About Us
Schoolskills was set up by Dave De La Cour in 2002. Dave is a teacher with over 29 years experience in both mainstream secondary and special education. He currently works in a Pupil Referral Unit (rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted in all 7 categories). He teaches Design & Technology and is part of the West Essex Behaviour Support Outreach Service. This includes helping plan and delivering INSET for schools within the county. Dave has also delivered workshops for the DFE at national education conferences.
Our other lead tutors are:
Bill Whelan: Bill has worked with challenging students in schools and PRU's for 35 years. As Head of West Essex PRU, Ofsted found the PRU to be 'Outstanding' in all 7 categories. He has delivered training nationally on SEBDA, National PRU and DFE conferences and the London Institute of Education.
Diane Le Count: Diane has extensive experience of working within the Behaviour Support Service and PRU's. She has organised and facilitated courses and training events nationally. She is a qualified teacher and has the Advanced Diploma in Counselling and Guidance. She co-wrote the training package 'Peer Support and Mediation-A Training Programme for Schools'. Diane initiated and wrote the action research project 'Cybersurvey Essex 2010' and is an active member of the Eastern Anti-bullying Alliance.
David Stottard: David trained at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and has been working extensively within the Arts and Education sectors for the past 11 years. As an Assosiate Director of the Olive Branch Theatre Company, he is highly experienced in using Drama as a way of engaging young people in mainstream schools and alternative education provision.
The company liaises with other associates within the education framework, who are chosen for their expertise and course delivery skills, including trainers for Primary schools.
We deliver a number of training packages nationally, both in-house and off-site. Our sessions focus on Behaviour Management and Social and Emotional wellbeing. Our courses are based on our own personal experiences and we aim is to make every session we deliver enjoyable, humorous, realistic and worthwhile. Feedback invariably endorses the fact that we achieve this aim.
“Such a fantastic session. It flew by and I felt I learnt a huge
amount ”
George Abbot School, Guildford
“All the staff who attended the course have given me incredibly positive feedback, stating how useful they found the event and how they felt able to put the knowledge gained into practice.”
Hove Park School, Brighton
“The group found your talk exceptionally valuable”
PGCE Science: London Institute
“An exceptional day. Useful, fun and so relevant”
“Fantastic”
Learning Mentor course, Birmingham: July '11
“Thank you for the best course I have ever attended”
“An excellent learning experience”
“Learnt some great techniques”
Pastoral Manager course, Salford: June '11