Well done, Mrs Cohen (Master of Arts)!

We’re always quick to celebrate the achievements of our pupils, but what about those of our teachers?

Hélène Cohen, our Additional Educational Needs Co-ordinator, has plenty to feel proud of. She recently received confirmation that she has gained a Distinction in her Masters degree in Leadership and Management for Learning and is looking forward to her Graduation ceremony on 7 May. Hopefully, the Head will give her the day off to attend!

Not being very good at sitting still when the long school day draws to a close, Hélène has been busily involved in lots of extra-curricular pursuits.

She was responsible for developing the interactive whiteboard software for the SoundsWrite synthetic phonics programme which we use at SLCJS. Originally a Kent-based initiative, SoundsWrite is now an internationally recognised approach to teaching phonics in schools.

Her Helpful Hints (advice for classroom teachers to follow in supporting learning-challenged pupils) have been a feature of our weekly staff meetings since she joined the SLCJS staff in September 2007. These hints are about to be published as part of a larger project – Forget the Label, Help them Learn – in association with the special needs consultant Fil Came of the Learning Works organisation.

Following her own successful MA, she has been commissioned to write course materials for an MA module for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators, run by Real Training. She has also been asked by Real Training to be a course tutor for their MA programme.

And, somehow, Hélène still finds time to bake delicious cakes for her colleagues to enjoy in the staffroom at breaktime!

By Mr S Whittle