Jody Draper-hurst

I am writing to express my interest in the KS2 primary school teacher position. As a teacher I have a unique background in entertainment and a passion for nurturing young minds, I am confident I would be a strong asset to your school community. My own positive experience through education is one of the reasons I know I can inspire and educate the youth of today. I want to be the teacher who’s known for encouraging and inspiring children. School should be a happy place for all children to attend, thrive and be the best they can be. Explore all aspects of what a full enriching curriculum has to offer. 

While my path to teaching may not be traditional, my experiences have instilled in me the skills and confidence necessary to thrive in a classroom. Previously, I honed my ability to captivate an audience and deliver information in an engaging way during my time as a musical theatre student. This experience, coupled with my work abroad in singing and entertainment roles in Cyprus and Spain, allowed me to develop creative and interactive methods to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. This has helped me to develop strategies to help children become more active and engaged learners. 

Most recently, I successfully completed my teaching qualification and excelled in a governmental OFSTED report, demonstrating my strong grasp of curriculum delivery and classroom management. My teaching philosophy is based around student-centred and personalized learning for every student. I am a firm believer in an inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued and supported. To achieve this, I utilize a variety of Assessment for Learning (AFL) strategies to identify student strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to adapt teaching and provide scaffolds to support each child. This focus on AFL helps me ensure all students are actively engaged in the learning process and can reach their full potential. 

Beyond my qualifications, Dubai holds a special place in my heart. Having visited the city previously and having close friends residing there, I am eager to relocate with my family and immerse ourselves in the vibrant and multicultural environment that Dubai offers. I believe my passion for education, combined with my unique skillset, focus on creating an inclusive learning environment and my passion of drama and the arts can help to create an engaging and nurturing learning environment where all learners can thrive. I believe to succeed in education we need to inspire the children and mould them to become independent and self-motivated learners. Resilience is a key attribute that we need to succeed in both school and adult life. 

As a teacher I believe in setting high ceilings for all pupils regardless of need. Providing the correct scaffolds so that all leaners can reach the same learning outcomes of the lesson. Believing that every pupil can become whatever they would like to be. Giving the children a sense of belonging is crucial not only to their academic development but also their personal development. Feeling that sense of community that you can bring to a classroom and the school, making sure the children leave their school days as a confident, valued member of their community. 
I am keen to progress my career as a teacher and work on my professional development while also providing quality first-year teaching. I understand that we are stronger as a team and every individual matters. I am a highly adaptable and enthusiastic individual who thrives in a collaborative environment, and I think it is crucial in such a challenging job role to be able to support all staff within the school. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. I will also be visiting Dubai again around the 28th of May and would love the opportunity to meet in person. 

9th September 2022: Safeguarding, 

16th September 2022: Features of a good lesson

22nd September 2022: Introduction to phonics

23rd September 2022 Managing behaviour, as well as research by Bill Rodgers on classroom management. Looking at how effective behaviour management can help promote a safe, healthy, productive learning environment for the children. Working on positive praise and reward systems. Setting out those early boundaries and rules within the classroom and creating those together as a class will make the children feel more involved and responsible for their own behaviour.

30 September 2022: Child development and learning theories. Looking at learning theorist such as Vygotsky and Piaget’s and their views on pedagogy. Breaking down behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism and the roles they play through out education. 

7 October 2022: Introduction to SEND, Supporting SCLN Students, and Understanding Autism. Talking about SEN and EHCP support plans and what they mean to the pupil and the school. How we can spot the signs that an SEN plan might be required and the steps and adaptations to support those learners. 

21st October 2022 Attachment and behavior. Researching the different types of attachment and how they can affect a pupil’s behaviour, how we can support this and rebuilding relationships that might need repairing. 

November 4, 2022: Writing: inspiring writing and the writing process. Making sure that we follow the process, giving children an audience and purpose for writing, interweaving those grammatical skills throughout the process, and making sure they plan effectively. Once the planning stages are complete, the children can then create their piece of writing, It is important we make it clear this is just a first draft and we teach them the skills to be able to proofread, edit and revise. Lastly, giving them the opportunity to publish their finished products will give them a sense of pride.

11 November 2022: EAL and equity, equality and diversity Followed by NASBTT course on Supporting EAL learners and equality and diversity. 

2nd December 2022: E safety, Certified by COEP Trainer. 

12th December 2022: Relationships and health education (RHE)

6th January 2023: Pupil Progress, Attainment and marking for improvement Followed by NASBTT course on Marking and feedback. 

13 January 2023: Teaching of Grammar Followed by NASBTT course on Grammar for Writing. Delving into the many layers of the English Grammar curriculum and looking at how it is important to expose the children to the vocabulary at an early age. 

19 January 2023: Improving Reading outcomes. This training was about promoting reading for pleasure to try and close the read gap that we can see within schools. Looking at the techniques we can use as well as making reading accessible to all reader of every ability. 

27 January 2023: Effective working with support staff Followed by NASBTT course on Working with TAs. The aim is to make sure we are using support staff effectively, as they can be invaluable to pupil progress if utilized by the teacher.

3rd February 2023: EYFS Pedagogy and Principles. Research on EYFS guidance and curriculum, exploring the 3 prime areas and the 4 specific areas that make up the framework. 

17th March 2023: Restorative Practice. Looking into a different approach to behaviour management, creating a whole school approach on restorative practice and how we can begin to implement it into our daily practice. 

26th April 2023—P.E.—looking at the curriculum and how we can be creative with it to make sure children get exposed to a wide range of activities and skills. 

26th May 2023: Maths: Looking at securing fluency in maths from an early age, laying the foundations before building on more complex equations. How important it is to make sure children have a clear understanding of number and the different ways in which they can be represented.

I have successfully completed my QTS and PGCE certificate in Primary Education KS1 and KS2