SPECIALIST CONSULTANT PARTNERS
Rachelle Newman
Rachelle qualified as a primary school teacher in 2016.
Prior to qualifying as a teacher Rachelle completed a degree in Geography. She then worked in Shanghai for a tutoring company teaching children from international schools. In addition, she taught English as an additional language to Chinese children. Rachelle then worked as a teaching assistant in the UK whilst waiting to start her PGCE teacher training.
Rachelle is passionate about helping all children reach their potential and strives to ensure they receive the support they need inside and outside of school. She also understands the pressures that parents and carers of children with additional needs face as she has an autistic daughter. Rachelle works hard to create resources, activities and routines to help her daughter at home. She also has experience from a parent's perspective of the EHCP process. Rachelle can offer advice and resources to use at home for parents/carers of children with additional needs.
Rachelle offers tutoring for children who need additional support. If the child is at school, she can work with staff to tailor the sessions to their school targets. She can also provide sessions for children who are educated at home.
Donna Dyer
Specialist teacher in Literacy and Dyslexia, PGCE, BSc Applied Social Sciences, Associate member of Dyslexia Guild, PG Award of Proficiency in Assessment for Access Arrangements, Member of British Psychological Society (CCET) Phonographix practitioner.
Donna is a highly experienced SENCo in a variety of settings covering all age groups from early years through to 16. Donna has worked as a special needs education consultant in Early Years education helping to create enabling environments for students right from the start of their school career. Donna has a wealth of experience in assessing students with additional needs to devise individual learning profiles that make a difference. Donna provides independent assessments for access arrangements. Donna works holistically with other professionals to ensure that no barrier to learning is unidentified. Donna has successfully tutored Dyslexic students and students with complex profiles using a variety of evidence-based approaches. Donna works closely with many schools in the area ensuring smooth transitions for students. Donna provides classroom observations in order to help with early identification of students with possible additional needs. Donna is also a qualified children’s nurse.
Kate Sills
Kate is a highly experienced family support pecialist and special needs education consultant. She has been helping children and adults with additional needs for over 40 years, having worked as a qualified social worker and in various education roles, including that of a home school link worker. Kate is also a certified practitioner of "Drawing and Talking" and "Lego therapy". She provides emotional literacy support to individuals and small groups in schools, focusing on specific areas of need, such as social skills. Kate has a wealth of experience in supporting early readers with their phonological awareness development. She has extensive experience in supporting autistic individuals, both professionally and personally and is a volunteer with the National Autistic Society. Kate's approach involves a unique blend of individual work and family support to empower children and families to overcome challenges. She regularly attends conferences and has spoken at The Festival of Education on how to strengthen the home and school relationship.
Victoria Parker
After studying Philosophy at University, Victoria started a career in marketing, but the demands of having two SEND children meant she gave up work to stay at home full-time to look after their additional needs.
With over 20 years of lived experience in dealing with the day-to-day challenges of being a parent to an autistic and an ADHD child, she can provide practical, real-world advice and tips to help both the child and the parent.
Victoria has first-hand experience of the additional demands that asthma, eczema, environmental allergies and multiple food allergies can bring with SEND children and how to lessen these challenges.
Victoria has completed her CACHE Levels 1, 2 and 3 Counselling Skills awards as well as her NCFE Level 2 in Autism Awareness and so can be a empathetic ear to anyone struggling with the isolation and loneliness that can come with being a SEND parent.
Mel Smith
Mel became a qualified teacher in 1995 and has since worked in both state and private schools. For the past 14 years, she has worked in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), including as a SENCo, where she supported children with a range of needs. Mel has worked as a private tutor for the past four years. With her background as a drama specialist, she has successfully run drama therapy interventions. Additionally, as a trained counsellor, Mel has worked with many children to help them overcome their fears and anxieties. Mel has a private practice where she works with children, young people, and adults. Mel is a member of the BACP.
Kate Saraceno
Kate has over 17 years of experience as a teacher in Sussex and Surrey and has a passion for developing learning environments that nurture, are inclusive and enable children to thrive. Kate is a skilled teacher of early reading, writing and maths and has an excellent understanding of the Primary Curriculum. Kate is passionate about building trust and connection to unlock the potential in every child. She has had the privilege of working with many children with additional learning needs. Kate achieved the National Award for SEND Coordination in 2018 and has been both a SENCo and School Inclusion Lead, strategically developing and leading whole school SEND provision. Kate has a wonderful, autistic daughter and has comprehensive ‘lived experience’ of the everyday challenges that parent carers face when navigating their child’s education, and the school SEND system.