Gemma Ward - The Romney Marsh Dyslexia Teacher

My Journey

I struggled with dyslexia throughout school and it wasn't until I was at university when a certain lecturer identified my difficulties as dyslexia, that suddenly it became clear why I wasn't achieving at the same rate as others.

As a young adult, I researched coping strategies, sought support from specialists, and gradually got on my way to achieving a first-class degree and qualifying as a primary school teacher. After years in practice and further research, I became a specialist dyslexia teacher.

As a result, I'm passionate and committed to helping others develop their own techniques and strategies as they begin their personal journey through the education system.

How can I support your child?

I offer 1:1 dyslexia tutoring in New Romney from my home-based teaching room. My sessions support children who:

have a diagnosis of dyslexia
are experiencing significant difficulties with reading, writing, or spelling
are working below the expected level for their age and stage of development
are home-educated and just beginning their reading and writing journey

I focus heavily on the foundational skills required for phonics, reading, and writing because, children with dyslexia who struggle in these areas are often left behind during the earliest stages of learning. Mastery and secure understanding of the phonics code are essential for developing confidence in reading and writing.

My expertise lies predominantly within Early Years and Key Stage 1, where the foundations for learning are established through purposeful, multisensory experiences. I know everyone learns differently, and children with dyslexia require a teaching approach that not all educational settings can fully provide. Specialist knowledge, understanding, teaching methods, and resources are needed to best support a child with dyslexia or literacy difficulties.

In my homely teaching room in New Romney, I provide 1:1 dyslexia tutoring in a calm, supportive environment with resource-rich lessons tailored to each child’s individual needs. My aim is not only to improve their reading, writing and literacy skills but also to boost their confidence, raise their self-esteem, and make learning fun and enjoyable again.

What I offer

I use the Conquering Literacy Programme developed by Kelly and Phillips (2022), which is a specific multisensory teaching programme. The basic principles involve five features that are designed to promote literacy learning for learners with dyslexia. These are: structured lessons, sequential learning, multisensory teaching, cumulative practice, and overlearning.

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Each session is tailored to every child’s individual needs and interests to ensure they receive the exact support required. Initially, a placement test is carried out to gain a detailed understanding of each child’s current stage in relation to letter and sound knowledge, use of cursive writing, and single-word reading and spelling of consonant–vowel–consonant (CVC) words.

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In some cases, children will also be assessed through dictation for evaluating their understanding of concepts/blends as well as their knowledge and reading ability of multisyllabic words. Once the test has been completed and a detailed report has been written, the child will be placed onto the programme of support, accordingly.

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Each session is recommended to last one hour, although this can be reduced to 45 minutes depending on the individual needs of the child. The number of sessions delivered each week will influence the speed of progress. However, with homework set, parents and carers can continue supporting their child’s daily learning at home

See progress

It is also possible and recommended, that I liaise with other teaching professionals involved to allow for my specific support and recommendations to be shared and implemented within the school setting.

Where I Work

Looking for a Dyslexia Teacher in Rye or Hythe? I'm just 20 minutes away.

Need assistance from a Specialist Dyslexia Teacher near Lydd or Hamstreet, then I'm even closer.

Tenterden and Ashford is less than 30 minutes.

If you are looking for a Dyslexia teacher in Kent then contact me.

Recommendations

Gemma worked with a pupil in my Year 3 class who really struggled with reading and writing. Despite lots of interventions, he still couldn’t work independently and needed adult support in every lesson. After working with Gemma, the progress he made was incredible. He started to read and write on his own, using the skills he had learnt in their sessions with real confidence.

Not only did his learning improve, but his self-belief and willingness to have a go in class transformed too. The way Gemma worked with him made something click that nothing else had, and I honestly believe that without her support he wouldn’t have made the progress he has. She has genuinely changed his life, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.

I had the pleasure of working alongside Gemma and I cannot speak highly enough of her kindness, professionalism, and dedication. Gemma was wholeheartedly committed to the children and families in her care, consistently going above and beyond to ensure that every child’s individual care and learning needs were met. She always strives to improve outcomes for children and demonstrated a genuine passion for supporting their development. I have worked with many professionals over the years and can confidently say that Gemma is an exceptional teacher who brings knowledge, compassion, and commitment to everything she does. I have no hesitation in recommending Gemma, and I am certain that any child in her care will thrive.

Gemma is incredible. She turns up to every lesson with the structure to execute learning and also the playful energy to keep the lessons fun. I know that when Gemma sits down with my daughter she is going to be inspired by learning and help grow her curiosity. I feel very comfortable with Gemma as our tutor, she is extremely professional and aware of others needs. I would highly recommend… and already do.

Having worked with Gemma for many years I am delighted that she is sharing her experience and expertise. Gemma is a dedicated and professional teacher. She is absolutely passionate about children having the best start in life, especially those who may face challenges or barriers to their learning. In her own journey, Gemma knows all to well the importance of early intervention and support for children. This is due to her personal experience of not receiving the right support until later in her educational journey. Gemma will continue to be instrumental in changing children’s lives through her work. I absolutely recommend her without hesitation!

My Qualifications

2006

CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education

2011

FdA Early Years Childcare and Education

2013

BA (HON) Early Childhood Studies

2016

QTS – Qualified Teacher Status

2024

Level 5 Certificate in Dyslexia; Literacy, Support and Intervention