Sonia Verma
After more than a decade of working in an inclusive preschool setting and studying from level 6 to level 8 in early childhood care and education, Sonia Verma knew it was time to take her passion for inclusive education to the next level.
What started as a long-term dream became a reality through the MA in Inclusive Education and SEN at Portobello Institute, marking an advanced step in her educational journey, one driven by purpose and a desire to make a lasting difference in children’s lives.
“My interest was always to support and provide high quality inclusive care to all children and provide the right to education for each child.
“Working in an inclusive service influenced my passion to pursue my studies in understanding how to provide inclusive education for every child that is supported under my care in the classroom.
“I’ve always had a strong focus on inclusive education and how it’s an open door to fostering a diverse classroom that provides the opportunity to shape the attitudes of everyone to be more compassionate and open-minded,” she said.
A Deeply Rooted Passion for Inclusion
Sonia’s passion for inclusive education and developing inclusion practices became clear to her and she chose to follow this through her studies, deepening her knowledge, developing her confidence and opening new opportunities for her future.
“When I realised how much of a passion I had to work and support an inclusive environment and provide equal opportunities for every young child under my care, I knew it was the right time to explore my study options and set out my educational journey to fulfil my passion.
“Studying your passion makes it all more worth it when you find the right college and lecturers that get you and have an interest in their students. It was a perfect fit towards me reaching my goal of becoming more aware and understanding of the profession I work in currently.
“I really enjoyed my time with Portobello, they are true to their word when they say they want students to succeed and be better professionals in the area they work in.
“Studying has also provided me the opportunity to explore different career options and open new doors to career advancement
“I suppose as I reflect on my personal growth, studying has taught me to be more motivated, explore new ideas and it has taught me I’m more capable than I think I am if I really put my mind to it! Again, this was down to the excellent support I received from portobello – Marguerita and Rachel were both my rock throughout doing my master’s, they really taught me the importance of self-discipline when studying,” she said.
Choosing Portobello: A Natural Fit
Choosing to progress to level 9 master’s studies is a big decision from all angles and usually requires a lot of research. While carrying out her research Sonia was impressed with the graduate success stories at Portobello Institute.
“To be honest Portobello caught my eye when I read through the other success stories and how the students spoke with such grace, and how the process to applying to college was done with such focus and interest in the student.
“Which is what I felt too as I did a lot of research with other colleges, I immediately connected with Portobello when I saw the MA in Inclusive education & SEN as one their courses and when I contacted them, they were so kind, and engaged with me right up to the day my first class began.
“I found myself eager to get started and was super excited and nervous to finally be given the opportunity to start my master’s.
“The moment I started my two-year journey, I immediately was captured by the knowledge and understanding the lecturers had and the high level of respect and interest they showed for me. During my time in Portobello I met amazing friends who I can’t wait to catch up with on graduation day!
“Portobello has opened new doors for me that at one time was only a dream to me but now it is a reality thanks to Marguerita, and Rachel who were consistently on the other end of the phone making sure I got to the end! They never gave up on me and I will be forever grateful,” she said.
Choosing the Right Course
For Sonia, studying inclusive education wasn’t just a professional step, it was a personal mission.
“By studying this course it’s made me think outside the box more and how I can expand my passion to support inclusion, I work in a wonderful, inspirational service. Studying this course has facilitated me furthering my passion and implement new knowledge and understanding of how-to better support inclusion and education for everyone.
“Studying this course is not only rewarding but, it provides a great deal of understanding and the key importance of inclusion in education for everyone,” she said.
A Positive and Supportive Student Experience
Sonia describes her time at Portobello Institute as empowering and transformative.
“My time as a student in Portobello has taught me a lot about myself and how much I am capable of and what I am able to achieve when having the amazing support around me.
“As a student that has completed her MA in inclusive education & SEN and graduating in November I can truly say Portobello has made my dream come true and I will never forget my time as a student as the one that finally made it! My educational journey is finally over thanks to portobello after over 10 years of non-stop studying.
“The best thing about portobello was the amazing support, knowledge and professionalism each lecture held.
“They don’t give up on any of their students the respect was always there and most important of all every lecturer focuses on creating an inclusive and positive attitude towards every student to feel they can follow their passion with confidence.
“This college gave me a whole new outlook on my career path and the drive to aim high. Portobello has lecturers that are highly skilled and knowledgeable who have so much respect and care for their students.
“I really enjoyed the online course which made it easier for me to manage my work, personal life, and complete assignments at my own pace and time.
“This was the right course for me because it related to my career and passion. The lecturers were the main source of making this course enjoyable and interesting. It provided me with a sense of pride that I finally found a college that fit right in with my passion and goals,” she said.
Looking Ahead
With in-depth learning outcomes, new knowledge and perspectives Sonia is ready to move forward in new ways to continue on her path to developing inclusive environments for all.
“I would say I learned so much from the capabilities approach model which gave me insights into supporting and celebrating the capabilities of everyone who requires additional support attending inclusive education.
“This was a fantastic eye opener towards my own teaching and viewing my own teaching strategies towards supporting children with additional needs and complex needs.
“I learned so much from my dissertation and learned about the struggles and the success of inclusion in the early years of the sector.
“After graduating my goal is to implement what I have learned over the two years and expand on it in other ways which I’m still exploring. For now, I’m embracing my present career path, and I can honestly say no matter where I end up, inclusion and supporting every child will be my focus.,” she said.
Final Words of Gratitude
“I want to thank this college and all the lecturers who were so amazing, kind and showed great respect for me while on my educational journey. I’ve no doubt it will make a very successful impact on my career path in the coming years! Thanks to Marguerita who has been there since day one and was always eager to help, she made sure I got there in the end! Also, thanks to Rachel who was always so positive and made me feel I was a capable learner. Thank you, Rachel, for your respect and positive mindset,” she said.
If you are interested in studying Inclusive Education at Portobello Institute, visit our faculty here.
