Saskia Disant Email & Phone Number

I help students with learning difficulties gain insight and structure, so that they can discover their strengths, develop self-confidence, and enjoy learning English.In 1992 the Dutch government started the WSNS-project (1* see below), causing many teachers to panic. Before that, SEN (2*) learners attended specialised schools, where classes consisted of a maximum of 15 pupils. All of a sudden there were SEN learners attending our classes, but we’d never received any training. Yet we were expected to deliver the same quality of education to a group sometimes up to 39 children. This logically caused organizational problems, frustration and many children had behavioural problems. We all felt a bit unsafe.I remember 2 boys with ADHD who couldn’t stand each other, I constantly had to watch over them. A shy autistic girl who never dared to go to the bathroom and wet herself. And a highly dyslexic boy in year 5 I had to teach individually.I was fortunate to work at a school where this problem was dealt with in a positive and active manner. We had seminars organized by our school councillor. We learned to teach and accompany the children and to collaborate with the parents.I automatically opened my eyes and my heart. I started to distinguish the differences between “normal” learning difficulties and the recurring problems of my SEN learners. I have had children in my classes with dyslexia, AD(H)D, autism, hearing impairment and muscle disease, suffering from neglect and extreme violence.In 2013 I moved to France, and during my first year here I worked as a “Special Needs Assistant” for children with SEN. I worked for the “Ligue d’Enseignement Midi-Pyrenees” (3*). Again I followed training, this time also about dysphasia and dyspraxia. Had it not been for the fact that it was a non-renewable 1-year contract, I would have continued doing this, because I truly loved it.SEN learners have had a special place in my heart ever since I started working with them. To see them become more confident, blossom and have better results at school is true bliss. So when I became an English teacher, it was only natural for me to specialise in working with them.1*: WSNS Weer Samen Naar School = Back To School Together: children with a learning difficulty and/or mild physical handicap were moved from specialized schools to regular schools2*: SEN = Special Educational Needs3*: League d’Enseignement Midi-Pyrenees = French governmental institute responsible for (amongst others) hiring qualified assistants for SEN learners in primary and secondary schools

Listed skills include Languages Dutch English French, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and 5 others.