Stephanie Austwick

Literacy often isn’t about words, it’s about magic. Then it’s about words.

The first step when getting children to read and write, especially reluctant learners, especially reluctant boy learners, isn’t getting them to read or write. It’s often not about getting them to do anything. It about getting to them. Engaging them. Luring them in. Flicking that switch. Igniting that spark.

This is something that Stephanie does wonderfully.

A literacy practitioner for many years and up until recently a regional advisor for primary literacy, Stephanie was introduced to us by Independent Thinking Associate and headteacher Julie Rees who had used her in her own school in Herefordshire. ‘She has transformed literacy in our school’, is how Julie put it. And, when we first met Stephanie, we could see why.

With her wisdom from time served in the classroom in all sorts of schools dealing with all sorts of children, Stephanie brings to literacy a sparkle along with levels of creativity and imagination that really do, as Julie Rees discovered, transform practice. Whether it is the use of artifacts, props, techniques from theatre or the sort of magical touches that can convert even the most recalcitrant of underachievers, Stephanie has a whole magic bag of strategies, techniques and ideas to help engage learners, all backed up with sound pedagogical practice and an understanding of what really makes children tick.

And once she has them switched on, the levels of progress and achievement they manage are quite something.

After years of schools feeling that they had to ‘do’ literacy in the way they were told (stopwatches at the ready!) schools have new freedoms (to do what the government tells them to do admittedly) and if you are looking to revamp literacy practice in your school then Stephanie can help. Her main area of focus up to now has been in the primary sector although we can think of many uses for her talent in secondary schools, at key stage three especially.

So, why not book Stephanie for an Event with your staff, students or parents (Stephanie delivers Events for early years, primary, secondary and further education).

People who have benefited from Stephanie have also enjoyed Tim Benton.

If you would like to make contact with Stephanie to explore how she can support your important work on literacy in your school, whatever your school, then please give us a call on 0844 589 0490 or e-mail us on learn@independentthinking.co.uk.

Literacy is too important not to be done as best as it possibly can be in your school. What’s more, there is too much potential for magic when it comes to young people and language to waste it on boring practice. So, let Stephanie help you add that certain sparkle to your lessons.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Stephanie's CRB number is 001333431178 issued 15th August 2011.

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