A former Special Educational Needs, Disability & Inclusive Practice (SENDIP) student from Solihull College & University Centre is making a difference with SEND students after completing her degree.
Bonny-Louisa Emery has wanted to work with people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities for many years. The College’s degree in partnership with Birmingham Newman University has allowed her to take that step.
It all started when she was a young child. She comments: “My Mum’s friends son came into my life when I was young. He was the on the autism spectrum. I grew up around him and he constantly amazed me! I became his PA when I became a young adult, and I would take him out to socialise and learn life skills out in the community. It really opened up a whole new world for me.”
At this time Bonny-Lou was working at the College in the admin team. She met lots of wonderful students with SEND which inspired her to complete her level 2 and 3 adult education courses in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
After a placement, Bonny-Lou earned a full-time job at Merstone School where she flourished for 8 years as a Learning Support Assistant while also carrying out her work outside the classroom as a PA for many of the students she had met along the way.
But the lure of further study was strong, and after having her daughter, she began her academic journey again. She comments: “I enrolled on the Foundation Degree in SENDIP at the College. This was a daunting time for me as I’m not naturally academic, but I really wanted to achieve my goal of being a SEND teacher. After completing my Foundation Degree, I then completed my BA Top Up to turn it into a full degree. After three long hard years I completed with a 2.1 and I was on cloud nine!
“At this point my employer had enrolled me onto a teaching training PGCE apprenticeship qualification. So, for a further year, I studied again and now I am in my first year as an Early Career Teacher (ECT) and I have a wonderful Autism communication class. This is my absolute passion. I learn something every day from my pupils, and I feel so privileged and honoured to be able to work with children who see the world differently, they amaze and motivate me every day!”
Additional Needs Support Tutor and HE Lecturer, Mark Harding, is delighted. He comments: “Bonny-Lou enrolled on the SENDIP degree with a great deal of enthusiasm for the subject area, but with low confidence in terms of her academic skills. Bonny-Lou was unsure of her ability to succeed at this level of education but with an open minded and resilient approach, she accessed the support around her to complete her studies with flying colours.
During her time on the course, Bonny-Lou became a key member of an amazing group of people all destined to support and enhance the lives of those with SEND. Therefore, it is delightful to see her now working as a teacher with ambitions of furthering her studies at Master’s level.”
Bonny- Lou plans to continue in education with a Master’s Degree and then would like to use her musical skills to become a music therapist in order to continue her work with SEND children.
