LEARNING BY DESIGN: Specialist Literacy and Learning Support
Meet Jacqueline
Helping children discover that learning can feel different — and that different can work.
I’m Jacqueline, the person behind Learning by Design.
For more than 20 years, I’ve worked with children as an educator and specialist, helping them develop the skills, confidence and understanding they need to become more successful learners.
My work brings together my experience as an English teacher, Orton-Gillingham specialist, dyslexia and dysgraphia support practitioner, play therapist and Montessori educator.
I believe that children learn best when we take the time to understand how they learn, rather than simply asking them to fit into one way of learning.
Every child brings their own strengths, challenges, personality and way of seeing the world. My role is to find the approaches that make learning more accessible, meaningful and achievable for that individual child.
Experience and Qualifications
My background brings together education, psychology and specialist literacy training, allowing me to look at learning from more than one perspective.
Psychology & Play Therapy
BA (Hons) Psychology · MA Play Therapy
My background in psychology and play therapy has given me a deeper understanding of children's emotional, social and developmental needs — and of the ways these can influence learning.
Orton-Gillingham Certified Orton-Gillingham Practitioner
Orton-Gillingham provides a structured, systematic and multisensory approach to teaching literacy. I use these principles to help children build strong foundations in reading, spelling and writing.
Dyslexia & Dysgraphia
Specialist Learning Support
I work with children who experience difficulties with reading, spelling, writing and written expression, adapting instruction to make skills clearer, more manageable and accessible.
English Language & Literacy
Experienced English Educator
I have extensive experience teaching English and supporting children as they develop their language, reading and writing skills — from early literacy through to more advanced written expression and text analysis.
Montessori Education
Montessori-Informed Experience
My Montessori experience strengthened my belief in independence, hands-on learning and meeting children at their individual stage of development
Why Choose Learning by Design?
I chose the name Learning by Design because I believe learning should be thoughtfully designed around the learner.
Children don't all learn in the same way, at the same pace, or through the same approaches. When something isn't working, I don't believe the answer is simply to ask a child to try harder. Instead, I want to understand what they need and find a way in.
But supporting a child is about more than what happens during a lesson.
Parents are an important part of the picture too. Alongside tailored educational support, I offer parents a space to talk, ask questions and better understand their child's learning needs. My background in psychology and play therapy allows me to bring a therapeutic perspective to these conversations, offering guidance and practical strategies that can help parents feel more confident in supporting their child.
Learning by Design is about supporting the whole picture — helping children learn in ways that work for them, while giving parents the understanding and guidance they need along the way.
