
Alex Don
Class Teacher
B.A. (Hons) Early Primary Education
Alex trained as a teacher at Northumbria University and upon leaving there she joined the Dales in 2012. She has taught across The Dales school and her particular specialisms lie in Early Years, Behaviours that Challenge, Children's Mental Health, Communication and Visual supports. Alex is currently completing a Middle Leader Qualification.

Amy Taylor
Class Teacher
B.A. (Hons) Early Primary Education
Amy has taught across the school and is currently leading PSHCE and SRE as part of her middle leader role within school. She is a member of our Teaching and Learning team and supports school improvement across sites.

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 Brodie
Class 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.

Ashley Crockett
Teaching Assistant

Ben Proudlock
Teaching Assistant

Bethany Thompson
Class Teacher
B.A. (Hons) English Language and Literature, PGCE Primary Education
Bethany trained as a teacher at Northumbria University with a special focus on the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Before joining The Dales in January 2020, Bethany worked in mainstream primary schools.

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 apprentice who has been at The Dales School since 2018.

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

Catherine Stacey
Teaching Assistant

Chloe Downey
Teaching Assistant
Chloe started at the dales in 2015 as a teaching assistant apprentice. She is based at Blythdale and is currently studying at Sunderland University to complete a degree in childhood, youth and family studies.

Chloe Park
Teaching Assistant

Cristina Stewart
Teaching Assistant

Daniel Harrison
Class 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 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 and has recently begun a teacher training course.

Danielle Grimshaw
Teaching Assistant

Demi Stroughton
Class Teacher
Demi joined The Dales 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.

Denise Hudson
Teaching Assistant

Diane Burns
Teaching Assistant
B.A. (Hons) Primary Education
Diane started working at The Dales School in 2019 and she thoroughly enjoy 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!

Diane Pringle
Class Teacher
BA (Hons),PGCE Early Years Education, PGC Autism
Diane trained at the University of Strathclyde and Northumbria University. She worked in 2 other SEN schools over 13 years before joining the Dales in March 2019. Her particular specialisms lie in children with complex speech and language needs, learning and sensory processing needs.

Donna Godsmark
Speech and Language Teaching Assistant

Donna Jacobs
Teaching Assistant
Donna has worked at The Dales School since 2013. She has had a few different roles in school but has worked as a Teaching Assistant for the last 3 years supporting pupils at Blythdale site.

Donna Murdy
Teaching Assistant

Ellie Blackburn
Teaching Assistant

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

Emma Bannister
HLTA
B.A. (Hons) Children and Young People
Emma has worked at The Dales since 2017 having previously worked in a private day nursery. She is currently training to become a teacher at Northumbria University.

Erin Spencer
HLTA
B.A. (Hons) Children's Workforce Practice
Erin has worked at The Dales School since 2012. She now supports classes based at Ashdale site and provides personalised support sessions for pupils throughout the week. She is part of a small team developing outdoor learning across both sites at The Dales.

Faye Willis
HLTA
Faye is part of a small team developing outdoor learning at The Dales School.

Gemma Leighton-Sales
Teaching Assistant

Georgie Allison
Teaching Assistant

Georgina Wilson
Teaching Assistant

Holly Johnson
Class 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

Jan Paterson
Teaching Assistant

Jennifer Tatters
Class 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.

Jodie McCloskey
Class Teacher
B.A. (Hons) Early Years Studies, PGCE Primary Education
Jodie joined The Dales in 2020 and is currently based at Ashdale site. She enjoys arts and crafts, and reading.

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.

John Jennings
Class Teacher
B.Sc. (Hons) Computer Science, Electronic Engineering
John has worked for over 10 years with SEN children. He has taught as a secondary school teacher before joining The Dales 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.

Julie McCarron
Teaching Assistant
B.Sc. (Hons) Biological Studies with Qualified Teaching Status
Julie joined The Dales School in 2019 and has worked at Blythdale as a teacher and TA. She has a particular interest in speech, language and communication development. Julie supports class(es) in (EY/KS1/KS2).

Karen Dine
Teaching Assistant

Katelyn Fairclough
Teaching Assistant

Kelly Donnalley
HLTA

Laura Ashburner
Class 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, Laura has completed training in the following:
Makaton
Numicon
Read, Write Inc
Rebound Therapy
Power of Reading

Laura Flanighan
Teaching Assistant
Laura started at The Dales School in September 2019. She has recently completed a Level 2 course in Support Teaching and Learning, and she has now started studying towards Level 3.

Laura Tully
Class 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 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.

Lauren Hogan
Teaching Assistant
Lauren started at The Dales School in June 2018 as an apprentice and she is now in the process of completing her Level 3 apprenticeship. Throughout this time she has mainly worked with younger children in school.

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.

Liselle Chum
Class 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 in 2013. Liselle teaches in KS2 and her particular specialisms lie in performing arts and outdoor learning. She is currently studying Forest School and is due to qualify in December 2020.

Lizzie Tucker
Class Teacher
B.A. (Hons) History PGCE in Primary Education.
Lizzie has worked in Special Needs since 2016 and joined The Dales School in 2019 as a Class Teacher. She supports Maths coordination and is currently leading an ERASMUS project.

Marie Hartill
Teaching Assistant
Marie has been part of The Dales 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 Dales site (now Blythdale). Marie works at Blythdale supporting pupils in a range of classes and is particularly involved in developing reading skills.

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

Noel Duffy
Class Teacher
BMedSci. PGCE
Noel is originally from Northern Ireland and trained as a teacher at Newcastle University. He taught as a mainstream teacher in Blyth and in London, before joining the Dales in May 2018. Noel teaches in KS2 and he specialises in working with children with ASD and behavioural difficulties.

Olivia Monkhouse
Teaching Assistant

Pauline Atkinson
Teaching Assistant

Pauline Maddison
Teaching Assistant

Rachel Hepburn
HLTA

Rachel Straker
HLTA
B.A. (Hons) Education and Professional Practice
Rachel joined the Dales team in 2011 as a Teaching Assistant. She has since completed a Certificate in Education in 2015 and has just achieved a first in her degree. Rachel is also a trained Thrive practitioner and has Emotional Literacy training.

Rajelyn Jobey
Teaching Assistant
B.A. (Hons) Childhood and Society Studies
Rajelyn was an active volunteer in Blythdale since 2016 then joined The Dales family 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 Lawson
Class Teacher
B.A. (Hons) English, PGCE
Sam trained as a primary teacher through the School Direct program and taught as a mainstream teacher for 5 years before joining The Dales 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.

Sam Whitfield
Teaching Assistant

Sandra Keltie
Teaching Assistant

Sarah Harris
Class 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 in 2018. Within school, Sarah is EYFS lead and specialises in working with children who have speech and language difficulties.

Sarah Straker
Teaching Assistant
Sarah previously worked in the airline industry. After adopting her son, she decided that she would like to share her lived experience by working with other children who also have special educational needs.

Sarah-Jane Wilson
Class Teacher

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

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

Stacie Blake
Teaching Assistant

Steph Easton
Teaching Assistant

Tracy Park
Class Teacher
Tracy Park has been a staff member at The Dales for over 10 years. She has a Foundation Degree and also has completed a 2 year course 'Skills for Special Needs', a1 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.

Tracey Brown
Teaching Assistant

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 in 2001. Vicky is a qualified ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), Thrive Practitioner and a peer massage instructor.

Will Clark
Teaching Assistant
