Meet the Team

I was previously Head of Specialist Teaching Services for Warwickshire County Council, including the local authority's Flexible Learning Team, working with learners out of school due to ill health. I also managed Warwickshire's Statementing Service. I am an experienced senior secondary leader, having taught in schools in Birmingham, Staffordshire and Wolverhampton.

I have been a Senior European Foundation for Quality Management Assessor for Midlands Excellence and a C4EO Disability Sector Specialist. I am a qualified Coach. I am also a member of the NAHT's SEND Council.

I am also the SEND and Careers' Governor for the City of Wolverhampton FE College.

My background includes over 30 years of experience of both mainstream and special education sectors including 10 years as a Governor for a local secondary school. I am an experienced manager and have contributed to work streams at a local, county, regional and national level to develop provision and policy which contributes to better outcomes for CYP with SEND.

I currently lead Physical Disability and Sensory teams within Gloucestershire's Advisory Teaching Service, which comprises a range of professionals and services including Specialist Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language therapists and specialist roles including Early Years, Mobility and Assistive Technology roles.

I am National Chair of pdnet, a national organization representing professionals who work within the physical disability sector. Since April 2017 I have held the role of pdnet project manager and led work as a strategic delivery partner for the Department for Education through Contract 3 "Support for children and young people with physical disabilities".

I have been a Specialist Teacher for pupils with a Physical Disability for over 20 years. In that time, I have met so many amazing pupils and their families, Health Professionals, O.T., Physios, school staff, and PD Net Professionals who have shared their knowledge and ideas as we have worked together to find solutions to such a wide range of issues. As no two days are the same, I have been privileged to be able to build knowledge, that I love to share when problem solving with the kids and young people I support. I can also be bribed with coffee, biscuits and cake!

Jo is an advisory teacher for pupils with physical disabilities within the Sensory and Physical team in Solihull. She is also Chair of the West Midlands PDNet group and works with a great team of advisory teachers and professionals across the region to share expertise and develop best practice in order to improve outcomes for the pupils and families they work with.

Katy Leckenby is an inclusive education specialist and Partnerships & Consultancy Manager at Ace Centre. She works with schools, services, and organisations to support the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and assistive technology, helping to create more accessible and inclusive learning environments.

With 17 years' experience across mainstream and specialist settings, Katy has a strong background in supporting learners with complex needs and working alongside professionals to embed practical, inclusive approaches in the classroom.

She contributes nationally to the development of inclusive and assistive technology practice and is passionate about improving access to learning and assessment for all learners.

Katy is a published author in the field of AAC and assistive technology implementation, and regularly shares her work through conferences and professional publications. Her work is driven by a commitment to ensuring every learner has a voice and the opportunity to thrive.

Clare Pearce is an Independent Consultant Specialist PD Teacher with many years experience supporting children and young people (0-19) with a wide range of physical disabilities, as well as providing advice for their families and teaching staff. Previously employed by Northamptonshire CC, Solihull MBC and Warwickshire CC she now works across the Midlands and beyond, particularly providing Manual Handling training.

Emma is an experienced and dedicated SENSS Physical Disability Specialist Advisory Teacher, and has been involved with PD Net for many years. She works sensitively with CYP, families and schools to carefully unpick things, thinking outside the box and always holding the child at the heart.

Emma has worked with children throughout her working life and her background is as an experienced Primary Teacher, with many curriculum responsibilities including Literacy Lead. For many years Emma worked in Senior Leadership as a SENDCO, Assistant Head and Deputy Head, as well as Equality and Diversity Advocate; with particular leadership responsibility for Inclusion, Equality and Diversity, Social and Emotional wellbeing, vulnerable groups, all things Pastoral, and Safeguarding.

She is also trained as a Family Group Conference Practitioner and holds a qualification in Working Therapeutically with Children and Young People, which she uses in her work.

Emma has worked in a voluntary capacity for a number of charities including supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and vulnerable housing; driving the elderly for lunch club; working with asylum seekers and refugees; setting up a local support group in Covid for access to services and wellbeing support; and helping to run a local baby/toddler group.

Julie is one of the Specialist Teachers for Physical Needs in Bradford, part of a wider service for Sensory and Physical Needs. She has been in this role for 9 years and finds that few days go by when she doesn't learn something new and inspiring about the needs of CYP and how best to support them. As a team they are continually evolving their ways of working, and Julie loves the challenge and variety of work that the role presents.