Helen Hayhoe

2015 will be the 40th anniversary of my first teaching experience in the field of special education. I have taught (full or part time) ever since, in mainstream and special schools and in tertiary education. For most of my career I have been a teacher, but for many years after I gained my PhD also worked part time as a researcher/practitioner in funded research projects associated with Universities such as the Cambridge Institute of Education. Several projects led to publication.

In my 20 plus years at Richmond upon Thames College I was involved in teacher education and took part in cross college inspections as a member of the quality management team. As Deputy Head Teacher at Strathmore School I successfully negotiated my fifth Ofsted inspection.

I have experienced leadership roles within college, school and The Makaton Charity and have studied in the field of educational management. At heart, I am a practitioner. Creating the climate for learning is so important.

My specialisms include communication, art and design, employability, life skills, curriculum design and development, teacher education, accreditation and quality management.

The Makaton Language programme has been dear to my heart for all of my years in the field, and I continue to promote its use not only for people with learning difficulties but with those who experience aphasia or dementia, for speakers of additional languages, at home and in the community.

My PhD explored the differential outcomes of a peer integration scheme: mainstream peers are the gatekeepers of future opportunities for those with learning difficulties, and I found great differences in the behavioural outcomes of different kinds of shared activities, tracking cohorts of volunteers over 10 years following their experience (ask me more).

I have valued the opportunity to collaborate, teach, train, write and share what I have learnt, and continue to do so into the future.