Tutor support
Online learning means that participants can log in to their course anywhere at any time, using a computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone, making it possible to fit study sessions around work and home life.
Participants don’t study alone, however, as they’re assigned a personal tutor for support and guidance from enrolment to completion date (usually 12 weeks). Participants can contact their tutor online, or arrange a phone call, to discuss any questions about their course and assignments, and will receive a response within 2 working days.
Talking in person to my tutor was most helpful, as it was easier to discuss different techniques.
– Teaching Assistant (2021)
OLT tutors
OLT tutors are education specialists who have experience of working as advisory teachers, speech and language therapists, educational psychologists and heads of service.
In addition to coaching participants through their course and assignments, they provide two virtual meetings (usually via Zoom) to help participants reflect on their learning and plan changes to their practice.
This course is very user-friendly, informative and thought provoking. My tutor has been very supportive and helpful with feedback.
– Teacher (2021)
In-house tutors
If a school or local authority enrols a number of employees on a course, they can opt to have an in-house specialist provide tutor support and become a delivery partner. In this situation, we will provide tutor training after the in-house specialist has completed the course(s) to prepare them for tutoring others. In this way, delivery partners can reduce their cost per course place by more than 50%.
It was really useful to go through this course prior to other staff at my school so that I can support them in their understanding and we can have a common language to talk about a child's needs.
– SENDCo (2021)
Tutor profiles
Siobhan Duvigneau
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I am delighted to join OLT and its community of teaching practitioners, and look forward to helping professionals in our community to strengthen their capacity to support the learning goals of young people with SEND. This role aligns with my own professional efforts to champion the right to quality education for all, and links to my passion to help young people develop the skills to make enriching life choices and lead equanimous lives.
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Siobhan is a qualified teacher specialising in teacher-training in international country contexts, pastoral care, wellbeing and information literacy skills.
She has supported educators in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, and has qualifications in Youth Mindfulness.
- Two years as a primary school teacher and interventionist working with children with social and emotional needs in KS2
- Four years as a secondary school teacher specialising in ICT
- Eight years training lecturers, researchers, and library staff to improve learning outcomes, innovate pedagogical practices, and strengthen research practices in the Global South
- Youth mindfulness coach helping students to cultivate resilient minds and behaviours
Relevant qualifications
- PGCE KS3/4 ICT
- Masters in Education/Online Distance Learning
- Youth Mindfulness Coach
Naomi Forster
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As someone who has participated in self-guided study, in-person courses, webinars, and distance learning, I really appreciated OLT’s accessible and flexible approach to training. The inclusion of videos alongside textual content was a welcome change. I also liked the fact that I could engage with it for just a few minutes or dedicate longer periods of time, depending on my schedule and availability.
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Naomi is a qualified Teacher of the Deaf and Qualified Teacher of Multi-Sensory Impairment with over 20 years of experience teaching in schools and supporting schools and families as a peripatetic teacher. She is also the parent of a child with a disability, and has seen the huge impact effective support in school has on her child’s life. She lives and works in London, enjoying the rich diversity of inner-city life.
Relevant qualifications
- Currently pursuing a Masters in Multisensory Impairment
- PGDip (Ed) Teaching Hearing Impaired (deaf) Learners
- PGDip (Ed) Teaching MSI (deafblind) Learners
- CACDP BSL NVQ level 3, CACDP BSL Stage 2, CACDP BSL Stage 1
Rod Markham
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For me I see many advantages of OLT, not just its accessibility and flexibility. It has, at its heart, the philosophy of inclusion, encouraging and enabling staff to adapt their practice to meet the needs of the pupils and young people they support. Feedback from participants has frequently mentioned the powerful and sustainable impact the course had on them, and on their learners through the review and evaluation of SMART goal setting over time. I feel privileged to tutor these highly sought-after courses.
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Rod is a former Educational Psychologist (EP). During his time working as an EP for a London authority, he developed an interest in Autism and took on a specialist role. This led to him training as an OLT tutor, delivering courses within the authority to 550 members of staff. Rod has tutored participants from nursery to post 16 settings, with a wide range of staff, including teachers, mealtime supervisors, Learning Support Assistants, Inclusion Managers, SENCos, Speech Therapists, advisory teachers and EPs.
- 16 years as a mainstream primary and secondary school teacher in Inner London schools
- 8 years in a key stage 4 Pupil Referral Unit
- An Educational Psychologist from 1999 to 2023
Relevant qualifications
- TCert, Adv. Dip. Ed. (SEN), BA (Hons), MSC, HCPC registered
Gwyneth McCormack
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The OLT Vision Impairment (VI) course is a positive experience, which provides a clear structured introduction to the breadth of knowledge and skills required to support the successful inclusion of children with VI. OLT training provides a creative and interesting way to further your understanding of the specific and individual needs of children with visual impairments. The videos offer excellent examples of good inclusive practice.
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Gwyn is a qualified Teacher of Visual Impairments (BPhil. Spec.Ed. V.I. Distinction) Qualified Teacher Status (Cert.Ed.). She is an enthusiastic, passionate, committed and motivational individual, with a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of education and visual impairment. She has a clear understanding of inclusion from the School, Service, Child and Family perspectives.
- Six years as a mainstream secondary school teacher
- Eleven years as a Teacher of Visual Impairments in a Peripatetic Support Service supporting children and young people, 0-18 years old
- Five years managing a Local Authority, Peripatetic Support Service for Children with Visual Impairments
Relevant qualifications
- Cert Ed, BPhil.Spec.Ed.VI (Qualified Teacher of VI status)
Leighton Reed
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OLT courses provide an excellent learning platform to develop and enhance knowledge and skills in relation to sensory impairments.The videos and case studies are relevant and thought provoking and support the learning process all the way through making it interactive and fun!
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Over my teaching career I have held many posts - head of service(s), advisory teacher and classroom practitioner. Throughout that time I have sought to emphasise and celebrate the importance of continuing professional development and have worked closely with universities and voluntary agencies to support placements, course development and training.
Relevant qualifications
- B.Ed. in Special Educational Needs
- Certificate in Hearing Impairment
- Diploma in Visual Impairment
- M.Sc. in Educational Management