About Me

Who am I?

My name is Ann Drewitt and I am a qualified teacher with a degree in psychology. I have over 20 years teaching experience in both maintained and independent schools. My passion has always been supporting pupils with additional needs and I have worked as a SENCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) for 17 years. 

When I’m not working, I love being outside, walking with our dogs, camping, cycling and spending time with my lovely family. I also enjoy listening to and playing classical music. 

SEN experience

I have a wealth of knowledge around supporting pupils with a wide range of special educational needs including Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, working memory and processing difficulties, speech and language difficulties, DLD, auditory processing difficulties, visual difficulties, SEMH, EBSA and Down’s Syndrome.

I have considerable experience of navigating the EHCP process, both as a professional and also as a parent, meaning I have additional insight into how best to support families through the system. 

Home education

Like so many other neurodivergent young people, our own children both found school to be a source of anxiety and stress, eventually affecting their physical and mental health and leading to a point where they were unable to attend. We turned to Home Education to provide them with an environment in which they can develop at their own pace and thrive. 

Society ingrains in us that schooling is synonymous with education, so it has been fascinating for me to discover and explore an alternative approach.

Autism and ADHD

I am deeply passionate about supporting Autistic young people and those with ADHD in order that they may be understood and receive the help they deserve. My own life experience and the knowledge I’ve gained through parenting gives me a personal insight into the challenges faced by those who process the world differently.

 

I’m neuro-affirming, meaning I believe neurodiversity is a positive thing. I believe that we should all be viewed as individuals with diverse experiences and needs and that no one type of brain is superior to any other. 

Neurodivergent children deserve to feel happy and safe. They deserve to have their needs met and their opinions heard. 

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Mathematics – Lancaster University

PGCE in Primary Education – Cambridge University 

Further Training

In addition to my formal qualifications, here is a list of just some of the recent training courses I have attended and completed. 

  • Inclusion Needs You – Active Impact
  • A Guide to SEND Law, Intensive Training Course – Thomas Emmett, Birkett Long Solicitors 
  • Being Autism Inclusive – Active Impact  
  • Child Protection Training – Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership 
  • First Aid Training – First Aid for Schools
  • Children Out of School – Rukhsana Koser, Education Solicitor
  • Strategies for a Neurodiverse Classroom – ADHD Foundation
  • Supporting Pupils with Down’s Syndrome – Ups and Downs Southwest
  • The Nurturing Anxiety Programme – The Nurture Programme
  • Conversation on Autistic Young People and Eating Disorders – The Autistic Girls Network
  • Early Years and Primary Education for learners who have Down’s Syndrome – Down’s Syndrome Association
  • How to help and support a demand avoidant child – Newbold Hope
  • Food Avoidance, restricted eating and ARFID – Lavender
  • How to run Lego Therapy Intervention – The Contented Child
  • Sensory Circuits Training – Ellie Clarke, Paediatric OT
  • Precision Teaching – The Education Detective
  • Dyslexia Friendly Learning Environment – British Dyslexia Association
  • Practical Strategies for Study Skills – British Dyslexia Association
  • Practical Strategies for Organisational Skills – British Dyslexia Association
  • Learner Motivation and Self-esteem – British Dyslexia Association
  • Practical Strategies for Writing – British Dyslexia Association
  • Practical Strategies for Reading – British Dyslexia Association
  • Practical Strategies for Spelling – British Dyslexia Association
  • Fundamentals of Dyslexia Support – British Dyslexia Association
  • Fundamentals of Dyslexia Awareness – British Dyslexia Association
  • Supporting Pupils with Down’s Syndrome in the Classroom – CHM Teaching School Alliance
  • Working with Listening Problems, unlocking Auditory Processing Difficulties – Cathy Shilling, Speech and Language Therapist
  • Improving outcomes for children on the Autism Spectrum – Advisory Teaching Service
  • Social Narratives and Comic Strip Conversations – Advisory Teaching Service
  • Graduated Pathway of Early Help and Support – Families First Plus Gloucestershire