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 Joanne Kershaw  - Teacher in Charge, DSL and SENCO
 
 
Joanne joined Pinderfields Hospital PRU as Teacher in Charge at Forest   Wood in 2020, following her teaching and leadership roles in four other   schools across Wakefield and Bradford. She has been in teaching for almost twenty years, but credits her time as acting SENDCO in 2016-17 as developing her love for special education. 
 
Over the last six years, Joanne has worked with the team at Forest Wood to develop a language rich, inclusive environment which supports the sensory needs and communication challenges of the pupils who attend. Joanne has a particular interest in how children learn language, and has developed greater understanding of Gestalt Language processing within the staff team. 
 
As a member of the DSL team and a qualified SENDCo, Joanne uses her knowledge and skills to support the families with whom she works, and has developed a package of training and support which she and the teaching team at Forest Wood deliver annually.

 

Gary Dyas - Premesis Supervisor

Vicky McKinnell - Teacher

Vicky joined the teaching team at Forest Wood in February 2025 after spending ten years teaching in a number of schools across Kirklees. Prior to embarking on her teaching career she spent many years as an Early Years Practitioner in a preschool where she completed an Early Years degree and then went on to complete a Masters degree in Educational Research. 
 
Vicky holds a National Professional Qualification in Leading Literacy and has a significant interest in how children develop communication and literacy skills. Vicky is also a qualified Forest School Leader and is passionate about engaging children in a range of outdoor learning experiences.
 

James Bradley - Teacher

James has worked in education for 12 years working across 3 different schools in the local area. He currently works at Forest Wood and has done since its inception in 2018.


James has developed a passion for working with younger children with complex communication and sensory needs and has developed a specialism in supporting them with eating difficulties, specifically ARFID and has worked with the NHS to develop links between health and education.

James is the Teaching Staff representative on the school's Management Committee and is also one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads. James particularly enjoys providing support to the families of our complex pupils.

Teaching Assistants:

Teresa Greenwood

Rachel Crowthers

Sally Westwood

Tanya Earnshaw

Shelley Hiorns

Nicole Hickman

Angela Chu

Sajida Saleem

Jessica Austin

Aminah Geoforry

 

 

Parent Support Officers:

Jodie Evans

Diane Bottomley

 

School Business Manager:

Diane Cameron

 

Caretaker:

Richard Stewart