Write Key Education

Just a reminder that it is Fair week this week! Depending on if/where I can park this afternoon, there might be some delays in sessions starting (in Stamford and possibly online as a follow on from there) as I am jam packed today!

I will try to keep you updated (depending on how dysregulating the parking situation is!).

These are Aoife's breakfast bowls. On the left is the Halloween Stitch bowl that her hoops must go in every morning. She has milk, served separately in a little jug, that she can pour over her cereal, or she can ask me to pour over her cereal. The spoon for eating the milk covered hoops must be a little silver spoon.

On the right is her bowl of emotional support cereal. The shapes go in the Spiderman bowl. These are not eaten with milk and must have the green and yellow spoon in them, but she will not eat them with the spoon. Often, she doesn't eat this bowl of cereal. But if it is not served in the way she needs it to be, alongside her hoops, she cannot eat her hoops either.

These are the accommodations we make for breakfast every single morning. These accommodations mean that she is able to regulate through the challenges of getting dressed, having hair done, brushing teeth, putting shoes on and leaving the house.

When she is an adult, if she is anything like me, she will follow another rigid routine to the same effect in order to leave the house every day. When she gets to work, like me, she might have another rigid routine to manage anxiety and regulation.

Maybe, like me, she will get to work early before anybody else arrives, put the kettle on as soon as she gets there, turn her laptop on, make a cup of herbal tea, check her calendar, respond to emails, prioritise her work for the day using her calendar as a prompt. Then she will eat her breakfast, go to the toilet, fill up her water bottle and go back to her desk.

Telling children that there are no accommodations for them in the "real world" is absurd. My accommodations are built into my work life and routines and have, for the most part (we won't mention some education establishments here 😉), been supported in order to ensure I am able to access my workplace and my role.

So, if you think a Spiderman bowl of emotional support cereal is too much for a Tuesday, just look at my colour-coded calendar and my pre-office tea ritual. We don't grow out of our needs; we just grow into better ways to manage them. Let’s stop pretending the "real world" doesn't have room for a little silver spoon. 🥄✨

A very soggy walk to my GCSE English group today!

Stamford is still beautiful even in torrential rain ☔

Does your neurodivergent young person love creative writing?

Writing East Midlands and Beyond the Spectrum are running fortnightly creative writing workshops for neurodivergent teenagers. The sessions are free and self-diagnosis is valid! If you would like to sign up for these workshops (led by Georgie Brooke and supported by... Me!) you can find more information and sign up here:

Georgie Brooke - Beyond The Spectrum Hope Shooter's writing workshop for Autistic young people as part of Writing East Midlands's Beyond The Spectrum creative writing programme.

A little end of term treat for me and my student today! How gorgeous is this coffee cup from ?!

My student today is exhausted (the old endoftermitis!) so we are learning about OS maps and finding places we know. They don't realise that we have been doing GCSE maths too, working with scales and distances! in Oakham have an amazing collection of OS maps to borrow.

Does anybody else sneak maths into their lessons?!

It feels great to have my MA thesis officially finished! One more proof read and it will be submitted this evening (two days early!).

Now, I'm shifting my focus to catching up on emails and planning for the new term. If you're waiting on a response from me, please know that I see you and I'm working my way through my inbox.

I'm an open book about my neurodiversity, and I've learned that certain tasks, like admin, require a lot of 'spoons' (if you're familiar with Spoon Theory, you'll know what I mean!). I know the start of a new school year can be a lot for my neurodivergent students, and I'm right there with you, being mindful of my energy levels as I get back into the swing of things after a few big life events. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

On a similar note, I'm currently looking for amazing English, science and Maths tutors to join our team! If you have teaching qualifications and a passion for teaching, please do get in touch. I am inundated with queries and can't keep up!

The very happy (and slightly spotty!) face and LARGE glass of wine of an extremely proud tutor. Congratulations to all of you today. You are all incredible and I am super proud of each and every one of you!

GCSE results day is here, and it's a huge moment for so many of you. But remember this: your results are not a final verdict on who you are. They are a snapshot, a reflection of one moment in time, and they don't define your incredible potential or worth.

A grade on a piece of paper can't measure your kindness, your creativity, your resilience, or your ability to make people laugh. It doesn't capture your passion for a hobby, your unwavering loyalty to your friends, or the effort you poured into something that wasn't even on the syllabus. These are the qualities that truly matter in the long run.

So whether you're celebrating a grade you're proud of or feeling disappointed with a result you didn't expect, be proud of the journey you've been on. You are so much more than a number or a letter. Congratulations on all your hard work! 💖

I've just said goodbye to the most incredible student 😭😭😭

From not reading, writing or mathing nine months ago, this little legend has passed her L2 English Reading and is sitting L2 Maths tomorrow! Not only that, but she's passed her driving test recently and has an apprenticeship starting on Monday!

I cannot tell you how much this amazing human has grown over the last few months. She is an absolute powerhouse of a human being and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Good luck in your Maths exam tomorrow and new job on Monday "Reigning Double Champion"!

Teachers... Are you tired of the school grind? Are you ready for a change this September? Or are you like me and don't want to return to teaching after maternity leave?

Imagine a flexible, rewarding career where you can truly make a difference, on your own terms.

Write Key Education is looking for passionate, self-employed tutors to join our team, offering tailored support to young people across Lincolnshire and Rutland, including those with neurodiversity, social, emotional and mental health, and learning difficulties.

What makes tutoring so great?!
1. Competitive rates of pay. +That's what we're all here for right?!)
2. Flexibility! Set your own hours, primarily during term time.
3. Empower young people with personalised learning.
4. Access resources, a neuro-affirmative environment, and a team that has your back (plus, we can support you in becoming self-employed!).
5. Teach subjects you love. We need tutors for Key Stage 2 & 3 English/Maths, GCSE Maths, English, Science, and History!

We value experienced teachers with QTS/QTLS/PGCE (or equivalent FE teaching qualifications) and 2+ years of teaching under their belt. Even better if you have experience with SEND!

Ready to reclaim your passion for teaching? Let's chat about a September start!

And for anybody who thinks they don't fit every single criteria, we want to hear from you the most! Start valuing your skills and experience as much as we do :)

📧 Email us at [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp us on 07522691360
🌐 Learn more: www.writekeyeducation.com

Thinking of everyone diving into their SATs, GCSEs, or A-Levels today! Sending you the very best of luck as you start this exam season. Remember, while these exams are an important step in your education journey, they truly only assess a narrow set of skills at a specific moment in time. Your intelligence, your creativity, your resilience, and your unique qualities as a person? Those shine far beyond the confines of an exam paper.

Believe in the preparation you've done, trust your instincts, and know that you are capable. This is just one part of your path, and whatever the outcome, it doesn't define who you are. Stay calm, focus on the questions in front of you, and remember that your worth is immeasurable. You've got this!

And to the exam schedulers... Who starts GCSEs with a Literature exam?! Savage.