Meet the Team

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

Ellie graduated with a BA in Economic and Social History from Exeter University before completing her teacher training with a PCGE that didn't mention autism once. After several years working in schools and a gap to start a family, she decided that it was no good to complain about a lack of appropriate provision for autistic people when she could be providing it herself.

Ellie enjoys sharing her love of History and the context and themes needed to understand English Literature. She is PHSE lead and enjoys making sure our neurodivergent students have the tools they need to navigate life both in and beyond the classroom.

As both an autistic person, but also with the added bonus of ADHD, Ellie  is happy creating an environment where everyone can study and feel safe, but also see adult role models getting on with being autistic and working effectively while having their needs met with a wide range of suitable adaptions and without embarrassment at needing that support.

EXAMS OFFICER, DEPUTY DSL, AND POLICIES & COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Ellis has a number of key roles within our organisation and handles compliance, health and safety and complaints among the portfolio of roles. 

Ellis started in data protection in a corporate environment, listening to calls and making sure processes were followed. Whilst raising her young family, she studied to be a HLTA, later working in a local special school across a range of class ages and needs, from working with young people with PMLD and PD learning at a nursery level, with speech and communication barriers and with movement, medical and self care needs to working with secondary age students with a range of special needs including autism and specific learning difficulties. Skills developed included communication including singalong and working alongside Occupational Therapists to improve physical skills and sensory integration for the students.

To match the needs of her family, Ellis moved into governance and administrative work with local school trusts and is bringing the breadth of her skills as both a hands on team member and administrator in SEN and education to the Hunt Scholars team.

OPERATIONS & FINANCE ADVISOR

With a wealth of experience in the business management of education, Emma is the person to talk to around the organisation and financial operations of Hunt Scholars.

TEAM ASSISTANT

SETTING LEAD & DEPUTY DSL

Holding a Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Children’s Play, Learning and Development, Laura started at Hunt Scholars leading our KS1 and 2 learning mentor team. With 7 years of experience across a range of childcare situations, she has 5 years experience leading a room team. Laura is part of our Safeguarding team and holds a range of qualifications to support the children development and is taking up Makaton and ELSA Training.

Laura loves how relaxed and rewarding this environment is especially for the children as it allows mentors to developing their sense of enjoyment and individuality in child-led learning. Laura is very good at coaxing reluctant students towards some adult led content and team work with their peers. Laura has a very calm and gentle personality is instrumental in building trusting relationships with students who have failed to thrive in other placements.

SETTING LEAD, ELSA, DEPUTY DSL & EXAMS OFFICER

Elle is passionate about creating an environment where children feel safe, understood and able to be themselves. Having worked with children since the age of 16, she has gained experience across childcare, mainstream and specialist education, and alternative provision, supporting children with a wide range of needs.

Her passion for supporting children with additional needs comes from both her personal and professional experiences. Growing up with siblings with additional needs gave Elle an understanding from a young age of how important patience, understanding and the right support can be. These experiences have shaped her approach and her belief that every child deserves support that is right for them as an individual.

In her role as Setting Lead, Elle works closely with the team to ensure children receive the appropriate support for their individual needs. She takes the time to understand each child's strengths, interests, communication style and learning needs, adapting approaches to help them feel comfortable, engaged and able to make progress.

Elle has a particular interest in supporting children who may find traditional education difficult to access. She believes there is no single approach that works for every child and enjoys finding creative and engaging ways to make learning accessible. She particularly values using a child's individual interests as a starting point, adapting activities and learning opportunities around what motivates them to help develop new skills, build confidence and make learning feel meaningful.

Elle holds ELKLAN and ELSA qualifications and brings a combination of professional knowledge, practical experience and personal understanding to her role. She is passionate about looking beyond what a child does and considering why they may be communicating in that way, recognising that behaviour can often be a form of communication.

For Elle, one of the most rewarding parts of her role is seeing a child achieve something they once found difficult — whether that is an academic milestone, developing a new skill, building trust or simply feeling confident enough to take part.

SETTING LEAD & ELSA

Faye brings warmth, experience and specialist emotional-support training to her role, helping children feel understood, valued and able to thrive.

With many years of experience across childcare settings, including nursery work, nannying and 1-1 SEN teaching assistant support, Faye has worked closely with children with a wide range of additional needs, including ADHD, autism, hearing loss and other complex needs.

As a trained ELSA, Faye supports children with their emotional development, mental health and social skills. She has also completed specialist training in Lego Therapy, Trauma Informed Practice and Team Teach.

Her calm, patient and understanding approach helps children feel regulated, emotionally secure and confident that their individual needs and experiences will be recognised.

Faye is also a parent carer to her son, who has SEN. This personal experience has deepened her understanding of the challenges, emotions and practical realities that children and families can face, strengthening her patience, knowledge and determination to ensure every child receives the support and understanding they deserve.

Faye’s sense of humour and creative flair help her build trusted relationships and create an environment where children feel safe, accepted and confident enough to be themselves.

SENCO

Starting in alternative provision working with challenging behaviours, Michelle’s 20 years of professional development in education has seen her become a SENCO and a specialist school teacher and therapist.

Passionate about mental health and wellbeing, Michelle is also a clinical hypnotherapist.

Michelle both works with our young people in academic subjects and helps manage the individualised planning and PHSE support for each student.

At home, she has three children, a partner and a dog called Ruby. She loves nature, historic buildings and spending time with loved ones.

(Emotional Support Learning Assistants)

JADE, ELLE, DAVID, AND KIRAN

The Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (or ELSAs) at Hunt Scholars are trained members of staff who help us to better support the emotional needs of our students and young people. They help to develop and deliver individualised support programmes to meet the emotional requirements and development goals of the young people in our care. The ELSA ethos centres around the belief that young people engage with education and learn better when their emotional needs are addressed.

NURTURE MENTOR

After starting her family, Lindsay recognised her passion for working with young people and supporting their development. She began studying during the Covid period, gaining a Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education alongside Level 2 diplomas in Mental Health and Challenging Behaviour.

Lindsay found school challenging and did not receive the understanding or support she needed to learn in a way that worked for her. These experiences now positively inform her practice, allowing her to approach education with empathy, flexibility, and a deep respect for individual learning needs.

Neurodiversity has become a central focus for Lindsay both personally and professionally. Motivated by her own experiences and those of families she works with, she is committed to developing inclusive, supportive practice for young people affected by neurodiversity and mental health challenges. Nurturing by nature, she is passionate about amplifying young voices—particularly those who are less able to advocate for themselves.

Lindsay has worked with young people aged 1–18, supporting them to build confidence, independence, and achieve their goals. She strongly believes that access to self-led learning and opportunities to pursue personal aspirations at a younger age could have changed her own pathway. This belief underpins her current role, where she is dedicated to creating those same opportunities for the young people she supports today

NURTURE MENTOR

“I have worked in education for six years starting as a MDSA and then moving to a TA position and gaining my level three qualifications specialising in supporting in SEN education.

My background prior to education was engineering and I have been lucky to work in many industries including the space industry doing work for ESA and NASA.

I am married with two amazing children and a crazy dog that keep me on my toes. I love anything to do with sewing and dressmaking, I have made a lot of my own clothes and I have a level three in upholstery and curtain making. I am currently learning how to use illustrator and I am learning how to create my own designs that I can then get printed on to fabric/wallpaper etc. 

I love reading and cooking and I am always open to new learning experiences.”

ENGLISH LITERATURE LEAD, ENGLISH TEACHER

Sarah leads the delivery of English Literature GCSE and supports English Language GCSE. Alongside Ellie, she also oversees English delivery to all our students.

A qualified teacher, (BEd Hons) in English and Art, Sarah was initially a primary school teacher, with a key stage 2 focus, leading her own class and then providing PPA and supply cover while raising her young family. She loves working with children and enjoyed how varied every day could be and how zany and fun the children were. Later, she spent almost 7 years working in a not-for-profit supporting young women to gain their first qualification and create something special for their babies. Re-establishing engagement and making education enjoyable and purposeful for the students was key to the job, through creating a nurturing safe environment, so that core curriculum could be delivered to support them into their future lives. This required a flexible and creative approach.

Sarah brings the experience of teaching Functional Skills English to adults in the Community and mentored a newly qualified colleague to deliver Functional Skills Maths. Teaching people who have never found learning easy requires patience and empathy and the ability to explain concepts in multiple ways using a variety of prompts.

Most recently Sarah has been a TA in mainstream, enjoying her time supporting reception age students and developing learners throughout key stage 1. As class TA, the job was varied and exciting and included support for a wide range of learners.

Seeking new challenges, Sarah is looking forward to working in a child led atmosphere, facilitating new experiences for learners where the quality of everyone’s experience is important.

MATHS LEAD

Joining our team in 2024, Sofia oversees the delivery of our Maths programmes, which are created to support curriculum development on appropriate pathways- whether that is KS1 first number through or higher Level GCSE programmes. Teaching all of our exam pathway students herself, she also supports our learning mentors to deliver maths content to our younger students.

SCIENCE TEACHER

SPECIALIST TEACHER – HUMANITIES & MFL

SPECIALIST TEACHER

Nic has worked in adult education at Cirencester college on the pre entry and entry level programmes, retraining to teach in Early years education and working between the two in teaching and specialist teaching assistant roles over the years. Specialising in Visual and Sensory Art subjects including being a Drawing and Talking Therapeutic practitioner which is a therapeutic approach designed to help both children & adults, process emotional pain or trauma through drawing and talking.

Nic has a Postgraduate Certificate in Further Education, Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching. More details about Nic and her experience can be found here.

SPECIALIST TEACHER – CREATIVE ARTS & MEDIA MAKEUP/HAIR

“Hi, I’m Gemma! I have 18 years’ experience teaching Hair & Makeup and Creative Arts, working with students from Level 1 through to HND level.

I’m passionate about creativity in all its forms and love encouraging students to experiment, think outside the box and develop their own unique ideas — from makeup, hair and styling to creative projects, visual design, crafts and themed work.

Alongside teaching, I run my own Bridal & Events Hair & Makeup business and have my own makeup studio, bringing plenty of real industry experience into the classroom.

When I’m not teaching, you’ll usually find me enjoying musical theatre, chocolate or an iced coffee!”

SCIENCE LEAD

“I graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Human Physiology from the University in Pretoria.  In 1993 I gained a higher education diploma (the South African version of a PGCSE).  From 1994 to 2002 I taught Chemistry and Physics at a local High school in Pretoria.  In 2002 my family and I moved to Namibia and subsequently to the UK.  During this time I started home educating my sons until the last one started working on his A-levels at an A-level college.  Before returning to the classroom, I trained with the Basingstoke SCITT and after a year as NQT gained qualified teacher status in the UK in 2020.  I taught in a local secondary school in Basingstoke until I started my own business in 2023.  I now consider myself a travelling science teacher and I also run home education practical workshops. My aim is to bring the wonder of practical science to students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to do take part in such.”