Meet the Team

Liz joined Julia and became the joint Head Teacher of the specialist school for children with dyslexia and other associated learning difficulties for 6 years.

Liz and Julia started Dyslexia Matters® in 2010 to train teachers to become Specialist Teachers in the field of Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia). They have delivered disability awareness training to charities, businesses and public services as well as providing assessments for both children and adults. 

Liz and Julia’s personal, real-world experience of dyslexia, combined with their training and professional experience have given them a special understanding of the needs of people with dyslexia. As a result, they are especially qualified to give high-quality practical advice and support to people with dyslexia, their parents and employers and to the teachers they train.

julia

Julia

As Julia has dyslexia herself, and is the mother of children with dyslexia, she has hands-on experience of the challenges that people with dyslexia face.

She has had a varied career, as a SENDCo, a Head of a mainstream school, and then the founding Head of a school for children with dyslexia, before becoming a director of Dyslexia Matters ltd which was set up in 2010 to deliver specialist teacher training.  She has worked with families of pupils with dyslexia and complex needs, supporting them in preparing for, and attending tribunals to secure funding from local authorities and has delivered dyslexia training both nationally and internationally.

Julia’s latest research and training into the field of coaching and motivation has uniquely expanded her expertise, which has led to her co-founding Cambridge Coaching Ltd.

Julia is a great role model for what can be achieved even when you have a learning difference.

liz

Liz

It was Liz’s experience of growing up with a brother with severe learning difficulties that led her into working with people with learning differences.

Liz first trained to become a teacher of learners with severe learning difficulties and later specialised in dyslexia and specific learning difficulties. She worked as a specialist tutor in school settings for over 15 years before becoming the joint Head Teacher of a school for children with dyslexia, then going on to form Dyslexia Matters with Julia to share their expertise with others.

Liz and Julia have delivered disability awareness training to charities, businesses and public services as well as providing assessments for both children and adults.

Assessors

anna

Anna

I began my journey with Dyslexia Matters many years ago when I enrolled on the Level 5 course. Working as a SENCo in a primary school meant that I encountered children with specific learning difficulties on a regular basis and I wanted to understand how I could support them more effectively. My enthusiasm was fired and I went on to complete Level 7. Afterwards I worked as a specialist teacher and assessor for Dyslexia Action, which I view very much as my apprenticeship in the field of specific learning difficulties.  I am a tutor for the Level 5 and Level 7 courses for Dyslexia Matters, as well as a presenter for the Level 7, which I really enjoy. I still love the assessing side of my job as I am always curious to get to the bottom of what is causing a learner’s difficulties. I don’t think you ever stop learning, and I believe that is why I am happy in my job because every day I seem to encounter another learning opportunity and become all the wiser for it.

lynn

Lynn

I’m Lynn and I work as lecturer  and tutor on SpLD courses, as well as being an independent Dyslexia Specialist carrying out full diagnostic assessments and exams arrangements.  I have an MA in SpLD and am currently working towards my Doctorate in Education.  In my spare time I like to play the piano and pamper my house rabbit, Bubbles!

denys

Denys

I began my journey with Dyslexia Matters when I started my level 5 training.  I had been teaching for 30 years in a variety of environments and working with all ages from the Military, teaching adults, to Early Years, in a Montessori School.  It was while working in a Montessori Primary School I decided that I needed yet more training.  My son, who had been in a Montessori environment since birth just wasn’t making the progress in spelling I expected, considering his brilliant start.  We now know he is dyslexic and I am dyspraxic!  I needed to know what more I could do, when the Montessori approach; which is hands on, Multisensory, cumulative and individual to every learner, just doesn’t seem to work!  Having completed my level 5, I added SENCo and Specialist Teacher to my list of responsibilities within the school. With this new vision I found that so many of the pupils had learning difficulties and not all brains worked like mine! So I decided to brave it and embark on the level 7 course. My final step was to join the Dyslexia Matters team as a tutor/assessor. I now also work freelance teaching and assessing.  I love all aspects of my working life and being so varied, I consider myself a lifelong learner as I gain something new every day.

Maureen

I am Maureen and I have been supporting children with SpLDs and general literacy difficulties for the last sixteen years in small intervention groups, one-to-one and in the classroom. My interest in this area started when I began working in schools; a career change prompted by having my daughter later in life. I encountered many children who were very able, yet unable to read, write or spell easily. I was surprised to find that there were no explicit support strategies and encountered a lack of knowledge about dyslexia at every level of the school.

I realised that if I was to help learners more effectively, then I would need to undertake further training.  As a result of gaining Level 5 and Level 7 qualifications with the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), I am now able to help children in a much more targeted way and also advise teaching staff in techniques for maximising their learning. I currently divide my time between school and independent tutor/assessor work. I am currently working on upgrading my qualifications to an MA with the University of Chester.

Supporting dyslexia and literacy difficulties is also a personal mission for me. I feel an especial affinity to learners who lack self-esteem and confidence in their abilities, an issue which I find in many dyslexics and which I suffered from myself at school. I am delighted to be part of the Dyslexia Matters tutoring team, supporting professionals on their own Level 5 training.

Marie

I first became aware of dyslexia at an early age as dyslexia was in the male side of my family. My interest then increased as I went into teaching. As a Sixth form teacher of Health & Social Care, I frequently came across students who displayed dyslexia or processing tendencies.  I would send them to the Senco for a Dyslexia Screener. When it was confirmed that they displayed some traits of dyslexia, there was a great sigh of relief for the students, but also disappointment as they expressed how they had struggled all the way through school undiagnosed, not understanding why they found academic work so difficult.

I completed my Level 7 and am now a qualified tutor and assessor, and experience first-hand the difference specialist dyslexia teaching makes to the students.

Gillian

I am delighted to be working as part of the team at Dyslexia Matters. My home is in Hertfordshire where I live with my family. I have over 35 years of experience in SEND and SpLD and over 30 years leading teams. This includes extensive experience of planning interventions, teaching, advising colleagues and assessing for SpLD across the Primary and Secondary sectors as well as in Further Education and Higher Education. As SENCo in both the independent and state sectors, I have advised on, designed and implemented individualised teaching programmes. I have previously taught on the Dyslexia Action Level 5 certificate course. In addition, I work as an Associate Assessor for the BDA and have worked for Dyslexia Action in the capacity. Currently, I work for the Sheila Ferrari Dyslexia Centre as a specialist tutor and assessor as well as doing freelance work.

As an assessor, I am qualified to Masters Level in Education and Post Graduate level in SEND and SpLD with qualification in Psychology permitting GBC membership of The British Psychological Society. I qualified in 2019 in the Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling offering specialist insight into individual difficulties and emotional needs. My professional membership includes The Dyslexia Guild, PATOSS and AMBDA.

My take on life is that, whenever possible, it is essential to help others find their way. At the centre of my work is the hope that everyone should have the opportunity to find their own strengths and that they can succeed with the right support. Often we need to match the correct approach to learning, specific resources and advice to the learner.

Sheena

I developed an interest in dyslexia whilst at university and this inspired me to develop a career as a specialist teacher.  After graduating and then completing my initial teacher training, I worked as a primary classroom teacher in London. At the start of my career, I worked with an enthusiastic SENDCo who also had an interest in dyslexia and with her encouragement I went on to gain my Level 5 qualification, my Level 7 qualification and to become an Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association.

Since gaining my specialist qualification I have worked in various school settings as both a Learning Support Teacher and a SENDCo. This has allowed me to gain experience of supporting pupils of all ages who have dyslexia and associated difficulties. As my career has progressed, I have become especially interested in the link between dyslexia, self-esteem and mental health, having observed that the effects of dyslexia/SpLDs extend far beyond the obvious academic difficulties they cause.

My knowledge of dyslexia/SpLDs has been invaluable on a personal level as I have a daughter who has both dyslexia and dyspraxia.

I am proud to work for Dyslexia Matters as a Level 5 Assessor as the role allows me to use my knowledge and experience to help support the next generation of specialist teachers.

Jacqui

My interest in Dyslexia started many years ago which led me to studying psychology at university.  Having had years of bespoke teaching experience along with a background in Primary mainstream classroom teaching, I am passionate about meeting the needs of dyslexic learners through cumulative, multisensory lessons.

A few years ago, I embarked on the level 5 specialist teacher course with Dyslexia Matters closely followed by the level 7 course.  I now enjoy delivering one-to-one specialist tuition and more recently diagnostic assessments to dyslexic learners.  I am delighted to be a part of the Dyslexia Matters team to support candidates on their journey to becoming specialist teachers.

Jane-Marie

I have a background in primary, secondary and further education and for as long as I can remember, I have had an interest in dyslexia and specific learning difficulties (SpLD).

Since qualifying as a specialist teacher and assessor, I have worked in a variety of settings, conducting assessments and supporting young people with literacy and other SpLD. I am delighted to be part of the Dyslexia Matters team supporting the training of others. I also work freelance, and I assess and provide tuition online and face to face. My particular interest involves the use of assistive technology as an aide to learning in the classroom.