Zoe-leigh, au pair in Retford DN22

Completed level 3 childcare/support learning for children in 2020, and have had experience in placements at a mainstream and SEND school, I also have ongoing learning counselling skills and psychology and health and social care studies and experience. Much of my previous work has been self-employed (cooking and baking along with a family member's business from 2018-2019) and voluntary work with the Literacy Volunteers and NSPCC, in which I've engaged with many schools over the past two years with children from KS1 and KS2. My role in my placements, was to engage with the students, encouraging and supporting them through their learning, to understand their mental health and physical abilities and capabilities, to aid and engage their sensory and mental health needs, to know how to handle wheelchairs and other technology for physical disabilities, to support and calm challenging behaviour with and between students, to support mainstream students who have a learning/emotional difficulty, to supervise students in the playground with another staff member, to print/make/distribute activity and learning resources, supervising and supporting children in extra cirricular activities (such as after school activities/sports.)
My approach to behaviour management is a gentle approach to understand the why and to see on the same level as the 'challenging' child.
My approach to learning and supporting learning is work combined with play and relatability-how prior knowledge and skills can help the student gain new knowledge and skills, and exploring self and topics through creativity and play (including providing sensory experiences for learning, reading to children, providing resources for play and creative activities such as materials, ideas and equipment) as well as written academic work.

L3 Childcare/support learning with children (achieved April 2020)- This includes the learning of child development (cognitive and motor skills eg, physical and mental development), supporting students aged 1-19yrs, supporting students in their learning of Maths, English, Science and ICT, creating and supporting students learning through play, supporting student transitions, supporting immigrant/refugee/multilingual students, understanding and supporting and being inclusive and diverse for students with any disabilties, different cultures and backgrounds, how to adapt activities and learning for diversity and inclusion, personal learning and reflections, supporting and contributing towards education plans and support for students, supporting and engaging with student's parents/carers, safeguarding children and how to store personal information, and exploring support and other organisations for education for students.
L2 Counselling skills (achieved June 2019) Beginning L3 in Sep 2020- This includes psychodynamics, learning counselling skills of behaviour, safeguarding/confidentiality, cognitive behavioural therapy, talk therapy, study of psychological theorists.
English L1 (achieved March 2020)
Maths L1 (achieved March 2020)
L1 Caring for people with Psychosis and Schizophrenia (achieved Nov 2017)
L2 Food Health and Safety (achieved Jan 2018)
L1 Understanding depression and anxiety in young people (achieved March 2018)
First Aid for babies and children (achieved April 2018)
Beginning L3 Health and Social Care in Sep 2020
Self-taught British sign language; Japanese (intermediate); French (intermediate); German (intermediate); Spanish (basic); Russian (basic); Polish (intermediate); Greek (basic); Latin and Arabic (intermediate)
L2 Human Anatomy/Sports training (ongoing until 2021)
Experience includes working with special needs children aged between 4 and 8yrs (Nov 2019-March 2020);
Mainstream children in Year 5 (Catholic school) Nov 2019-Feb 2020;
NSPCC volunteer (Oct 2018-present);
Literary Volunteer (charity) March 2019-present;
Children under 5 experience-siblings and infant family members (babysitting/day care)

In my personal and professional development, I have done online courses (without certificates at the present time, all for understanding or L1 grades on Future Learn website);
Cognitive psychology
Impact of childhood maltreatment on mental health
Understanding language in Literacy
Child protection for child's Rights
How computers work for education
Learning online: Communication and collaborating
Recreational Maths
Maths knowledge; Understanding numbers
IELTS reading, writing and speaking
Supporting children with multilingual abilities, different cultural backgrounds
Migrants, refugee and separated children support in education
Sensory needs: benefits of music and sound
Creating an inclusive classroom (support for SEND students)
Organising and supporting practical activities for SEND students
Exploring the importance of play for learning and development
Good practice in autism education
Sites and outside sources for learning
Teaching online and in the classroom skills
Communication and interpersonal skills in the workplace
Supporting dyslexic students
Managing mental health and stress
Motivation and engagment in diverse activities
Psychology and mental health understanding
Food as medicine
Caring for vulnerable children
Nutrition and environment understanding
Maternity and post-maternity care
Science of nutrition
Nutrition and wellbeing
Metabolomics
Sports/exercise for the prevention and treatment of illness
Coaching and leading skills for self-awareness
Supporting and teaching children who have suffered complex trauma
Teaching Maths puzzles
Nutrition and food safety
Improving children's education and wellbeing
Gender and social media culture
Preventing childhood obesity
Japanese culture
History of the science of psychology
Developmental psychology
Psychology of learning
Brain and behaviour-the effects of diet
The psychology of personality
Sensory needs-visual support for students
Psychological sensation and perception
Coaching mental health through physical activities
Understanding depression and anxiety due to physical illness
Social and emotional wellbeing for adolescents
Managing behaviour for learning
Mindfulness for wellbeing and performance
Care for children
Communicating effectively with vulnerable and young children
Relationship between food, good and brain
English (including phonics) in early childhood
Teaching practical and primary science
Understanding autism
Infant nutrition
Understanding different diets
Teaching practical and primary biology
Understanding the philosophical and scientific concepts of the mind
Blended learning
Developing literacy; From written to imagery work
Ethical practices
Chinese culture
The role of personal assistants for disability support
Biological psychology
The science of endurance training and performance
Supporting successful learning in primary and secondary school
Teaching vocabulary
Maintaining mindfulness
Understanding ADHD
Understanding epilepsy
Child protection for teachers
Understanding societies and cultures
Fairy tales-Messages, meanings, morals and origins
Addressing violence through professional care
Resources for actvities and promoting diversity
Sleep deprivation; Habits, solutions and strategies
Professional development for early career teaching
Healthcare for children with developmental disabilties
Improving the health of women, children and adolescents
Religious literacy, culture and diversity
Supporting victims of domestic violence
Preparing for teaching
Global health and disability
Challenges of 21st century education
Essential and inclusive education
Differentiation for learning
Lessons in public health promotion
Addressing postnatal depression
Developing cultural intelligence
Combating extremism in young people
Preparing for emergency planning
Introduction to applied linguistics and TESOL
Educating girls; Teaching approaches to help girls thrive
Defining the concept of culture
L3 training to safeguarding adults
Teaching primary science; Solar system
Transforming education in challenging environments
English as a medium of instruction for educators
Representing data with images and sound
How to plan English lessons
How to respond to bullying in schools
Logical and critical thinking
Global ethics

I am passionate about the education, wellbeing and health of all, especially children. I am also passionate about the Arts-creative writing, dance, performing, reading and designing. I love cooking/baking, exploring new places and things, learning about culture, myths and legends from all over the world, learning new languages and styles of fashion, traditions, artistic expression/art. I have an interest in the natural world and the solar system also.