
Lorna McKinnon
Teaching
Lorna has a BA Honors degree in the lifelong learning sector and professional development (2:1), she is a published author and has worked in SEN for 13 years. She has been an Assistant Head Headteacher, Curriculum Lead, Quality Manager, Literacy Teacher and SENCO.

Fiona Quinn
Teacher

Joe Wood
Teacher
Joe joined The Dales School in 2021.

Clare Downey
Teacher

Ryan Favell
Teacher

Kelly Harkus
Teacher

Laura-Beth Mayhew
Teacher

Georgia Johnson
Teacher

Caitlin McCabe
Teacher

Ashley Brodie
Teacher
B.A. (Hons) PGCE in Early Primary Education.
Ashley trained as a teacher at Northumbria University. She has worked at The Dales School since 2010, initially as an apprentice then as a qualified teaching assistant. Following this, Ashley held the position of Speech and Language Therapy Assistant before qualifying as a teacher. She also supports trainee and newly qualified teachers at The Dales.

Daniel Harrison
Teacher
BSc (Hons) Psychology, PGCE
Daniel graduated in psychology at Leeds University and went on to manage the specific learning difficulties team at a secondary school. He then led a specialised unit for children with social, emotional and mental health needs before training as a teacher at Northumbria University. After 2 years teaching mainstream, Daniel moved to The Dales School where he is now a class teacher and a mental health lead.

Daniel Sayer
HLTA
B.A. (Hons) Childhood, Youth and Family Studies.
Daniel started at The Dales School in 2014 as an Apprentice Teaching Assistant. He is now a HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) and his particular specialism is within physical health and wellbeing. Daniel is currently teaching P.E. and Games at The Dales School and has recently begun a teacher training course.

Demi Stroughton
Teacher
Demi joined The Dales School in 2019 as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant at Ashdale site. She has experience of working with children with complex needs and SEMH from KS1 through to Post 16. Demi is a Thrive Practitioner and leads learning in class and also supports parents of pupils at Ashdale site.

Emma Allison
HLTA
Emma started working at The Dales School in 2013 as an apprentice and now works as an HLTA. She currently leads the Rebound Therapy sessions at our Ashdale site.

Emma Bannister
Teacher
B.A. (Hons) Children and Young People
Emma has worked at The Dales School since 2017 having previously worked in a private day nursery.

Erin Spencer
Teacher
First class BA Hons - Childhood youth & family studies.
QTS - Assessment only route
Erin has worked at The Dales School since 2012, starting as an apprentice. She now teaches the Early Years class on our Ashdale site. Erin also works as part of a team leading and developing the use of P&I across school, supporting classes and training staff in the use of de-escalation, restraint and other supportive strategies.

Holly Clark
Teacher
B.A. (Hons) Children and Young People
Holly joined The Dales School in 2011. She oversees pupil voice and school council in school. Holly is a class teacher and recently completed her NPQML.

James Groundwater
HLTA

Jennifer Tatters
Teacher
B.A. (Hons) Primary Education
Jen joined The Dales School in 2020. She is based at Ashdale site and before becoming a teacher, Jen was a lifeguard.

John Jennings
Teacher
B.Sc. (Hons) Computer Science, Electronic Engineering
John has worked for over 10 years with SEN children. He taught as a secondary school teacher before joining The Dales School in 2016. John teaches Key Stage 2 and his particular specialisms lie in children with Social, Emotional & Mental Health. He is an ambassador for CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) and supports Computing and ICT across school.

Judith Palmer
Medication Co-ordinator
Judith was a parent helper when her children were at a small rural school. She was encouraged to take part in some outreach NVQs relating to primary education and this led to Judith being employed to take a role in a mainstream setting as a classroom assistant. This role developed into supporting children with additional needs. Judith then qualified as a special needs assistant and, after ten years in mainstream, she joined the East Hartford team which became The Dales School at Blyth. She now leads first aid, medication coordination and hygiene across both sites.

Kelly Donnalley
HLTA

Laura Ashburner
Teacher
B.A. (Hons) Sport Development with coaching. PGCE Primary Education
Laura studied at Northumbria university before joining The Dales School in 2014.
Teaching a range of children in school, she has completed training in the following:
Makaton
Numicon
Read, Write Inc
Rebound Therapy
Power of Reading
Laura is also a Teacher Mentor.

Laura Tully
Teacher
BA (Hons) English Language; PGCE
Laura trained as a teacher at Newcastle University. She supported children and adults with additional needs before joining The Dales School in 2016. Her particular specialisms lie in supporting children with autism. Laura is a middle leader within the Teaching and Learning Team and is a Maths lead.

Liselle Chum
Teacher
BA (Hons) PGCE
Liselle worked for a charity delivering PSHE & SRE sessions across Northumberland. She then trained as a teacher at Gateshead 3-7 SCITT and began her teaching career teaching GSCE Performing Arts at a Special School in South Tyneside before joining The Dales School in 2013. Liselle teaches in KS2 and her particular specialisms lie in performing arts and outdoor learning. She is currently studying for a Forest School qualification and is due to complete this in December 2020.

Rachel Hepburn
HLTA

Rachel Straker
HLTA
B.A. (Hons) Education and Professional Practice
Rachel joined The Dales School in 2011 as a Teaching Assistant. She completed a Certificate in Education in 2015 in which she received First Class Honours. Rachel is also a trained Thrive practitioner and has Emotional Literacy training.

Sam Hesketh
Teacher
B.A. (Hons) English, PGCE
Sam trained as a primary teacher through the School Direct programme and taught as a mainstream teacher for 5 years before joining The Dales School in April 2019. Her specialisms lie in children with behavioural needs and attachment difficulties. She is an ambassador for CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection), FRIENDS Resilience and supports Computing and ICT in school.

Sarah Doyle
Teacher
PGCE Primary Education; PGCE Special Needs and Inclusion
Sarah trained to be a teacher at Newcastle University. She taught mainstream EYFS and worked as a qualified SENCo until she joined The Dales School in 2018. Within school, Sarah is EYFS lead and specialises in working with children who have speech and language difficulties.

Stacey Gray
Teacher
B.A. (Hons)
Stacey joined The Dales School in 2012 as an apprentice. She is now training to become a teacher at Northumbria University.

Tracy Park
Teacher
Tracy Park has been a staff member at The Dales School for over 10 years. She has a Foundation Degree and also has completed a 2 year course 'Skills for Special Needs', a 1 year course in 'Spoken Language and Communication Skills for Children with Special Needs' and a 1 year course in 'Emotional Literacy Support'. In addition Tracy has also gained Bronze Art Award advisor status and is currently the Art and CDT coordinator.

Vicky Dodds
HLTA
NNEB B.A. (Hons) in Childhood, Youth and Family Studies
Vicky worked as a Nursery Nurse in mainstream schools before joining The Dales School in 2001. Vicky is a qualified ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), Thrive Practitioner and a peer massage instructor.

Becky Fielding
Teaching Assistant

Jane Fairclough
Teaching Assistant

Sarah Ambrose
Teaching Assistant

Emmie Fisher
Teaching Assistant

Debbie Green
Teaching Assistant

Lauren Crozier
Teaching Assistant

Erin Foster
Teaching Assistant

Jane Irvine
Teaching Assistant

Chloe Day
Teaching Assistant

Adele Owens
Teaching Assistant

Libby Kyle
Teaching Assistant

Miriam Goldstein
Teaching Assistant

Sarah Owens
Teaching Assistant

Rachael Miller
Teaching Assistant

Jemma Haley
Teaching Assistant

Sebastian Pycroft
Teaching Assistant

Tracy Mitchell
Teaching Assistant

Jackie Harris
Teaching Assistant

Steph Tatters
Teaching Assistant

Charlotte Robinson
Teaching Assistant

Carl Hemsley
Teaching Assistant

Leanne Betts
Teaching Assistant

Emma Rogers
Teaching Assistant

Leone Lawson
Teaching Assistant

Emily Burt
Teaching Assistant

Melissa Stephenson
Teaching Assistant

Helen Matlby
Teaching Assistant

Natalie Birch
Teaching Assistant

Caitlin Stewart
Teaching Assistant

Emma Shannon
Teaching Assistant

Lauren Hayton
Teaching Assistant

Paige Teasdale
Teaching Assistant

Kristina Venner
Teaching Assistant

Sam Tomlin
Teaching Assistant
Sam joined The Dales School in 2012, she moved away for a period in 2019 and returned to us in 2021.

Ellie Chessher
Teaching Assistant

Melissa Thompson
Teaching Assistant

Emma Wilkinson
Teaching Assistant

Rebecca Aram
Teaching Assistant

Eireann Cosgrove
Teaching Assistant

Katie Mitchelson
Teaching Assistant

Sarah Higgins
Teaching Assistant

Erin Cavanagh
Teaching Assistant
Erin previously worked in private childcare with children who have special educational needs and their families. She holds a Foundation Degree in Early Years and will complete BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies in Summer 2023. She is trained as a rebound therapist and in Makaton to level 4. Erin is also a parent to children with additional needs.

Adele Cox
Teaching Assistant

Kayleigh Ramshaw
Teaching Assistant

Adam Collins
Teaching Assistant

Karen Dine
Teaching Assistant

Emma Robinson
Teaching Assistant

Tessa Ferris
Teaching Assistant

Ashley Fairbairn
Teaching Assistant

Donna Murdy
Teaching Assistant
Donna is currently working towards a Level 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning.

Andrea Danielson
Teaching Assistant
Andrea started working at The Dales School in September 2019. She is NCFE CACHE Level 2 qualified in supporting teaching and learning. Andrea has particular interests in social and emotional development, and behaviour.

Ashley Crockett
Teaching Assistant

Bianca Bowers
Teaching Assistant
Bianca holds a certificate in Level 1 Counselling skills, Level 2 certificate in Teaching & Learning in Schools and she recently completed a Level 3 Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Schools. Bianca is based at Ashdale site.

Brogan Ainsley
Teaching Assistant
Brogan is a teaching assistant who has been at The Dales School since 2017.

Carole Hewison
Teaching Assistant
Carole has worked at The Dales School since 2000. She has worked with all the groups of children within school and is a first aider and can administer medication.

Catherine Stacey
Teaching Assistant

Chloe Park
Teaching Assistant

Cristina Stewart
Teaching Assistant

Danielle Grimshaw
Teaching Assistant
Danielle joined The Dales School as a Teaching Assistant in 2019 after previously working in a mainstream setting and supply work in other SEN settings. Danielle is currently studying a level 4 advanced practitioner course. Danielle is currently at the Blythdale site.

Denise Hudson
Teaching Assistant

Diane Burns
Teaching & Therapy Assistant
B.A. (Hons) Primary Education
Diane started working at The Dales School in 2019 and she thoroughly enjoys working with the wonderful children there. She is very interested in continuing to develop her knowledge and practice to be part of a team that supports all children to meet their full potential.

Gemma Leighton-Sales
Teaching Assistant

Georgina Wilson
Teaching Assistant

John Boyle
Teaching Assistant
John has a Level 5 qualification in Sport and Exercise Therapy. He supported PE in a mainstream school before joining The Dales School as a TA in February 2020.

Katelyn Fairclough
Teaching Assistant

Laura Flanighan
Teaching Assistant
Laura started at The Dales School in September 2019 as a level 2 Apprentice Teaching Assistant, going on to complete this along with her level 3. Laura became a Teaching Assistant in September 2022.

Linda Howe
Teaching Assistant
Linda has worked at The Dales School for 14 years. She has worked across the whole school fulfilling a variety of roles. Currently, she is the lead member of staff for rebound therapy session at Blythdale site.

Marie Hartill
Teaching Assistant
Marie has been part of The Dales School since she arrived at East Hartford School back in 1986 when the school toilets were outside and school dinners were brought in from another school!
In 1995 she achieved the City and Guilds Learning Support Worker qualification and in 2000 she was one of the first people in the country to pass the European Computer Driving Licence Advanced at Northumberland College. In 2010 she was part of the team who transferred from East Hartford to the original The Dales School site (now Blythdale). Marie also has an NVQ3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development.

Matthew Bredin-Kemp
Teaching Assistant

Megan Mackie
Teaching Assistant
Megan was a student who completed a placement at The Dales School before becoming a Teaching Assistant at Easter 2019.

Michelle Tye
Teaching Assistant
Michelle joined The Dales School September 2019 as a lunchtime Supervisor. Using her personal experiences living with SEN she started supporting in classrooms. She is now a Teaching Assistant at the Ashdale site. She also has a child at The Dales School and feels lucky to have experienced it as both a member of staff and as a parent.

Olivia Monkhouse
Teaching Assistant

Pauline Maddison
Teaching Assistant

Rajelyn Jobey
Teaching Assistant
B.A. (Hons) Childhood and Society Studies
Rajelyn became an active volunteer at The Dales School in 2016. She later joined The Dales School as a TA in 2019. She supports classroom teachers and helps children with their educational and social development across a number of classes.

Rio Groves
Teaching Assistant

Ruth Bateman
Teaching Assistant

Sam Whitfield
Teaching Assistant

Sarah Stevenson
Teaching Assistant

Scott Wraith
Teaching Assistant
Scott is a Teaching Assistant based at Blythdale site.

Stacie Blake
Teaching Assistant

Steph Easton
Teaching Assistant

Will Clark
Teaching Assistant
