Expertise Built on Lived Experience
"SEND is not just a job; it is a lifetime’s work."
Foundations & Passion for Special Education
Hampshire Home Learning is owned and operated by Anne Ross, who has dedicated her life to educating and caring for children with additional needs.
Starting out as a graduate of Music with Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy), she soon took up her PGCE at Exeter University. From here, Anne returned to the Portsmouth area—just at the time her beloved football team hit the Premiership!
Anne soon found her passion for working with vulnerable pupils with a variety of SEND needs and trained as a Dyslexia Specialist Teacher.
The Link Between Music & Maths
Through the Every Child a Counter movement, Anne used her dyslexia knowledge to develop a love for all things Maths and Dyscalculia. After all, music is a mixture of maths and language! This unique perspective allows her to bridge the gap for students who struggle with numerical concepts.
A Journey of Growth
In 2014, Anne branched away from the classroom and founded Hampshire Home Learning. At the same time, Anne and her husband embarked on the journey of a lifetime training to become Adopters.
This resulted in them becoming parents to three wonderful children in 2016. Anne says this experience has been the biggest learning curve of her life and one she wouldn't change for the world.
Anne joined the staff at Mayville High School as a Specialist Dyslexia and Dyscalculia teacher. Her reputation for being a caring, thoughtful, and high-quality tutor kept her in demand both at school and at home, whilst always prioritising her new family.
She was eventually offered the chance to become the school's SENCo. While managing the Dyslexia department, she also successfully introduced the Autism Unit to Mayville High School.
Returning to independent practice to be closer to her family, Anne now focuses on the increasing requests for specialist teaching and Dyslexia/Dyscalculia screening in Hampshire.
In her time as a SENCo, Anne found great reward from supporting families to "write and fight" for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)—a journey she has also navigated personally for her own daughters.
Professional Qualifications & Expertise
- National SENCo Qualification: Vast experience in mainstream and independent sectors.
- Qualified Specialist Dyslexia Teacher: Expert in recognizing and teaching English SpLD.
- Qualified Specialist Dyscalculia Teacher: Expert in recognizing and teaching Maths SpLD.
- Dyscalculia Specialist: Extensive training in numeracy difficulties and maths-based learning.
- SEND Code of Practice Expert: Deep knowledge of statutory requirements and EHCP applications.
- Provision Leadership: Managed provisions and opened an Autism and Mental Health provision.
- Trauma-Informed Practice: Training in Attachment, NVR, Therapeutic Parenting, and PACE.
The Future: Level 7 & Lifelong Learning
Anne is currently working towards her Dyscalculia Assessor Level 7 qualification. She continues to increase her knowledge of Neurodiversity alongside improving her understanding of Trauma-Informed Care and teaching.
Anne is forever a lifelong learner!