Hello!
I am Mary, a local primary school teacher with 26 years’ experience. I absolutely love books and I have a passion for promoting reading for pleasure and helping children to discover and foster a life-long love of books and reading.
Through Read It! Children’s Book Club, I aim to create a vibrant, young reading community where children can come together to enjoy and discuss books, share recommendations, and socialise with like-minded peers, and what better place to do that than above a bookshop!
When I’m not relaxing with a book and a cup of tea, you will find me out and about along the river Adur or on the Downs with my husband, son and our dog, or further afield exploring and travelling to new places, combining outdoor adventures, wildlife-spotting, camping and long dog walks.
Credentials
I have an honours degree in Primary Education and English with Qualified Teacher Status.
Over the course of my teaching career, I have worked with children from pre-school age, right up to year 8, but I have mainly taught in Years 5 and 6 (Upper Key Stage 2). I currently teach English in a secondary school.
As an English specialist, I have held the posts of Literacy and Reading for Pleasure leads in local primary schools, I have been a 'Leading Teacher' of English for West Sussex LEA and have conducted Best Practice Research in Literacy at Sussex University. I am an active member of the online Primary School Book Club and have also been a part of the Open University and Sussex University Reading for Pleasure group. In 2024 I was a judge for the UK Literacy Association's UKLA Children's Book Awards.
I have an enhanced DBS certificate.
I also offer 1:1 English tuition, reading support and KS2 SATs boosters for Reading and SPaG. (For more information, please email mary@read-it-kids.co.uk ).