Hello
This is by way of an introduction to Will Kittow, SENDCo and teacher of SEN.
Will passed his PGCE (Secondary English, Exeter) in 2018 and then started teaching in a special school for children with mild learning difficulties in Exeter. Following this brilliant introduction to teaching where he was lucky to work with the most awesome, talented teenagers, he started a new direction in his career as a SENDCo in a resource base for primary children with mental health (SEMH) and communication (C&I) difficulties.
Now, having experienced the difficulties that children and their parents face in a brutal economic and political climate for special needs education, Will has decided to support children and their families individually - both tutoring and mentoring children who are finding school or learning difficult, and supporting their families to navigate the tricky terrain of funding and support.
Experience
Will is born and bred on the Blackdown Hills on the Devon and Somerset border where he still lives next door to his family's farm. He keeps his dogs, horses and chickens and potters about in the garden to stay sane.
He has a degree in philosophy from his time in London where he also wrote and worked with groups of artists, making work for theatre and cabaret before moving to Falmouth to complete an MA in writing and then returning to Devon full-time to take his PGCE.
Will's experience of teaching has been almost wholly in special education - first as a teacher in special school and then as a SENDCo in a resource base. This experience has taught Will the benefit of building positive, trusting relationships with children whose special needs often cause them to feel miserable at school - either because they struggle to learn or because their lives have so many challenges that learning is really hard. Either way, the path to success is listening, and using what is heard to direct what is taught and how.
Another significant life lesson has been understanding the importance of joined up working - with the child at the centre but with their family or carers and often adults from the local authority, health and social care all working to find the right support for each child to ensure they are able to experience success. That is the guiding principle of Will Kittow - listen to everyone and act in the interest of the child, with their voice front and centre.
Contact
This site is still under development but Will is always available to discuss anything related to tutoring, mentoring or supporting families.
07971 502373