Meet The Team

Nicola is the creative force and strategic mind behind Springfields Autism Support. She is likely to be your first point of contact with the team. Nicola will respond to your enquiry, matching you with the right team member to meet your needs. Nicola oversees the many hubs, networks and partnerships that the academy is involved in and is a co-founder of A-Fest, A-Fest Online and A-Journal. Nicola has extensive experience of mainstream and specialist settings and has been teaching for nearly 20 years. Her expertise and area of interest lies in staff development, SEND system leadership and educational leadership. Nicola facilitates the NPQ Leading Teaching, the NPQ Behaviour and Culture and the NPQ in Senior Leadership for Best Practice Network. 

Nicola holds a MEd in Educational Leadership and Management (Distinction) and has recently submitted her NPQ SL summative assessment. 

You can find out more about Nicola here.

Nicola Whitcombe is a relentlessly child-focused practitioner with significant experience of mainstream and specialist settings. Nicola has held a number of senior leadership positions including the role of SENCo and Resource Base Lead. Nicola holds a range of postgraduate qualifications in autism and SEND; she has extensive experience of school to school support and is an experienced trainer, offering support on the theories of autism, quality first teaching, the role of a SENCo and more. Nicola has completed her NPQH. Nicola facilitates on the NA Senco and the NPQ SL with Best Practice Network.

Nicola is a content creator for The National College and you can view her content here.

You can find out more about Nicola here.

Sam is an experienced teacher and leader, having worked in both mainstream and specialist settings. Sam has experience of building SEND provision from scratch, having been involved in establishing Springfields South. Sam is a child-centred practitioner who uses a multi-agency approach. Sam is our Resource Base Expert Advisor- she is experienced in providing strategic support to schools across Wiltshire.. Sam facilitates on the NPQ in Leading Teaching and the NPQ in Senior Leadership for Best Practice Network. Sam is currently completing her NPQH.

You can find out more about Sam here.

Connie is a multi-skilled practitioner with experience of both mainstream and specialist settings. Connie oversees the academy's approach to Communication and Interaction as well as its wider SEND strategy. Connie has completed the NA SENCo and is currently studying for a MA. Connie's dissertation project explores how Autistic Learners can be supported at break and lunch times. Connie leads a team of talented Learning Support and Higher Learning Support Assistants and can advise on the effective deployment of additional adults. Connie also oversees our team of SENCos. Connie facilitates on the NA Senco with Best Practice Network.

Connie has recently submitted her summative assessment for the NPQSL.

Liz is an experienced Occupational Therapist and senior leader who is committed to supporting young people to live safe, independent lives. Liz is able to advise on strategies to meet pupils’ sensory needs as well as environmental adaptations to enable learners. Liz brings a unique perspective on how to support learners in the classroom. Liz is able to support schools with environmental audits and sensory needs.

Lee Davidson is an ebullient and charismatic leader who is passionate about helping learners succeed. Lee ensures the right systems and processes are in place to enable learners to thrive. Lee leads a team of talented and diverse practitioners across a range of academic and vocational areas. Lee has completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Autism with Sheffield Hallam University. Lee facilitates on the NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture and the NPQ in Senior Leadership for Best Practice Network. Lee is currently completing his NPQH. 

Lee has a particular interest in supporting businesses and organisation to develop effective understanding of autism. He is an experienced trainer who enjoys face to face interactions. 

You can find out more about Lee here.

Iian Conley is an experienced SEND leader and practitioner who has held school and whole trust leadership roles. Iian has held a variety of roles and is now the academy’s designated safeguarding lead and lead for Behaviour, Safeguarding and Culture. Iian is an experienced ECT mentor and NPQ facilitator. He is a collaborative practitioner with experience of leading successful cross-school SEND networks. He is also interested in evidence-based practice. Iian has particular expertise regarding safeguarding SEND learners, emotional regulation and pastoral care. 

A specialist in learning through play and Early Years teaching, Claire is highly skilled in engaging and supporting young children into the school environment. Claire uses TEACCH and Bucket Time principles across her teaching and is able to advise others on the use of these practices. Claire is also the Attention Autism Champion for the academy. Claire has a dual education and therapy role and is a qualified Play Therapist. She is an experienced senior leader and is currently completing her NPQSL.

Maxine Page is an experienced SEND practitioner and leader who has completed the NA Senco. Maxine oversees The academy's Routes provision and is skilled at utilising pupil voice to inform her curriculum and learning pathways. Maxine has experience of supporting Resource Bases and conducting SEND reviews in mainstream settings. Maxine facilitates on the NPQ SEND. She is particularly passionate about supporting early career teachers to develop effective autism practice and has experience of delivering training both online and at in-person conferences. 

Laura Wells is an experienced SEND practitioner and leader. Laura holds the NA Senco and oversees the transition process for learners and families into the academy. Laura is particularly interested in supporting early career teachers- she provides an annual lecture for Bath Spa's secondary PGCE cohort and has presented at the RSAT ECT Conference. Laura is part of the academy’s extended leadership team, leading the Complex Needs provision. Laura facilitates on the NPQ SEN with Best Practice Network. She is the academy's lead for Dyslexia Friendly Schools and is dyslexic herself. Laura has provided a range of support to Resource Bases across Wiltshire.

Jess Coulson is an experienced SEND practitioner. Jess has taught in a range of specialist settings and held a number of roles, including Senco and Assistant Head. Jess is a staff governor and has completed the NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture. She is an experienced trainer and presenter and enjoys creating new content and resources. Jess is a creative, compassionate and child-centred practitioner. Jess is a qualified Elklan trainer. Jess is currently completing her NPQSL.

Claire is a dedicated practitioner with significant teaching experience (over 20 years!) across mainstream and specialist settings. Known for her ‘can-do’ attitude, Claire is enthusiastic, resilient and practical. Claire is a child-centred practitioner and she supports her team with creating the right environment to support learners to flourish. Claire is experienced in curriculum design and is currently writing a new curriculum to support children with enquiry-based learning. Claire is an experienced middle leader and has just submitted the summative assessment for her NPQSL. Claire facilitates the NPQ in  NPQ Leading Teaching and the NPQ Behaviour and Culture for Best Practice Network. 

Linda is a passionate, child-centred practitioner who has been working with SEND children for more than 20 years.  She comes from an early years background and has taught across the primary age-range.  Linda is a specialist SEN practitioner who joined Springfields as an ECT.  She enjoys teaching a primary based curriculum to older students who require a nurture approach.  Linda is the Reflective Supervision link for the academy and an ECT mentor.  She is passionate about the importance of community links and parental engagement and is currently working towards her MA in Professional Practice at Bath Spa University.

Natasha is an experienced practitioner across mainstream and specialist provisions. Natasha is currently an EYFS class teacher and ECT mentor at Springfields. She has extensive experience teaching in mainstream settings with high numbers of SEN pupils, and teaching in specialist provisions. Natasha is passionate about creating a positive environment for both staff and pupils to thrive, focusing on a child-centred approach to teaching. She has previous experience in subject leadership in schools, driving a curriculum focused on practical and active learning. Natasha is positive, solution-focused and always happy to help.