Bloom has been set up by Sian McDonald, a passionate neurodivergent adult who has, as a teacher in mainstream and special schools, SENDCo, and as a parent to two neurodivergent teenagers, experienced first hand the systemic issues faced by neurodivergent children and their parents in the current education system. Sian wants to support children and their parents in experiencing the joy of learning. This can happen through developing self-esteem, self-efficacy and self-regulation skills so that children and young people have the ability to stay true to themselves and advocate for themselves in our 'one size fits all' education system. Through addressing each child's barriers to learning in a bespoke, personal and intuitive way, Sian has helped hundreds of children to succeed inside and outside of formal education in order to set then on a path towards becoming a balanced and self-aware young adult, ready to independently navigate the world without baggage from educational trauma. Sian has a comfortable and cosy shed at her home in Marlow, in which she teaches. Coming to clients homes is also a possibility, with recognition for travel costs in fees.
Why Bloom?
With Bloom, children can learn in the way that suits them best, whilst learning about themselves and their strengths and weaknesses. Sian uses knowledge, techniques and skills from extensive experience in teaching and as a SENDCo in mainstream and special schools, parenting two children with educational challenges arising from their neurodiversity, her own experiences as a neurodivergent individual growing up and trying to fit in, alongside knowledge gained from time spent working as a specialist teacher with a local authority Cognition and Learning team. Teaching reading and writing using a holistic approach (not through JUST phonics and with very little stress about fronted adverbials!), maths with a focus on application and over-learning (Sian is dyscalculic and really gets maths anxiety), and giving opportunities for children to tackle their weaker areas at the level which suits them, so that they can see their own progress and build confidence and flexibility. Using techniques learned from years of working alongside and implementing advice from specialists like Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists and having attended numerous training opportunities with such services, Sian can quickly adapt teaching to manage the sensory and language challenges, executive functioning and social/emotional difficulties often faced by neurodivergent individuals in schools. Most importantly, Sian has learned from every single individual child she has had the opportunity to work with (and in 27 years, that is a lot!) and this learning will never stop. Finally, Sian is a trauma-sensitive practitioner, having attended training several times for nurture theory and practice, attuned education (Sheila Mulvenny) and being a designated safeguarding lead and senior mental-health lead. Sian has personally researched and supported her own children and others using the research and theories of Naomi Fisher, Paul Dix, Stephen Parsons, Melanie Cross, Michelle Garcia-Winner, Alex Kelly and a vast community of passionate parents united in a desire to make learning accessible for all children. Sian Loves a soundbite, and in describing her understanding of learning in teaching parlance, her motto is 'a child has to Maslow, before they can Bloom'. This refers to an intrinsic understanding that higher-order skills such as intellectual development and learning can only take place when a child is secure, comfortable and have their social, emotional and sensory needs met.