Tutor spotlight: Eleanor Grandchamp – future children’s speech & language therapist

Today we are shining a spotlight on an Action Tutoring volunteeer, Eleanor Grandchamp. Tutoring has been an instrumental part of Eleanor’s journey to becoming a children’s speech and language therapist. It inspired her choice of career, as well as being valuable experience that helped her land a job in a school and a spot on a competitive language therapy master’s course.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m Eleanor and I have been a tutor and advocate for Action Tutoring since 2020. I currently work in a primary school delivering speech and language therapy and behavioural support to a named child. I am due to start my master’s in Speech and Language Therapy at Reading University in September. I hope to be qualified as a paediatric SLT (speech and language therapist) with my own clinic one day, delivering free sessions in schools in economically deprived areas of the UK.

I learnt about Action Tutoring at my fresher’s fair at the University of West England, where I joined a local tutoring programme in Bristol in my first year (2019). I chose to help different year groups every time: Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, and Year 11.

Because of this, when I graduated, I found a job in a primary school rather than secondary school as I had already found that my teaching style resonated more with primary school children and I wanted to develop that further. Without Action Tutoring, I would not have been sure what year group I enjoyed teaching the most.

How do you feel your tutoring experience has helped you in your current role and how has it helped you secure a place on a speech and language therapy course?

My current job as a SEN LSA (special educational needs learning support assistant) in a primary school is very similar to tutoring but on a one-to-one basis instead. Action Tutoring taught me how to follow a programme and personalise it for each child. My employer was impressed with how prepared I was to teach and this was due to my time tutoring every week with Action Tutoring. Having tutored on and off for 3 years both in person and online, I had a large amount of contact hours with schools and teaching, which is what I needed to qualify for my job role. 

Through working with Action Tutoring, I developed a passion for speech and language therapy. I saw how it impacted a child’s educational and personal development and researched ways to overcome this, such as becoming a paediatric speech and language therapist. 

When applying for my master’s course, the university was impressed with my dedication to tutoring during my own studies. It showed my dedication to improving the education sector in my local Bristol area.

What are your goals for the future?

My goals for the future have been inspired by Action Tutoring. Once I am a fully qualified paediatric speech and language therapist, I would like to offer free speech and language therapy training for the staff working in schools with children affected by these disabilities, or free speech and language therapy sessions for the children and their families. 

Similarly to tutoring, there is a long wait until resources can be accessed by the children and by then it may be too late or not fully provide what is needed to help them. I would like to be part of the movement Action Tutoring has started to create equal opportunities for all children regardless of economic background. to give them a fighting chance to achieve their goals.

Sharing your volunteering experience with your LinkedIn network

Catch the attention of potential employers and impress your network by highlighting your tutoring experience.

Our Marketing and Communications team recently attended a workshop all about maximising our personal LinkedIn profiles. We want to share some of our learnings with our volunteer network to help you get the most out of using the platform.

LinkedIn is a career-focused social network that has evolved into a great platform for amplifying achievements, sharing experiences, and becoming a recognised voice in a particular industry or network.

As a volunteer tutor, you already have good knowledge of education, working with young people, and an interest in tackling education inequality. You are well placed to start your journey to becoming a thought leader in these fields.

Maximise your profile

First impressions are crucial, so you want your LinkedIn profile to have a professional profile and cover photo, a relevant and insightful “About” section, and your passions, work and education history. 

There is a volunteer section for you to list your tutoring experience and link Action Tutoring. You can also write a short description. Try to include your motivations for volunteering, skills you have learned, and how you think it will help you in the future.

Here is an example which you can edit to match your own experience:

Posting content

By posting regular content, more people are likely to find your profile and connect. It also gives you the opportunity to become a thought leader in your chosen field. 

If you are unsure of what to post, your volunteer tutoring experience is a great place to start. You could share your thoughts from a recent session, a photo of a thank you card a pupil gave you, or give your opinion on why tutoring is important. Make sure to tag Action Tutoring so we have a chance to see and interact with your post. 

Not all of your content has to be original and led by you. It is equally important to engage with other people and organisations’ posts by liking, commenting and reposting. 

Take time to follow accounts that spark your interest. For us at Action Tutoring, that could be other charities, our colleagues, and education and policy thought leaders. Each time you engage in a discussion through commenting and reposting, your account will reach new people and allow you to make new connections. 

Here are two examples of making the most of other people’s content, either by sharing a relevant article or reposting from another LinkedIn page. 

In today’s interconnected professional world, LinkedIn serves as a powerful platform for networking, personal branding, and professional development. By showcasing your volunteer record on LinkedIn, you not only highlight your dedication to social causes but also enhance your overall professional image, making you a more attractive and well-rounded professional in the eyes of your peers, colleagues, and potential employers.