Teacher: Jake Griffiths-Birnie:

Hello my name is Jake and I am the teacher in Sunshine Class. I became a primary school teacher in 2014, having trained specifically in the Early Years Foundation Stage and how the youngest children learn through play.

Having taught in mainstream Nursery and Reception classes I moved into special needs education after becoming fascinated by the way some of the learners in my class saw the world differently, and I have worked in a number of different educational settings since.

I joined College Park in 2019 and now deliver our curriculum to the newest members of the school along with an amazing team of dedicated and passionate teaching assistants. Our ethos is one of respect and dignity for each learner and their unique personalities, virtues and challenges, in which we aim to ignite a love of learning and lay the foundations for their school career and life after school. In Sunshine Class we develop early communication and language skills, independence and self-expression through highly motivating, individualised and above all fun learning activities!

We support learners to access the 7 areas of the Early Years curriculum through both play and adult-led activities in which adults scaffold learning through scientifically backed and neuro-divergent affirming strategies such as the SCERTS framework. We work closely with speech and language, and occupational therapists to ensure that target setting is meaningful, appropriate and achievable for all learners.

Adults consistently support learners with their emotional regulation through caring and positive relationships, and safeguarding is always our top priority.

I have also trained as a yoga, mindfulness and meditation teacher, specializing in teaching autistic children and I like to incorporate elements of this into our daily routines in Sunshine Class. It really is an honour to work with such inquisitive and joyful young minds, and I look forward to working in close partnership with parents and carers to ensure the best possible outcomes for all. 

Teaching Assistants:

Lekshimi

Sara