Linda Bell

Having worked in education for 35 years, Linda now works as an educational consultant focusing on a wide range of teaching and advisory work for SEN. Linda works cross phase and acts in an advisory and consultative role for schools.  She has put together numerous training packages and many group and individual programmes for both primary and secondary pupils.

If you are interested in any of Linda's INSET courses please fill out the Consultant enquiry form within the inset page or contact the office on 01672 512914 for further details and availability.

Linda has taught English, History and various other subjects in secondary schools since 1976. Over the years she has held several departmental and pastoral positions of responsibility and moved into the field of SEN 16 years ago as the Teacher in Charge of a Literacy Unit for pupils with Dyslexia and later SENCo in a large secondary school. In 2000, Linda left mainstream teaching and became a Multi Professional Team Coordinator leading a team of Behaviour Support Teachers and Behaviour Support Assistants in North West Surrey before moving to the London Borough of Richmond, as the Team Leader of the Learning Needs Team. Whilst there, she advised and supported primary and secondary schools on issues relating to SEN.         

Linda now works as an educational consultant. She has published two books: Peer Support in the Primary Playground and Beyond Transition: An intervention programme to support vulnerable students at KS3, and is focusing her work on writing and offering training packages, advice and consultancy to support staff in meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs.

Having worked in the field of special needs for many years, Linda has a wealth of knowledge and experience and can tailor work to suit specific requirements. Linda will be able to help with new SENCo induction, auditing your SEN provision and provision management as well as offering tailored INSET. Below are some of the sessions that she is able to offer.

Teaching Assistant Induction

Many new teaching and learning assistants are plunged into their new role with little understanding of the difficulties facing the pupils they are supporting and the best way to improve the learning opportunities for the young people in their care. This session offers new teaching assistants the opportunity to become familiar with:

• The legal aspects of their role
• Barriers to children’s learning
• Inclusive strategies
• Helpful suggestions for dealing with difficult behaviour
• Where to go for further advice and support

This session can be tailored to suit the needs of primary or secondary schools or to include other topics such as memory and motivational skills, the power of positive language or study skills.

Target Audience/Age group of pupils

Primary or secondary teaching assistants

The Inclusive Classroom

The course will provide teachers with strategies to develop the quality of teaching and learning for a range of children with special educational needs within their classes. It aims to offer the opportunity to better understand the diffciultes facing the pupils in their class. It can equip them with an understanding of memory processes and motivation theory, how they relate to a variety of special educational needs and  suggests strategies to provide a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

Target Audience/Age group of pupils

Primary or secondary teachers

Supporting pupils with literacy and/or numeracy difficulties

Aimed at teaching assistants, this course looks at increasing knowledge and understanding of literacy or numeracy difficulties as well as offering practical strategies for supporting children in class as well as working with children in small groups and 1:1.

Target Audience/Age group of pupils

Primary or secondary teaching assistants

Managing Behaviour, Improving Learning

This course looks at providing staff with a greater understanding of children’s behaviour. It touches upon the types of behaviour staff may experience and how this impacts on pupil learning. During this session staff will develop skills to better manage challenging behaviour and improve the learning of the pupils in their care.

Target Audience/Age group of pupils

Primary or secondary teachers and teaching assistants

Looking at Assessments

The focus of this session is to increase understanding and knowledge of assessments for pupils with special educational needs. It will take a look at various assessments available for pupils with literacy, language, numeracy and social emotional and behavioural difficulties. It will cover observations and look at some of the ways in which we can effectively monitor and track pupils’ progress.

Target Audience/Age group of pupils

Primary or secondary SENCos or Inclusion Coordinators

Peer Support in the Primary Playground (2009)

Provides everything that you will need to implement a peer support programme that will encourage your Year 6 pupils to support the younger members of their community in the playground. It includes suggestions for ensuring staff and governor support, all recruitment and training materials as well as suggestions for monitoring progress and effectiveness of the intervention.

Beyond Transition: An intervention programme to support vulnerable students at KS3 (2011)

Beyond Transition aims to support vulnerable pupils through transition and beyond. This practical resource includes strategies for encouraging teamwork, participation, raising self-esteem within the classroom and, for the most vulnerable, a programme to support pupils at an individual or group level. The Survival Skills Programme will enable your pupils to develop skills that will help them both in school and when they move to the workplace or further education.