Dove House Academy

Staff (ID 1099)

• Maarit Eben-Aimine
  Principal, SENCO & Lead DSL
  Maarit Eben-Aimine

  A little about myself:

  I am humbled and overjoyed to have been appointed as Principal at Dove House Academy. As a former parent at the school myself, I have experienced first-hand the transformative power of this ambitious community. I am passionate about ensuring Quality First Teaching for all pupils, focusing on transferable skills which support a successful transition into adulthood. My focus is on encouraging young people to be comfortable with being their authentic selves and equipping them, through a meaningful, personalised education, to lead ‘gloriously ordinary lives' in which they are heard and represented and have choice and agency.

  I have worked in Special Education – as a teacher and a leader - for over 20 years. Before I came to Dove House, I was Deputy Headteacher of a large, diverse all-age special school for pupils with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties. I have a particular interest in Autism and I am trained in Advanced PECS, Advanced TEACCH and as an AET trainer. I promote structures, routines and predictability as the foundation of a safe, regulating learning environment. As a secondary-trained English teacher, I am passionate about Literacy – decoding, Reading for Pleasure and digital literacy - and its power as the ultimate life skill. I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Needs / Inclusive Education. I embrace trauma-informed practice and respond to young people with a focus on relational and Restorative Practice.

  Hobbies and interests:

  I am married and have two children – a young adult and a teenager. In my spare time, I am an avid birder, with a particular interest in native British birds, and I love nature walks. I like to record and identify birds on my Merlin app! I am a passionate gardener and grow a range of vegetables (with a varying degree of success!), with chillies being my favourite. I enjoy fibre arts, especially crochet. I read a lot, particularly books about wildlife and different cultures. I am an enthusiastic baker, with ginger flapjacks as my signature bake, as I am sure my family, friends and colleagues would say!

  What excites me about my role:

  I am passionate about PfA, ‘Preparing for Adulthood', and feel privileged to be able to support and watch the pupils in my care grow into well-rounded young adults who have inner confidence, determination, dreams and aspirations. I enjoy building trusting relationships with families and external partners, working restoratively and problem-solving together to improve outcomes and life chances for young people.

  I am a curious lifelong learner myself and thrilled to collaborate with and learn from colleagues, who share my values and ethos, both at Dove House and across Solent Academies Trust.

• Kate Read
  Vice Principal & DSL
  Kate Read

• Nikki Atkins
  Assistant Principal: Behaviour, Culture & Transitions
  Nikki Atkins

• Sharon Burt
  Chief Executive Officer - Solent Academies Trust
  Sharon Burt