Sophie Jackson-Taylor

For the last six years, I have worked within the education sector, from nursery (0-4 years) to upper KS2 in primary schools. This has enhanced my knowledge and experience and prepared me for starting my ECT years. I have always had a passion for supporting children, not only academically, but in all other areas too as I believe that every child deserves to be and feel seen and heard. I particularly promote a nurturing learning environment, where all children feel safe and secure in order to encourage motivation for learning. 

I started out on placements in various primary schools and nurseries during my level 3 diploma in early years education, gaining first-hand experience working in educational settings as a teaching assistant and nursery practitioner. Since then, I have worked as a one-to-one Special Support Assistant (SSA) supporting children with various needs, including autism, delayed language disorder (DLD), non-verbal communication and dealt with behavioural challenges. From this, I have gained a range of strategies for SEN and supporting diverse learning needs. 

More recently, I have come to the end of my teacher training, in which during my time training, I completed two contrasting primary school placements. The first one being in a year 6 class, which highly enriched the initial skills and knowledge I brought with me to my next placement. As I immersed myself into the role, I deepened my understanding of the National Curriculum and sharpened my content knowledge in many subjects. This highlighted the importance of careful planning and understanding the prior learning of the children, whilst ensuring any misconceptions were identified and corrected. I explored formative assessment, where I learned to use this within my practice, adapting lessons to meet individual pupil need. Additionally, I gained a great insight into the preparation of SAT’s practice and contributed to the marking process, gaining first hand understanding of data collection. From this I was able to reflect on previous lessons and create more structured and engaging lessons for that particular cohort of children, using different materials including manipulatives and visual aids, based on the children’s needs.  

My last placement, in a year 1 class really allowed me to consolidate my teaching experience in the sense that I took my teaching to the next level, taking on 100% of the teaching responsibilities, while continuously seeking and using any feedback where possible to enhance my practice further. In addition to this, I delivered all phonics sessions, learning new terminology which I now feel very confident in using. My two placements have helped me to discover my adaptability to many different situations and show I can work across the school. 

In addition to my practical experience, I have a solid academic foundation, having obtained a First-Class Honours degree in Early Childhood Studies. My education has deepened my understanding of child development and the importance of a seamless transition from early years to primary education. I integrate this knowledge into my teaching practice, using a variety of materials and methods to engage pupils and enhance their learning experiences.

September 2020 - July 2023: B&FC University - 1:1 BA HONS Degree, Early Childhood Studies.  

I am now also coming to the end of my teacher training where I will receive my QTS with PGCE Certificate. 

September 2023 - June 2024: Bright Futures SCITT.