Elaine Allen is an experienced Headteacher having taught for over 30 years in a range of educational settings including primary, secondary, special and Further education.

Elaine has been involved in educational research for over 15 years, more recently working through Lancaster University in many aspects of education and social justice. International research during this time included mentoring a Headteacher in Rwanda and coaching and training staff and leadership in a school in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Elaine has led projects to support other schools and more recently was a co-lead of the Blackpool Maths Project.
Elaine is also a Section 48 inspector for the local Diocese.
Although beginning her career as a high school Maths teacher, Elaine is now passionate about the importance of getting all children to read fluently as early as possible, as reading is the key to extending knowledge in all areas of learning.

Emma is an experienced Teacher across the EYFS and KS1. As a KS1 middle leader, she has a particular passion for Phonics and Reading and ensuring that every child becomes a fluent reader. Emma thrives in mentoring and coaching other practitioners.

Teachers from other settings have observed her teaching and in particular she has worked closely with them to develop their understanding of phonics and the impact a well-planned and established structure can have on children’s early reading. She has previously hosted a DFE Phonics Roadshow at school to celebrate the impact of the school’s work alongside working to achieve Model School Status in Read Write Inc.

Another particular highlight is that 97% of the Year 1 cohort at St John Vianney passed the Phonics Screening Check in 2019 and more importantly they can now read fluently and for pleasure. She strongly believes in improving practice and inspiring practitioners to be the best they can be.

Emma is now looking forward to leading the team of Reading Specialists and working with local schools to support the aims of our St John Vianney English Hub. She is delighted to be in the role of Hub Lead and is excited about the prospect of working with other schools

and leaders in order to ensure the very best quality of education for their pupils.

Caroline has over 30 years teaching experience throughout the Foundation and Primary Key Stages in a variety of schools from a range of socio-economic areas. She has a special interest in early communication and language, oracy, quality phonics teaching and early reading. Her knowledge, experience and expertise have led to the involvement in many projects with a focus on environments and systems, staff coaching and curriculum development in a range of contexts and challenges.

Teaching and learning in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 is a great passion and strength. She has mentored and coached many teams to become aware of their context, challenges, direction and how to develop the effective teaching and learning of reading. Caroline has implemented quality targeted interventions to promote the development of spoken language skills such as vocabulary knowledge, story-telling and listening skills through a variety of programmes. She advocates quality first teaching, clear planning, a focus on building children’s phonic skills, regular practice of assisted blending, skilled targeting and rigorous assessment.

In addition to this, regular pupil progress meetings to allow targeted quality short-term interventions to impact those children at risk of falling behind is vital. She values parental involvement and believes shared “next steps” are of great importance.

Previous experience as a member of senior management teams in a variety of schools and as Deputy and Acting Headteacher have also helped her develop a flexible and consultative approach, building strengths through focused coaching, monitoring, self-evaluation and feedback from staff to raise standards and nurture teams to achieve the best possible education for children.

Caroline has been part of the team at the St John Vianney English Hub for over 2 years and is excited to continue to support the delivery of quality early literacy, helping children to have the best possible start in their educational journey.

Clare Evans is the Head of School at St John Vianney’s and she has worked in Primary Education for 20 years. During this time she has developed her knowledge and expertise of the English Curriculum.

Her main teaching focus has been mainly based in Key Stage Two however she has knowledge and experience of the Primary Phase. Clare has recently gained her Master’s degree in Education and uses her knowledge to strive for improving standards to ensure every child receives an excellent education.

As a Lead English Teacher for Blackpool Clare has supported many teachers in their professional development and has worked on transition projects that have helped support children in their next academic phase.

Clare is a Research Lead and endeavours to bring proven research to help make change and drive forward school priorities and standards.

Clare has redesigned the curriculum to ensure that the main focus is on Reading as she believes that it should permeate all subjects so that children have as many opportunities to experience high quality texts as possible. Vocabulary development and closing the word gap are Clare’s current priorities.

Sarah is an Early Literacy Specialist and SLE for Literacy and Phonics. She has a real passion for developing children’s early literacy skills; ‘I love books, reading with children and getting excited about stories, hearing children retell and invent their own stories, that light bulb moment when they begin to realise that those lines and squiggles are words and that they too can read them, and then when those words begin to flow from their pencil with such joy; that is what motivates me’.

She enjoys her role as Literacy Specialist and SLE; and relishes the opportunity to ensure that a high standard of Literacy teaching is available to all of our pupils. She takes great pleasure in working with other professionals and

gains so much from developing working relationships in this way. She has been teaching for 10 years and has been an SLE for EYFS and KS1 Literacy and Phonics for 5 of these. She works at Holy Rosary Teaching School, currently as an Early Years Teacher although some of her time has been in Key Stage 1.

Since being appointed as an SLE in Literacy and phonics she has been involved in and had an impact in improving the quality of teaching and learning in both Early Years and Key Stage One, in Holy Rosary and other schools in Sefton. She has recently been involved with the Warrington Teaching School Communication and Language and Talk for writing training project, all aimed at children developing speaking, listening, reading and writing.

She has provided training in Phonics and Reading for NQTs and Student teachers and has been a guest speaker at a ‘Phonics Road Show’; speaking about the importance of Systematic Synthetic Phonics. Sarah is now looking forward to working as a team with the St John Vianney English Hub as a Literacy Specialist working with other professionals to enhance and develop the teaching of Phonics and reading in our schools.

I am an experienced in teacher and middle leader across EYFS and Year 1. I am passionate about facilitating and nurturing a love of reading in young children as it is the one skill that transcends all other curriculum areas. For the past 5 years, I have led Phonics and Reading across my school. This role has included leading bespoke staff training and personalised coaching which both myself and my team have found very rewarding.

A highlight of this journey was when my school was awarded the ‘Ruth Miskin Trained School Award’ in recognition of the progress my school, our staff and our children have made in our Phonics programme. I am on a determined and unwavering mission to engage children, their parents and school staff in reading, both at my own school and beyond. Working with the St John Vianney English Hub is a real privilege as it allows me to share my passion for reading with a much wider spectrum of children and adults.

I am the year group lead for Year 1 in a three-form entry school in Blackburn. I have 6 years’ experience leading Phonics and early reading across EYFS and Year 1. Within that time, I have worked alongside the team to develop a progressive plan for delivery of high-quality teaching and learning in Phonics, resulting in a consistently high pass rate in the Phonics Screening Check.

Part of my role is to ensure all planning across EYFS and Year 1 follows the long-term plan for progression in Phonics. I also monitor assessment data half-termly, which enables class teachers to plan interventions accordingly. I have trained new staff and have met with senior leaders from local schools, helping them to develop their own school action plans to improve outcomes in Phonics and early reading.

I am passionate about every child reaching their potential, particularly ensuring children with SEND can access the curriculum.

Danny joined the team at St John Vianney just over two years ago, but has over 5 years’ experience of working in local schools. He has been an integral part of our Hub journey from the very beginning. He is extremely passionate about his role as School and Hub Business Manager with a clear drive and vision for school improvement. He has a strong financial background, working as an accountant for 10 years specialising in the production of Academy accounts and auditing.

He also has a wealth of knowledge and experience in customer service.

Anya has many years of experience of working in a school setting and within the local authority. She is enthusiastic about her role in School and as part of the Hub team. Anya’s wealth of experience and ability to work diligently and efficiently makes her invaluable to the Hub and School in general.

Joanne has a strong educational background that she has used to great effect to be an effective part of the Hub team. Her attention to detail and approachability has led to her becoming the first point of contact between the Hub and the schools that are looking to inquire about the support that is available to them.