The Willow Team

A growing team of Willow associates is made up of educators with years of experience working in schools with young people with additional needs.  We all have post graduate qualifications and we are committed to attending ongoing training.  

We are all DBS checked.

Lorraine Payne is the owner of Willow and the main consultant 

She has worked in education for 35 years.

For her  last 17 years in mainstream education, she has been a SENDCo in state and independent schools with her last role as Head of Academic and Learning Support for ages 3-18.

Initially supporting students with SpLD, social skills, study skills, and exam strategy, her specialism has developed into supporting students with ADHD, ASC and SEMH. She has recently completed a Master’s degree in SEND with a research project on Equipping parents to support children's mental wellbeing.

Lorraine has also worked as an Educational Consultant on the autism team of SEND Supported and is part of the EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) package for 3 young people through the local authority.

Lorraine is qualified to work with The Decider Skills which teach distilled Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Dialetical Behaviour Therapy.

She is trained in the use of Social Stories and PACE and has completed a Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Introduction to Counselling Skills.

Qualifications: Higher Diploma in Education, BA (Hons), Post Graduate Diploma in SEND including CPT3A for assessment and access arrangements.  MA ED SEND.   Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Introduction to Counselling Skills.  

Registered with the British Psychological Society - Membership Number : RQTU 334294

Tim Lee – Teacher and Mentor

Born in South Africa, Tim trained in Primary Education. He has worked with children and adults as a teacher, headteacher, coach and mentor; and in Adult Education and Training as a Training Manager in the business sector.

Teaching is Tim’s passion. He taught in South Africa and Botswana before moving to the U.K. in 1998 to take up a role as Headteacher of a primary school.

Leading three schools in England and an independent school the Middle East, he has embraced the individuality of students and their families, valued the co-operation of agencies and support services, and respected the differing needs and circumstances of everyone with whom he has been privileged to engage.

Qualifications: Higher Diploma in Education, National Professional Qualification in Headship.

Carolyn Seymour  - Consultant and Advocate

                  

                       

Working to get a child or young person the support they need to access education, and empowering parents through knowledge and advocacy.

I can support with:

Jane Gray: Independent SEND Practitioner, specialising in Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

I have over 16 years teaching experience across Early Years, Primary and Secondary schools. As well as being primary SENDCo for 10 years, I’ve also held senior roles in mental health and safeguarding. I hold a Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) and am a registered test user with the BPS.

I am always happy to meet people at whatever stage they are on along their SEND journey - whether it’s figuring out where to get more help, support for filling in forms, understanding a new diagnosis, applying for assessments or looking for direct support.

I am trained Advanced Drawing and Talking therapy practitioner; delivering low intensity 1-1 and group therapeutic play work with children aged 4 and up including Sandplay and emotion coaching. For some children, accessing psychological support is incredibly difficult for a whole variety of reasons; this is where a more gentle approach is valuable. Trauma-informed play work as well as toolkits such as Zones of Regulation, can help prepare the way for accessing other support at a later date or support a child or young person while they are on a waiting list for more specialist help.

I also work with siblings of children with SEND (who may need support in managing their own feelings and life events) and also parents/carers and education staff (supporting the needs of others impacts everyone around them).

Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE, MA, PG Dip Inclusion & NASENCO Award, Advanced Drawing and Talking Practitioner, CCET & Registered with the British Psychological Society RQTU (775406)

Marilyn Pain: Specialist assessor and Maths tutor

     

       

I have taught maths for 40 years in state and independent schools in South Africa and the UK. I have been a maths tutor in a private capacity for most of my teaching career- helping pupils who need help to access

the maths curriculum as well as helping pupils to achieve their highest potential. I enjoy starting where the pupil is and then taking them step-by-step to where they should be, in a way of teaching that they can

understand and enjoy. (Although my sons do say that I am the only person who ever uses the words “Maths” and “enjoy” in the same sentence!)

I have one son who is ADHD and one son who is Dyslexic and I have learnt as much about these 2 conditions from them as I have from my studying over the last 45 years, hence I am passionate about

providing interventions and support to my pupils of special needs.

I enjoy travelling and meeting up with friends who live in different parts of the world. I am a member of the National trust and enjoy visiting their properties. I am a trustee of a UK registered charity which raises

funds for Phakamisa- a Methodist Church charity that supports Aids orphans in South Africa. I enjoy reading when I have time.

The last 15 years I have worked in the SEN Department at 2 different independent schools in Hertfordshire as Year 7,8 and 9 Special Needs Co-ordinator; completing assessments; provided support to pupils,

teachers, parents and heads of house; teaching study skills; and tutoring maths on a 1:1 basis as well as in small groups and have recently retired from full time teaching.

I am a professionally qualified assessor for special needs/dyslexia and have been completing full diagnostic reports since 2017. I have recently completed my second renewal for my professional qualification- APC

(Assessment Practising Certificate). My reports are used for pupils at school for a diagnosis of dyslexia and for advice and recommendations; as well as to facilitate Exam Access Arrangements.

 My reports have also been used by students at university requiring Disability Student Allowance needs assessment. I have completed training in identifying (not diagnosing) ADHD in post 16 students.

Qualifications : Higher Diploma in Education majoring in Maths and English

Further Diploma in Education majoring in Guidance Counselling

Batchelor of Arts majoring in English and Psychology

OCR Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) (21June 2012)

OCR Level 7 Diploma in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties (28

February 2017)

Current Practising Certificate and issuing body:

SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate Number and issuing body: 500002593-IF5690 issued by Patoss (SASC registered.)

We welcome interest to join our team.  If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people and their families, please email us with your CV.