I originally trained as a State Registered Nurse, giving up that occupation to have children. As a result of the difficulties my daughter had at school, I home educated my son. My daughter was defined as being dyslexic, dyspraxic and had issues with visual stress and Attention Deficit Disorder. When she was 15 we discovered the book, “The Gift of Dyslexia” by Ronald D Davis and my daughter followed a Davis Programme, since which time we have not looked back. She achieved an Honours Degree in Music in 2006 and is currently a licensed Davis facilitator and Autism Provider.
While working at West Cliffe Montessori, Keighley, supporting dyslexic and dyspraxic students, I used Davis methods with such heartening results that I was inspired to train to become a Davis Facilitator.
In 2017 I was honoured to receive a Highly Commended Award in the Teacher’s section of the BDA Awards. That year my client was also nominated, for the Children’s Award. He, too, received a Highly Commended Award.
I am delighted to be licensed to deliver the Davis Autism Approach, to help wonderful Autistic individuals participate more fully in life; Davis Stepping Stones 1 &2, which open the world to very young or non-verbal individuals and lead into the Davis Autism Approach; and Davis Concepts for Life, which can support those with or without any diagnosis to make changes to their lives that make living so much easier.
I have also undertaken training in early years and primary Montessori education, which established a full understanding of child development. The combination of these two methods has given me a deep insight into how the more conventional approach to education, particularly the intensive focus on phonics, causes some children to develop dyslexic problems. Many learn to decode efficiently but lack comprehension, find no joy in reading and have difficulty analysing text or applying critical thinking to it.
I continue to deliver Davis Programmes to adults and children who have difficulties with reading, writing, auditory processing, working memory, co-ordination, attention or maths. These issues arise as baggage to the amazing gift that is their different, and much misunderstood, thinking style, and can be turned around by a Davis Programme.
My object is to enable people to use the talents that the dyslexic/autistic thought process gives them without needing to be hampered by the difficulties that often develop at the same time. To allow autistic individuals, in particular, to participate more fully in life.
I am happy to travel to you to deliver a programme but usually only as far as will allow me to get home in the same day. Please get in touch for a free, informal, exploratory consultation if you think I can be of any help to you, or anyone you know with a dyslexic/autistic thinking style.
Licensed to provide:
Licensed since: February 3, 2003
Travel: I am willing to travel to clients
Online services: I coach online or in person
Delivery Languages: EnglishEnglish
10 year old child from near York
I feel as though a weight’s lifted off my shoulders ‘cos I felt like I was the only one, like I was an upside down ant on its back not able to do anything. I didn’t think anyone could do anything about it.
An Outstanding Provider, Fionna has a wealth of understanding and expertise about dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and other learning difficulties. She cares deeply about meeting the needs of clients and helping them to understand how they can use their creative thinking style in order to achieve their true potential. I would highly recommend Fionna to anyone who requires specialist learning support.
I would highly recommend Fionna she is professional and very caring. She did a Dyslexia programme with my son and it was transformative from a struggling reader to a child who is now 13 years old who loves reading and is achieving at school in all of his subjects.
