Getting Started with Education Angel

What’s in a name:

Parents describe me as being their ‘education guardian angel’, providing support and guidance before they realise they need it! Hence the name Education Angel.

Your position?

Sole Trader

About your business?

Education Angel helps parents decode their child's dyslexia, taking them from a place of worry and fear to one of possibility, hope and positive results. A child’s dyslexia diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially for a dyslexic parent who struggled at school. But with the right support, a diagnosis can be a turning point, providing opportunities, not setbacks.

Education Angel helps parents understand their child’s unique dyslexia profile, shines a light on potential strengths and opportunities for success and explores how to secure appropriate support for the potential challenges. About you!

I have spent over 25 years working in education. Throughout my career, I have been particularly interested in removing barriers to learning for children with dyslexia. I have taught in primary and secondary schools and am a specialist dyslexia teacher and assessor. Why?

As a Head of Learning Support and Special Needs Co-Ordinator (SENCo) for over 10 years, I knew from experience that pupils with dyslexia could positively thrive at school when given appropriate support. But through discussions with parents, I was aware that many parents were struggling to understand their child's dyslexia diagnosis and associated behaviours. It became clear that if I helped parents understand their child’s dyslexic profile, they would be able to advocate for appropriate support and cheerlead their child throughout their school career. Resulting in happier children and better outcomes for them.

The light bulb moment!

I realised that if parents could see the advantages of dyslexia, rather than focus solely on the disadvantages, they could encourage their child to see them as well. By creating a business combining my specialist knowledge and teaching experience, I could provide this service to support parents and their children.

Who is your ideal client/customer?

My ideal clients are positive, proactive parents who are unsure how to best support their dyslexic child. They may be feeling confused, worried or frustrated by their child’s dyslexia and are looking for practical support and guidance to navigate the challenges ahead and look for opportunities for success.

Often, their children are facing key transitions, e.g. moving to secondary school or embarking on GCSE/A-level studies and the parents do not want dyslexia to hold their child back.

Best moment so far?

Undoubtedly, the best moments so far have been hearing the success stories of the children whose parents have worked with me and watching the weight lift from their shoulders as the dyslexia ‘problem’ has become an opportunity to shine.

Biggest challenges?

Setting up as a sole trader, after a career in teaching, had its challenges. As a teacher, I was employed as a member of the school staff. Admin, Finance and HR support were all provided for me. As a sole trader, I am now responsible for all areas of my business and it was key that I understood these aspects so that I could build strong foundations for my business.

Benefits of the Chamber Start-Up Club since you joined?

The Chamber Start-Up Club has been invaluable. It has provided me with excellent business training and insights, led by a range of experts and mentors. The training sessions have also allowed me the opportunity to meet with peers at a similar business stage, to create new connections and explore new ideas.

Lessons learnt – What would you do differently and why?

I only found out about the Chamber Start-Up Club last summer. I would have joined sooner had I known about it. When you are trying to figure things out by yourself, you can end up overthinking things as you try to work out your next best step. Once I joined the Start-Up Club, my business pathway became clearer, and as I regularly took baby steps I gained more momentum.