New Year, New Beginnings

13th January 2026

And so that’s a wrap…

Today marks the end of my Postgraduate Certificate in Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia — and, in many ways, the beginning of something new.

The deadline for submissions for the final assignment was lunchtime today and, despite having successfully submitted last Thursday, I still had a small panic mid-morning and logged back in to double-check everything was exactly where it should be.

The last 18 months have been an incredible journey. From reconnecting with teaching after four years away, to reawakening an academic brain that had been fast asleep for a decade, this course has challenged me, stretched me, and reminded me why I care so deeply about supporting children with literacy difficulties.

I will be eternally grateful to the parents and school who trusted me with their children during my training. I hope I have made a difference to them in some small way, while I simultaneously learned new skills, taught in new ways, and wrote more words than I ever thought possible.

Along the way, I have met some truly amazing children. Each one taught me something different, and I am certain they will stay with me for a very long time.

I can see just how much I have learned when we sit down to do homework at home in the evenings — often abandoning worksheets in favour of something more engaging and meaningful. I do sometimes feel sorry for my children’s teachers; I suspect I may now be that parent.

So, as I wait for the (slightly nerve-wracking) final results, my next step — alongside catching up on 18 months of neglected housework — is to set up my own business. It’s something that sits well outside my comfort zone, but it feels like the natural next chapter: putting what I have learned into practice and supporting children who find reading, writing, and spelling hard.

This blog will be a space to share that journey — the learning, the challenges, and the small victories — as I move from study into practice.