A FORMER University of Worcester student has published a book with advice for teachers on special needs education.
Already a published author on Special Educational Needs (SEN) teaching, Victoria Honeybourne, from Cleobury Mortimer, has released her latest work entitled Educating and Supporting Girls with Asperger’s and Autism.
Diagnosed with Asperger’s herself as a young adult, the 33-year-old’s interest in special needs teaching began while studying for her PGCE in Secondary Modern Foreign Languages in 2008 but realised it was not taught as a standalone subject at any institution.
Her decision to study at the University of Worcester was partly driven by the opportunity to enhance her PGCE with the additional extra study in Special Educational Needs that was offered.
This optional part of the course involved extra lectures, spending time with the special needs coordinator on school placements and a visit to a special needs school.
Victoria said: “I found it fascinating to discover different ways of learning and various ways of removing barriers to accessing the mainstream curriculum.
“I also enjoyed the variety that teaching learners with SEN brings.”
Now working part-time as a Senior Advisory Teacher for Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Victoria visits schools around Shropshire and Telford to advise teachers and assess pupils with special needs.
She said: “I really enjoyed my PGCE year at Worcester, it gave me a very supportive start to my teaching career and I am lucky that I had the opportunity to follow a specific SEN Pathway, without that I wouldn’t be doing what I am now.”
