Month: March 2022

After 3 years due to pregnancy and then covid, I was able to go out and visit my schools and clients. I had the best day. It made me realise how lucky I am to be doing this job and supplying schools with SEN professionals.

I work with an SEN school in Lewisham where I supply 20 Teaching Assistants (TAs). Seeing all my TAs in action was amazing. The feedback I got from not just the client but the TAs also was amazing and it touched me.

I was able to support the team by helping the children off the buses. Seeing their little faces looking forward to a new day at school and achieving something new that day was something I’ll never forget.

One little boy gave me the biggest hug when I entered the class and led me straight to his learning folder. He picked up the felt numbers and showed me he could count to 10. This little boy had ASD and Downs Syndrome and nothing was stopping him from showing me how bright he was… this for me was another I’ll never forget.

I also went to another SEN school of mine afterwards in Swanley, which I’ve volunteered at several times. Due to covid, I wasn’t allowed to look around but I saw my client face to face for a good catch up.

As I was walking out, I noticed a basket full of bunches of daffodils that the students had collected and picked from the school’s grounds and they were selling them to raise money for their school prom in July. I instantly brought a couple of bunches and walked out with the biggest smile on my face, knowing these wonderful students had picked them and would be so proud of themselves that they had made a sale.

If you need support in recruiting SEN staff for your call then contact our team today on 0207 614 4270 or email: info@sugarmaneducation.co.uk

At the start of the academic year, Affinity Workforce Solutions and its market-leading brands, CER, Monarch Education and Sugarman Education were appointed as an approved provider on the National Tutoring Programme (NTP).

Set up by the Department for Education, as part of the Government’s £1 billion funding package, the NTP was established to help students whose education has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and offers extra support to close the attainment gap.

Schools and academies can work in partnership with a tuition partner to provide one-to-one and group tuition for pupils in specific subject areas.

Six months as an NTP tuition partner, Affinity Workforce Solutions and its brands have supplied experienced, qualified tutors who have delivered in the region of 1000 hours of extra tuition to students outside of the classroom.

Building Confidence, Engagement and Motivation

One of the tutors delivering these sessions, under the NTP, is Faye Brown. Faye is a qualified teacher and registered with Affinity Workforce in 2008. Since September 2021 Faye has been supporting pupils with extra tuition and has seen first-hand the impact the programme is having on the younger generation.

She commented: “The NTP is having a positive impact on the pupils I teach. Whether teaching individual pupils or small groups, pupils all benefit from the additional input they receive. I have found that pupils are very responsive to the personalised learning approach and some have even asked if they could have longer lessons.”

The tuition Faye provides not only supports pupils academically but also helps to build confidence, engagement and motivation and this is something Faye is also witnessing when delivering tuition.

She explained: “Sometimes pupils just need some praise and a little encouragement to realise that they can achieve more than their current level of attainment. For example, one pupil was unable to write his name correctly but after a few lessons, he could write it effortlessly.”

Making a Difference

These stories are not uncommon – every day our tutors are making a difference to those pupils whose education has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Group Operations Director at Affinity Workforce Solutions, Alex Champion is proud to be able to supply high quality, experienced tutors who are making a difference.

He said: “We are delighted to be a supplier on the NTP to support pupils to continue to grow, develop and learn. The pandemic affected the younger generation massively and we are committed to ensuring that students have access to specialist tutors so they can achieve their potential.

“Every day our tutors are inspiring, encouraging and supporting hundreds of pupils so they can achieve and everyone at Affinity Workforce is proud to be able to make this happen.”

Through the NTP, Affinity Workforce provides additional tutoring either face-to-face in the school or via an online platform, Affinity Tutors.
All tutors registered with Affinity Workforce are experienced educators with up-to-date knowledge of the current curriculum. Our tutors have completed a rigorous compliance process that is in line with Keeping Children Safer in Education and hold a current enhanced DBS.

If you would like more information on how your school can work in partnership with Affinity Workforce email: abetterway@affinityworkforce.com