ESB News Autumn.Winter 2022

Ahuge thank you to Lulu

Sadly, this means we have to say goodbye to Lulu Dale, who is relinquishing her position as Senior Assessor due to commitments elsewhere. Lulu has been an invaluable member of the ESB Team for many years – having been appointed as ESB’s Senior Assessor for Speech back in 2016. Prior to this, she had worked for several years as an ESB assessor and moderator. We can’t thank her enough for her fantastic and invaluable contribution to ESB – continually upholding ESB’s ethos and being a great Ambassador for ESB. From all of us at ESB, thank you SO much Lulu!

"There have been many memorable moments such as the child who introduced her talk with, ‘We didn't go to school on Monday. It was insect day’, the one who introduced the title of her poem......’By astronomous’ and the boy who said, ‘Our teacher said that if we get all our words right, we could get extinction!"

" When I applied to become Senior Assessor, I remember saying at the interview that I saw that part of my role was to support and nurture assessors and I hope at the very least I have achieved this. "ESB has seen many changes in structure, and I have been involved on many levels in terms of revising and updating policies, doing training for centres, providing ESB resources, leading student and teacher workshops, being filmed for ESB and making videos for our flip books, as well as planning and leading Annual Training (Speech). "I have also been involved in many interesting projects along the way which have included contributing to specifications with Product Development, most recently our Level 1 and 2 pathways. I have also been involved in judging internal competitions and attending Young Speaker of the Year events to name but a few. I have also enjoyed representing ESB at events and a highlight for me was when Tina invited me to attend parliament for the Oracy review. It was my first big event after illness and was a huge tonic for my confidence that hot summer’s day! Lulu talks about her time as Senior Assessor:

"But perhaps the best part of being involved with ESB which I have valued the most is that the role has always provided opportunities for me to put forward ideas and the team has made me feel valued. The ethos of kindness that ESB holds dear to its heart resonates with everyone I have worked with both internally and externally as well as myself and I have always tried to find ways to be kind in my dealings with others. "As an assessor trainer and in the words of our founder Christabel Burniston I would like to think that I have continued to follow her belief that assessors should “have the sensitivity to discern the presence of gifts in others and the skills to bring them to light”. "Much as I am sad to step back from the role due to commitments elsewhere, I will still be very much a part of ESB and its family and hope to see some of you on the circuit in due course in my capacity as a Speech Assessor and Moderator."

PHOTO: Lulu with ESB learners at London’s Sir William Borough Primary School

21