This month, we’re shining a light on the power of One Voice. It only takes one voice to speak up, one action to create change, one moment to create lasting change.
Paula Barrett – SEN tutor, Executive Function Coach, Educational Consultant, and Director & Co-founder of The CODE Education – shared her journey of working with neurodivergent students, and how her voice made such a difference in one persons life. Here’s her story.
“Despite working in this industry for 16 years, I would controversially say that I realised this was my true calling quite late into my career.
“When I began as an SEN tutor, many moons ago, I was cautiously observing whether I was making an impact. I knew the theoretical side of my approach, had done the training and had seemingly happy kids in my sessions so I reassured myself that it was working.
“I put trust in the process and enjoyed seeing the incremental success and achievements of the children I supported. I also spent many evenings comforting them or their parents when there was a crisis or setback at school and everything seemed hopeless. One of these heartbreaking times was when a young lady, with a complex neurodivergent profile, who was trying her best and improving every day was told by a professional to not even try to apply for higher education as it would, quite frankly, “be a waste of time for her”. Her dream was to be able to go to University.
The moments that are so special for me are seeing the ‘theory’ of supporting neurodivergent children come to fruition and now seeing these young people go on incredible journeys to become lawyers, journalists, engineers, and – most importantly – happy young adults. The same young lady who was told she should forget university was recently awarded First Class Honours in Fine Arts at Newcastle University.
Something not being a ‘quick fix’ is always the message we give parents but we as professionals also have to process setbacks and have patience in the process. I have had many, many times that I have doubted myself.
A lightbulb moment for me has not been a single text, a single piece of news or a single achievement but it has been the realisation over the span of the last few years that these same shy, struggling children have mastered the system in THEIR way. It worked. You can give the tools but seeing the final fruits of their labour and seeing these children becoming the people who shape our society is priceless.”
— Paula Barrett
Why not join us for a chat?
If you’re interested in learning more about ‘Executive Function Coaching’, we run a free weekly Q&A session, you’re always welcome to join.
Because one voice, one action, one change—can transform a life.