Judith Brown
Consultant Speech and Language Therapist

Judith began her career by gaining a degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Therapeutics from the University of Central England in Birmingham. From there, she practiced as a Speech and Language Therapist for Wirral Health Authority for 2 years and then spent 10 years at West Lancashire Primary Care Trust.

Judith has over 15 years experience working with a wide range of communication difficulties across age ranges and her role includes assessment, diagnosis and intervention of complex communication needs including autism. Judith has specialised in complex educational needs for the last ten years and more specifically Autistic Spectrum Disorders and is currently undertaking a PhD in social communication. She has completed ADOS course at Oxford University in 2008 and DISCO course at The Lorna Wing Centre in 2008.

As Head of Therapy within the Witherslack Group, Jude is primarily responsible for the coordination of therapy services including Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. She leads a team of therapists that offer assessment, diagnosis, direct and indirect therapy as well as advice and training to children and young people placed within the group’s schools. She is involved in ensuring that communication is an integral part of the curriculum and that pupil’s communication is optimised.  As Head of Belle Vue House Assessment and Development Centre she coordinates a multi-disciplinary team that conducts a variety of assessment packages and outreach services.

Elaine Riley
Specialist Teacher

Elaine gained a degree in English at Lancaster University in 1997 and a Post-graduate Certificate in Education at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire in 1998. She has completed a master’s level course in Communication accredited by Edge Hill University and ADOS autism diagnostic course at Oxford University in 2008.

Elaine has worked in Special Needs education for eleven years, working with children with a range of needs including communication difficulties, ASD, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Elaine has taught across all Key Stages, specialising in English at secondary level.

She is currently Head of English, responsible for coordinating and delivering the English curriculum to secondary students of all abilities from non-readers and non-verbal students to GCSE level, including Individual Education Plans where necessary. Elaine is also coordinator of Key Stages One, Two and Three and is in the process of setting up a new Primary Unit within the school.

Elaine is responsible for the continued professional development of a team of teachers and support assistants; she has presented at Special Needs Schools’ swap shop and has had a poster presentation at An International Conference for Autism at Edge Hill University. As part of a multi-disciplinary team at Belle Vue Assessment and Development Centre Elaine is responsible for educational assessment and ADOS.
 

Dr Jeremy Swinson B.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D. P.G.C.E., A.F.B.P.S., Ch. Psychol.

Jeremy Swinson gained a 2:1 degree in Psychology from the University of London in 1973. He qualified as a teacher at Goldsmiths College London in 1974 and taught in a London primary school between 1974 and 1977. He qualified as an Educational Psychologist at Swansea University College in 1978. He then worked as an Educational Psychologist in Sefton MBC until 1984 when he became a Senior Educational Psychologist in Liverpool. Between 2003 and 2004 he was appointed Acting Principal Educational Psychologist for Liverpool. In 2005 he became Principal Educational Psychologist for the Witherslack Group of Schools.

He has written over twenty academic and research papers. His research has included a series of inquiries into parents’ contribution to children’s learning, classroom behaviour, teacher behaviour and the self-esteem of children in SEBD schools. His Ph.D. form Liverpool John Moores University was on the relationship between pupil behaviour and teachers’ verbal feedback. His research into the effectiveness of a training programme called Assertive Discipline appeared in the Government White paper of 1997, ‘Education for All’. At that time he was consulted by both the Department of Education and Science and the Cabinet Office on issues relating to classroom behaviour. He has presented his work at major conferences both in this country and abroad. He is a member of the editorial board of Educational Psychology in Practice, the leading journal for educational psychologists in this country.

He is currently researching the profiles of abilities in able students with specific learning difficulties and students on the autistic spectrum and leading a nation-wide survey of classroom behaviour. His present post is as Principal Education Psychologist for the Witherslack Group where he works in a number of specialist schools for pupils with behaviour problems and children with language and communication problems including those on the Autistic Spectrum.
 

Jane Woodburn
Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist

Jane gained a degree in Occupational Therapy at St Loye’s School of Occupational Therapy in Exeter.  She worked for West Lancashire Primary Care Trust for 2 ½ years and then spent 6 ½ years working for Sefton Primary Care Trust.

Jane has gained considerable experience working with children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and Dyspraxia, ADHD, ASD and Sensory Processing Dysfunction.  She has completed two masters level courses accredited by Liverpool and Cardiff Universities relating to Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing Dysfunction.  When working in Sefton Jane was responsible for setting up and providing an Occupational Therapy service to Primary School aged children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and related conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Sensory Processing Dysfunction.  She also provided training to various audiences about the nature of DCD, ADHD and ASD, specifically relating to Sensory Processing Dysfunction.  This training has been aimed at Teachers, Special Educational Needs Coordinators, parents, Paediatricians, Students, Occupational Therapists and other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.