Ben B.
Computing Showcase Website
School-based Work Experience
I have worked in a number of educational establishments prior to starting on the PGCE course here in Manchester. I worked in many different year groups, ranging from reception through to Year 8 with actual teaching experience in Years R-6.
Volunteer at various Primary and Middle Schools in West Suffolk
March 2013 - July 2013
I worked as a volunteer in 6 different classrooms across 4 different schools in Suffolk in Years 2-8 getting work experience prior to applying as a Teaching Assistant at another primary school. Whilst on these placements, I worked with small groups, helping children with maths, literacy, science and creative arts. I was involved in many school productions playing guitar and piano as accompaniment for different year group's songs and dances.
Teaching Assistant/ Cover Supervisor at a Primary School in the Thetford Area, Norfolk
September 2013 - May 2014
Whilst working at this primary school, I had many responsiblities: I worked as a TA in a Upper KS2 classroom as support for: a student with autism, spina biffida, global developmental delay, dyspraxia and emotional difficulties; groups of children with low literacy or maths ability or reading difficulties taking groups out for intervention or extension. I was required to also work as a TA in a Year 4 classroom where I supported a girl with autism in her afternoon creative subject sessions.
Furthermore, I worked as a cover supervisor to look after classes when their teacher was on PPA, teaching science, history, art, design technology, French, music and computing all years in the school from Reception through UKS2. I found my time in reception surprisingly enjoyable and I was asked to accompany the children on a trip to a local Dinosaur park given my affinity for the children in the class. I also accompanied KS2 on a trip to the Harry Potter film studios where people mistook me for a member of staff given the enthusiasm I was discussing the artefacts on display with the children.
Trainee Teacher at a Primary School in the Brandon Area, Suffolk
May 2014 - Sept 2014
For a short period, I worked at a primary school in the Brandon area as a trainee teacher in a Year 2 classroom where I was responsible, with guidance for all of the class' planning and teaching as well as display boards and taking the class on school field trips. I was instrumental in the class assembly: guiding the children to create artwork for display as well as teaching them a song by the Beatles to sing along to. I worked with intervention groups as well as with individual children to push their reading along using phoneme mats and other methods to promote their reading development. I gained lots of experience from this placement as I learnt about appropriately differentiating work for the year group and had experience dealing with lots of challenging behaviours.
Learning Support Assistant at a Higher Education Establishment in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
October 2014 - June 2015
I worked as an LSA for the majority of the previous academic year working to assist students with disabilities for the duration of their studies, predominatly in ICT and foundation subjects. I worked 1:1 with a blind student as an amanuensis, worked in close relation to a student with severe ADHD, another student with very poor literacy and a student with mild autistic spectrum tendencies. This valuable experience afforded me the toolset required to undertake my summer long work at Camp Hemlocks over the Summer of 2015.
Home Based Placement at a Primary School in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Sept 2015
During my home-based placement I worked in a Year 4 class observing the fashion in which teachers outline expectations for behaviour and work quality. I was also fortunate enough to observe a Year 3 class for a short period, wherein I observed a mathematics session where significant use of behaviour management techniques had to be exercised given the highly exciting nature of the session.