Angela
Angela is our founder and Senior Education Partner. She launched YCPD in 2021, building on a 24-year career in Primary education, working in contrasting schools – large & small, inner city and rural – serving diverse communities. Angela held leadership positions – SENDCo, Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher – for much of her teaching career.
Angela is highly experienced in SEND and was a leading SENDCo in Calderdale Authority before becoming a Deputy Headteacher, then Headteacher. Alongside her work with YCPD, Angela is currently the Director of SEND Improvement for the Collaborative Learning Trust.
She is passionate about inclusion, championing diversity & SEND-compatible pedagogy within the mainstream system. She was formerly a senior advisor on SEND strategy for Pinc College – a specialist provision for 16-25 yr old students – and now sits as Chair on the Governing Body for that organisation. Angela is the SEND governor for a three-form entry Primary School in Bradford.
“The quality of staff in our schools is the most important determinant of how much children succeed. Education is a vocation. With YCPD, I challenge educators to think differently and take risks.”
Sue
During the 2023-24 academic year, Sue is YCPD’s SEND Partner & Interim SENDCo at Bramhope CE Primary School. She is an experienced SENDCo and English teacher, with post graduate qualifications in outstanding teaching and SpLD (Dyslexia). With over 25 years’ experience in educational settings – ranging from the primary phase to Post 16 – Sue has specialised in SEND for the whole of her career in education. She has worked as a class teacher in both mainstream and specialist settings, was a SENDCo for 8 years, an Assistant Head for 4 years and worked as an LA Specialist Teacher (SpLD/SEMH) for 2 years.
Sue has been a freelance education consultant for several years, and is passionate about helping children and young people to overcome barriers to achieve their full potential. She is currently working with a Specialist SEND College to co-ordinate their EHCP application/review/implementation cycle, liaising with parents, students, LAs and other stakeholders & professionals as required by the EHCP process.
Sue is one of the directors for Outdoors for All Together – a CIC which advocates enjoyment of the outdoors for all ages and backgrounds – and is a trustee for her local church.
Karen
Now a SEND consultant and SpLD Specialist and Assessor, Karen is a former Leading SENDCo for Crewe and an experienced class teacher, with addtional experience working in the post-16 phase.
During the 2023-24 academic year, Karen has worked in a number of different schools for YCPD, delivering formal dyslexia assessments in addition to specific support with SpLD.
Karen is the current SEND Lead for Pinc College.
Sophie
During the 2023-24 academic year, Sophie is YCPD’s SEND Partner at Trinity All Saints, Bingley. Her key responsibilities are to mentor the Assistant Head Teacher with regard to SEND duties and to give strategic support & guidance to the SEND team, with specific reference to evaluating and developing systems, processes, policy, procedure & appropriate stakeholder engagement.
Sophie is an experienced Teacher and Senior Leader with a Master’s degree in education specialising in delivering inclusive education to all. Sophie has worked as SENDCO and EHCP Coordinator, as well as being Quality and Curriculum Development lead responsible for staff development with over 5 years’ managerial experience.
Sophie is the SEND & Literacy link governor for Walkeringham Primary School in Nottinghamshire. She is also an Independent Accessibility Panel Member for Gatwick Airport, supporting the company with accessibility provision and services, including setting new service standards and reviewing the airport’s performance against them.
Karen
Karen specialises in the ‘People’ part of organisations, to improve the wellbeing and performance of leaders and teams. She brings a down-to-earth approach to coaching and training, focusing on tangible change and results.
Karen’s areas of support for education settings and organisations include:
- Staff wellbeing training
- Time Management Coaching and Training – improving work-life balance and productivity
- Managing Stress and Wellbeing Training and Programmes – with down-to-earth coaching tools and approaches for better wellbeing at work and at home
- Peer and Team Coaching Programmes and facilitation – to build accountability and responsibility
- 1-to-1 and group coaching
- People and communication skills training
- including Managing Difficult Conversations and Conflict Management Training
- Management and Leadership Programmes – for effective and cohesive management teams and approaches
- 1:1 Leadership Coaching – improving leadership effectiveness and strategic performance – helping leaders to be comfortable in their own skin
- Coaching Skills Workshops – increasing management effectiveness and communication
Caroline
Caroline has over 30 years’ experience teaching children right across the primary phase and has been English and Maths lead in multiple settings. She has an excellent reputation for helping children to be motivated lovers of learning, and for developing strong relationships with parents. Her work focuses on developing trust and self-belief and has kindness, knowledge and fun at its heart.
Specialising in parental engagement, Caroline offers a range of short courses in friendly, informal settings to help parents understand the methods that their children are being taught in school in Reading, Writing and Maths.
Caroline also works with schools to develop their approach to parental engagement – helping schools to ensure they are making the best use of this valuable resource to create the best possible impact for pupils. She is an expert in building parental confidence in supporting their children with their learning, leading to improved outcomes for children.
David
David is our Business Manager. He looks after the nuts and bolts so that everyone else can focus on the work on the ground! He has a background in theatre-in-education & the creative and events sector.
David is Chair of Governors of a single-form entry primary school in North Yorkshire.