I’m Jen’s Mum Sharren. I thought you may like to know a little about me as you have read about the light of my life, my daughter Jen.
I’m a Mum, like all parents I did the best I could, the best I knew how and tried my hardest. Of course, like every other parent, I often screwed up, but we also laughed – a lot, we played, we loved, we explored and I nurtured Jen in the hope that she would become the best possible version of herself.
Until the end of the academic year 2024, I worked part-time as a teaching assistant in a local primary school, supporting children who are unable to manage in a mainstream setting but haven’t been awarded an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP), or children having a bit of a tough time, giving the children a place to be whatever they need to be, to reset themselves ready to carry on with their day. I loved my job and the children I work with; they are amazing and have a wonderful abstract outlook on life – just like my Jen. The children be let down time after time and lesson not being learned, the same things that failed my Jen at school, so it was time to step away and try and change things in a wider way. The school was trying their best with decreasing budgets while the goal posts are getting smaller and constantly being moved all while trying to get the same outcomes for the wonderful children and young people.
I now spend my days campaigning for changes in the education system to support all children not just those children who can manage OK in an outdated education system.
When I am not working I like to go out with our family dog Pepper, tend to our flock of chickens. I run a Guide unit weekly in the village where I live and have done so for the past 20 years. I am passionate about giving young people experiences which teach them about themselves and allow them to grow into capable and well rounded members of society.
Offering alternative learning opportunities is what Jens Acorn is all about. Jen and I had a fantasy of running a “No School” school. Learning would be achieved in a non-conventional way before transferring the skills and knowledge to a traditional setting. This would be achieved in a similar way to the now standard Early Years ethos of learning through play and interest-based learning.
Jen's Acorn 