My name is Katie Mabey and I am currently working as a Year 1 teacher at Chiltern Primary School in Basingstoke. I have been a teacher for eighteen years. As well as a teacher, I am a keen traveller and have been fortunate to have visited many worldwide places. I also enjoy baking and have previously trained in sugar art as a hobby.
My background is predominantly Early Years and Key Stage One focused. I initially followed the Btec National Diploma programme where I qualified as a Nursery Nurse and then went on to follow the four-year BA Hons in Primary Education (QTS) programme at formerly King Alfred’s College in Winchester where I graduated as a Primary School Teacher with specialist subject Early Years. I later returned to university alongside my teaching and achieved a Masters in Education from the University of Winchester.
I have taught at the same school throughout my teaching career and over the years have undertaken numerous roles, including being a member of the Senior Leadership Team; Early Years leader; Key Stage One leader; Newly Qualified Teacher and teaching student mentor and Science and PSHE lead. Currently, I am a Monster Phonics Trainer and Ambassador and lead Monster Phonics; Key Stage One and Early Years English and Music in our school.
I have developed a strong passion for Monster Phonics over the four years that we have used it in our school and it was this that encouraged me to jump at the opportunity of becoming a trainer for the programme. I just love seeing children become so familiar with the different characters and it is this that engages them and tunes them into learning their phonics in a multi-sensory way. I love bringing the programme to life with silly stories about the characters and adventures they go on, such as a ‘Monster Hunt’ I always introduce at the beginning of the children’s time in Year One and this immediately engages them. I am excited to share the benefits of this fun and engaging programme that means so much to our children.