Hello!
I am Mary, a local primary school teacher with 24 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 taught children from pre-school age, right up to Year 7, but have mainly taught in Years 5 and 6 (Upper Key Stage 2).
As an English specialist, I have held the posts of Literacy and Reading for Pleasure leads in local schools, I have been a ‘Leading Teacher’ of English for West Sussex, conducted Best Practice Research in Literacy at Sussex University, have been a part of the Open University and Sussex University Reading for Pleasure Group and most recently, I have been asked to be a judge for the UK Literacy Association’s 2024 Children’s Book Awards.
I have an enhanced DBS certificate.
I have a valid paediatric first-aid 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 ).