The Team
The Literacy Company is a team of experienced and dedicated consultants who share a passion for English, working with a range of schools to enhance the curriculum and to improve standards.
Catherine
Richardson
Consultant
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- MEd in English
- 17 years teaching experience with years 1-6 in a variety of settings
- Extensive school management experience
- Lead literacy teacher for Cheshire
- 8 years as a local authority literacy adviser, supporting schools and teachers.
- Extensive experience supporting vulnerable schools
- Many years of experience in providing bespoke support and training for networks of schools and EIPs
- Led national projects within Cheshire: Every Child a Writer, Assessing Pupil Progress, Boys’ Writing Project and More Able Writer Project
- Supported lead teachers in CLLD project for phonics and early reading
- Lead moderator for Cheshire; 18 years moderation experience for KS1 and KS2
Linda
Neill
Consultant
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- Many years of experience teaching Y1-6 in a variety of settings
- Extensive experience of raising literacy standards through subject leadership
- Worked as a leading literacy teacher in Cheshire
- Became a literacy adviser for Cheshire, leading a wide range of projects: Lead teacher programmes, reciprocal reading, lesson study and text based learning
- KS1 and 2 writing moderator throughout Cheshire
- Supported schools in challenging circumstances
Nicole
Wright
Business Support
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- 20 years of experience as a buyer, within retail and local government
- Wide range of commercial experience
- Provides business support at the Literacy Company
- Is available to answer any day to day enquiries, as well as managing course bookings, invoicing and general administrative support
Christine
Yalland
Consultant
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- Former Deputy Headteacher, responsible for implementing change across schools, monitoring and improving standards and supporting staff
- Subject Leader for English and experienced member of SLT, leading the drive for consistency and improvement in standards in English
- Experience in teaching EYFS and KS2 in a range of settings across different authorities
- Experience of mentoring trainees and NQTs.
- KS2 Writing Moderator for Cheshire West and Chester
Allison
Riley
Consultant
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- Extensive experience as a Literacy Consultant working across a variety of LAs
- Many years of teaching and supporting EYFS-Y6 in a variety of local authorities and schools
- Wide and rich experience of effectively driving and monitoring improvement in literacy standards across a range of schools
- Knowledge of wider primary curriculum planning, with a particular interest in humanities
- Has led a range of community and school cluster projects
- Involvement in KS2/ KS3 transition projects
- Experience of school strategic planning as member of SLT and English subject leader
- Moderator for KS1 and lead moderator for KS2 for Cheshire West and Chester
Sian
Collinson
Consultant
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- MA in Education from Edge Hill University
- Many years of teaching experience across the Primary age range (with a particular focus on KS1 and SEN).
- Middle Leadership experience in CLLD, phonics, English interventions and literacy
- Experience in supporting schools as an SLE for English and Phonics
- LA moderator for Cheshire and Wirral
- Edge Hill accredited trainer
- Edge Hill accredited Readers Count teacher
- DfE accredited Letters and Sounds trainer
Jo
Gaskell
Consultant
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- Former middle school Head of English and Drama
- 17 years classroom experience across KS2 and KS3
- Lead teacher for Maths in Cheshire
- Literacy and Pupil Premium lead in Cheshire primary school
- Delivered CPD to NQTs at courses organised by Primary Strategy Consultants
- Responsible for running Gifted and Talented Literacy Workshops for year 6 pupils through NWGT
Sue
Hughes
Consultant
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- Extensive school management experience as Assistant Head and Deputy Headteacher
- Teacher of EYFS and Years 3 to 6 in a variety of schools and local authorities
- Experienced SENCO and dyslexia teacher, leading on inclusion and closing the gap for disadvantaged pupils
- Worked for Cheshire as an SEN and Inclusion Consultant and for CWAC as a Literacy Consultant
- Trained in Reading Recovery and Speech and Language Support for 5-11 year olds
Jan
Stockton
Admin Support
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Georgia
Bellis
Social Media and Marketing
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- 10+ Years in Customer Service and Sales environments
- Level 2 & 3 in Customer Service along with various certificates in Marketing and Exhibitions.
- Experience in branding, social media management and running marketing campaigns
- Experience of running personal blogs and social media accounts
- Former dental laboratory manager with a focus on improving sales and marketing tactics within the business
- 2 Years’ Marketing Experience within the dental and beauty sectors
Jemma
Bear
Marketing and Admin Support
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- BA (hons) Drama and Theatre Studies
- MA 1st Class Performance Study
- 10+ years community engagement
- Professionally trained Storyteller and Children’s Storyteller
- Training includes working with children with profound and terminal illness, deaf and hard of hearing children, blind and partially sighted children, children with English as a second language, neurodiverse children, and children from asylum seeking and refugee families
- Pastoral care for children and young people in local arts groups
- Writer, author and teller of children’s stories
- Experience delivering bespoke arts- and literature-based sessions for children and young people of all ages and abilities
- Community Connector for local arts organisations
- Young People’s mental health advocate
- Story Explorer Project lead
- Community Planting Project founder and manager
- EYFS Rhyme Time lead