Specialist Study Skills Scotland
Specialist Study Skills Scotland
Supporting Neurodivergent Students at College and University
A little bit about me.......
I am a well-qualified and experienced teacher of several subjects and have 20 years of teaching experience. I have QTS (qualified teacher status) and am a Fully Registered Member of the GTC (General Teaching Council for Scotland).
I have been working in various teaching and assessing roles in universities for most of this time and am therefore very familiar with the UK university system and can understand and empathise with the challenges of the student experience and journey.
Furthermore, I am myself neurodivergent, having been diagnosed with ADHD and I believe that my breadth of experience in education as an educator as well as a student puts me in a unique position to be able to help neurodivergent students navigate their way through the challenges that the university system can pose.
In 2017, I decided to focus on working exclusively with neurodivergent university students and began working as a Specialist Study Skills Adviser for students with learning differences such as dyslexia and as a Specialist Mentor for Students with Autism Spectrum Conditions. I worked in these roles in universities across Scotland, including the universities of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
I believe that every student is an individual and my sessions take a person-centred approach where I aim to fully understand how the student in front of me learns best in order to help them develop highly customised learning methods and strategies which work best in their specific case and context.
I consider myself a life-long student and I continue to invest in my own education and personal and professional development and I hope to pass the benefit of this on to the students I work with. I hold several post-graduate level qualifications and am currently training in psychodynamic counselling on a COSCA accredited pathway.
I meet all of the requirements set out by SFE and SAAS to offer specialist mentoring (autism) and specialist study skills support (SpLDs and Autism) to students receiving Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA) and am registered with the Department for Education and the Association of Non-Medical Help Providers.
All of my qualifications and professional memberships and relevant registrations are listed below.
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MA Applied Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Leicester, 2012
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PGCE Modern Languages Teaching with Distinction, University of Strathclyde, 2003
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PGCE Inclusive Education with Distinction (Modules: Dyslexia: Interpersonal Relationships and Communication; Mental Health in Education) University of the West of Scotland, 2022
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BA French and Italian: Language and Literature, University of Strathclyde, 2001
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National Autistic Society Mentoring Modules (Understanding autism; Autism and communication; Autism and ensory experience; Autism, stress and anxiety; Autism: supporting families; Autism: Women and girls), 2021
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Certificate in Non-Violent Communication, NVC Foundation, 2021
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Certificate in ADHD Management in Post-16 Educational Settings (Patoss and UK Adult ADHD Network)
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Fully Registered Member of the General Teaching Council Scotland (Registered Subjects: Modern Languages; Support for Learning)
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Up-to-date (2023) Disclosure Checked and Member of the PVG scheme.
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Associate Member FE/HE of the Dyslexia Guild (Meets DSA Requirements)
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Mental Health First Aid Trained (SMFHA, 2019)
Services Offered for Students with DSA Funding
I thought it would be nice to let you know that I got a First in my degree yesterday. I really appreciate all of the support you gave me through those first 2 years of university, you were greatly influential in helping me understand how dyslexia can affect other areas of my life such as my levels of stress and techniques to cope with this.
Undergraduate Psychology Student, Glasgow - Study Skills
I really appreciate the support Caterina has given me. She is a fantastic mentor and I am very grateful to have her. She is always supportive, kind, encouraging and flexible.
Undergraduate English Literature Student, Glasgow, - Autism Mentoring
Cateriana is a brilliant study skills tutor and helps me so much to get through the challenging aspects of academic life.
Undergraduate Politics Student, Edinburgh - Study Skills
What my students have said about me.......
Customised Educational Services
If you are looking for customised tuition or neurodiversity awareness training for yourself or institution or business and cannot find what you are looking for on this website, please contact me directly with your query. I can provide tailored individual or group sessions to meet your needs.