Nicola Hammett

‘I couldn’t ever imagine not working with young people. There is something hugely special about watching a spark ignite inside them and their feeling of joy and success when discovering a new skill or way of doing something.’

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I joined the Fun Development team in 2020 and can honestly say I love going to work every day. I work with a variety of young people but with over 16 years of secondary school experience, my cohort is usually upper primary and secondary students. Whilst having the knowledge of the school environment and curriculum supports my planning, it is important to me that my sessions with young people are very different to a school experience.

Relationships are key to this and I ensure I take time to build positive and supportive relationships with young people, understanding that they may have had difficult educational experiences previously. Building confidence and resilience is central to a positive learning experience and I like to incorporate special interests, fun and creativity into activities. I am trained in trauma informed practice and to positively support the mental health of the young people I work with.

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Whilst in schools I specialised in SEND and Inclusion, particularly supporting young people with Dyslexia and ASD. My work in SEND has built a strong knowledge EHCPs and Local Authorities and this has enabled me to successfully support parents with the EHCP process. I feel very passionately about young people getting the right support in an environment that truly works for them.

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I also live on a farm and it is a delight to use the space to run outdoor, nature-based sessions for some of our young people. Interacting with the animals and exploring around our outdoor classroom is the perfect learning style for some children and it allows them to build a whole different skill set, underpinned by the same focus on positive relationships and confidence building.