Fiona Nevola is a graduate of the University of Sussex and holds an MSc in Education from Oxford University. She has been a primary and middle school classroom teacher in both the public and independent sectors for over thirty years and Head of the English department in two schools over a 10-year period.
Throughout her teaching career she has been aware of the confusion about how to teach reading and spelling and witnessed the struggles of many children. Despite her interest in this area, she was unable to make a significant difference. It was only after reading Diane McGuinness’, Why Children Can’t Read in 1998 and being introduced to a new way of teaching (Phono-Graphix ™: C and G McGuinness) that successfully taught children to read and spell, she decided to leave the classroom and devote all her energies to the teaching of reading to both children and teachers.
Fiona Nevola has worked with many children and young adults on a one-to-one basis and has presented teacher training and inset days for schools, primary, secondary, special schools and FE colleges and YOI, developing this new methodology. Sound Reading System is the product of this experience working together with Diane McGuinness for six years from January 2003.
In May 2004, Fiona, with Diane, trained Susan Godsland and in October 2005 Fiona trained Debbie Hepplewhite and Elizabeth Nonweiler of the RRF; and in September 2010 Monique Nowers: all members of the RRF.
Fiona Nevola lives in Oxford and in 2004 founded the Oxford charity Our Right to Read with the support of Geraldine Carter. She continues to promote Diane McGuinness’ brilliant pedagogy and knows it is of great importance and significance.