing difficulties. The children have been accepting of my disabilities and now I have begun an extracurricular club attended by pupils to learn British Sign Language. I feel I now act as a positive role model for other staff and children within the school who also have disabilities’.

If you are interested in Training to Teach contact Lucy Copson at Empower Trust:

Tel: 01939 211140 or or email
admin@shropshireprimarypartnership.co.uk