EDUCATION for all

Step inside the Bristol academy catering to nail & beauty enthusiasts with learning difficulties as owner, Joanne Sarkozi, spills details of its impact to REBECCA HITCHON

Joanne Sarkozi

There are various styles of teaching, but for those with learning difficulties, it can be tricky to find an education path that ‘fits’. This is something that Joanne Sarkozi, owner of JoJo’s Nails, Beauty & Training Academy, Horfield, knows well. The businesswoman has dyslexia, and is the mother of five children with autism. “When studying Nail Technology at college, I struggled with the large class size,” she reveals. “So, when I decided to become an educator around a decade ago, I knew I wanted to offer the style of training I wish I’d received.”

Joanne’s academy is situated next to her house, and she is dedicated to offering an inclusive learning environment for nail and beauty enthusiasts. “When I opened the premises, I did not have the focus I have now. A student with autism rang to ask if I could accommodate her, and it changed everything,” she shares. Joanne has supported many students with autism, ADHD and anxiety, as well as learners up to the age of 55 – and tells Scratch that she gets a ‘buzz’ from her job. The educator has even stopped accepting new nail clients, in order to focus on the academy.

“Everyone is entitled to learn skills, and as trainers, we should help everybody.”

Joanne offers courses that are accredited by ABT – part of Howden. These range from eyelash extensions, brow lamination and facial offerings, to manicures and pedicures, L&P acrylic, gel polish and nail art courses. But what is her key to being an inclusive educator? Making adaptions for every client is important, and is something she manages to do by inviting potential learners into the academy prior to their training, which is always one-to-one. “I simply talk to them, ask about their learning styles and assess what they might need,” Joanne explains. “I supply everything from paper and pens if students wish to write notes, to models for practice purposes. I have a list of suitable models and hand-pick from this to suit the needs of each student. Learners are also allowed to bring a carer or parent to training, and I offer support dogs, which are particularly beneficial for people with anxiety.”

Paperwork is also an aspect that Joanne carefully considers, detailing that manuals can be overwhelming, particularly for autistic students. “For these learners, the only paperwork they will receive is their certificate if they pass my assessment,” Joanne details. “Even when studying topics like the anatomy of the nail, I draw and label a diagram, regularly asking if the student can remember the different parts of the nail. Online nail education platform, NailKnowledge, is brilliant for visual support. I constantly ask questions, as well as give praise, as I believe that’s a great way to learn.” Joanne understands how learners may struggle with written content, sharing that her dyslexia makes it difficult to put the knowledge she holds into a manual. “I get punctuation mixed up, so my brother helps me present my manuals in the best way,” she says.

STUDENT STORY: ZENA O’BRIEN

“I am a 50 year-old woman with physical and mental health issues, and my disability makes me require the bathroom frequently. At JoJo’s Nails, Beauty & Training Academy, I was able to access facilities safely, which was beneficial as I am on crutches due to having fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Joanne granted me time out when I needed it, explained and wrote everything down when I struggled to concentrate, spent time going over topics and showed respect at all times, which gave me confidence as I struggle with anxiety.”

STUDENT STORY: ZENA O’BRIEN

“I am a 50 year-old woman with physical and mental health issues, and my disability makes me require the bathroom frequently. At JoJo’s Nails, Beauty & Training Academy, I was able to access facilities safely, which was beneficial as I am on crutches due to having fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Joanne granted me time out when I needed it, explained and wrote everything down when I struggled to concentrate, spent time going over topics and showed respect at all times, which gave me confidence as I struggle with anxiety.”

“Joanne granted me time out when I needed it, explained and wrote everything down when I struggled to concentrate, spent time going over topics and showed respect at all times.”

STUDENT STORY: MACY PALMER

“During past training experiences, I have struggled with the workbooks and amount of information presented. Due to my autism, I learn best with visuals and step-by-step information. Joanne provided me with this, and the teaching was mostly practical and hands-on. I was able to process the information, because it wasn’t overwhelming, and Joanne made me feel comfortable and confident enough to ask questions. She was also happy to work at my pace.”

If a learner doesn’t pass the educator’s final assessment, she offers them free further training. “I passed a course at the start of my career, which I believe I shouldn’t have,” Joanne reveals. “I knew that the standard of my work wasn’t high, and I don’t want to be an educator that passes people simply to make money. There have been times when people have returned for training a couple of times, and that’s OK. I say to these students: ‘you haven’t failed, you just haven’t reached where you need to be’. Similarly, Joanne doesn’t work to strict timings, so that learners don’t feel pressured and can walk away confident in their skills. “My role requires me to be patient, and I make myself available for students to send me photos of their work, so that I can offer advice on how to improve,” she notes.

Joanne has considered inclusivity in terms of the look of the academy, which boasts a sage green and light blush pink colour scheme. She details that her collection of Magpie Gel Colours are arranged in colour order. Everything else is kept in a separate stock room, and only the materials that are needed for the training session are kept out – to prevent overwhelm.

For nail and beauty educators that want to be more inclusive, Joanne offers advice: “Your first step should be to be look at the government’s acts surrounding disability, because everyone is entitled to learn skills, and as trainers, we should help everybody – from those serving one client a week or doing nails as a hobby, to those working on a full-time basis. Do research into different conditions and attend courses to increase your awareness, as there’s plenty of free training available. Lastly, you must have genuine compassion to truly help someone with learning difficulties to succeed.”

www.jojosnailsbeautyandtrainingacademy.co.uk

E: info@jojosnailsbeautyandtrainingacademy.co.uk

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@jojos_nailsandbeauty

STUDENT STORY: MITCHELL WINGROVE

“I have previously applied to several nail academies that have turned me away due to my autism. I found JoJo’s Nails, Beauty & Training Academy online and spoke to Joanne on the phone to explain my situation. The academy accepted me and the one-to-one training was incredible. It was helpful to receive a lot of visual support, and all steps were written so that I could revise and check against them. The models, who were hand-picked by Joanne, were fantastic to work with.”

STUDENT STORY: MITCHELL WINGROVE

“I have previously applied to several nail academies that have turned me away due to my autism. I found JoJo’s Nails, Beauty & Training Academy online and spoke to Joanne on the phone to explain my situation. The academy accepted me and the one-to-one training was incredible. It was helpful to receive a lot of visual support, and all steps were written so that I could revise and check against them. The models, who were hand-picked by Joanne, were fantastic to work with.”