A Very Special Team
'With Outstanding Leadership and Management'
(2008 OFSTED)
In the Classroom
At 'the little group', we have a highly trained team of professionals assigned to each class consisting of a Teacher, a Speech & Language Therapist and support from Specialist Classroom Assistants. Additionally, we have a Specialist Assistant who works on a one to one basis with our children who may have particular problems with anxiety and sensory hypersensitivities.
There are further specialist assistants who support children on outings in the community to ensure that each of our children has access to the wider social world. Our aim is to give our children successful learning opportunities both within and outside of the class setting.
Judy Gilham - Head Teacher (BA, PGCE, NPQH)
As a teacher with over 20 years experience, Judy has specialised in working with children with an autistic spectrum disorder and communication issues since joining the Group in 1997.
Judy heads 'the little group' Team and is responsible for the over all management of the nursery including the Foundation Stage curriculum. Judy also delivers inspiring training and workshops on 'the little group' Approach. These are aimed at both parents and professionals who travel from all over the UK to attend and learn about 'the little group' ethos.
Nicky Hardwick - (BSc Hons, MRCSLT)
Deputy Head Teacher and Lead Speech & Language Therapist
Nicky qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist at Newcastle University and subsequently worked in Paediatric Special Needs for the National Health Service in London. She joined 'the little group' in 1999 specialising in early intervention for children with an autistic spectrum disorder.
Nicky became Deputy Head of Nursery in 2006 and is the lead Speech and Language Therapist working directly with the children. Nicky is also an experienced trainer and trains both professionals and parents in the 'the little group' Approach.