Our Team
Kathryn Childs
Deputy Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Kathryn started at Our Place in 2021. She has a passion for getting the best outcomes for all students and promoting communication and independence skills. Kathryn is a strong believer in making learning fun, meaningful and creative and Our Place provides the perfect setting for this. Kathryn, alongside her Deputy Head job share partner, has developed the curriculum and assessment processes to motive and inspire students and support them to become reengaged with learning.
Kathryn has taught in SEN schools since 2009, previously teaching at a large special school in Solihull before relocating to Worcester. Kathryn has also worked for Worcester Children First so has a strong understanding of the EHCP process and the challenges that families may face.
Nikki Doughty
Deputy Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Nikki qualified as a teacher in 2006 and after several years in exclusive mainstream schools, moved to a primary setting which included an integrated Autism base. She spent 13 years there working closely with the Autism Team and found her career interests becoming mainly SEN focused. Nikki also has extensive experience as a Forest School Leader and outdoor learning, as well being a qualified PE specialist with training in a variety of sports and coaching qualifications.
Nikki’s passion for Special Needs teaching, and most specifically Autism, is apparent through her extensive experience and qualifications including Level 1and 2 Autism Awareness Training, Understanding PDA, Attachment, Anxiety and Supporting Sensory needs. Following this training and experience, the obvious next step for Nikki was to move to a complete SEN school setting.
Nikki started at Our Place school in 2021 and soon moved into the role of Assistant Head and then into the role of Deputy Head of Education from September 2023. Since joining Our Place School Nikki has been integral in the redesigning and developing a new Whole School Curriculum and Assessment process which ensures a rich, broad and bespoke curriculum is available for all students. Nikki has also been involved in the recent expansion of Our Place School and the increase in day students, as well as mentoring new staff and newly qualified teachers. She is currently undertaking an NPQ course in Senior Leadership which will be complete in early 2025.
Merlin
Behavior Lead & Deputy DSL
Coming soon!
Lisa
Early Help Lead & Thrive Practitioner
Lisa is the Thrive and Early Help Lead at Our Place School, where she works closely with staff, students, and families to create a nurturing, emotionally supportive environment. With many years of experience in education and nine years as a qualified Thrive Practitioner, she brings together a deep love of neuroscience and a strong passion for mental health to guide her practice.
Lisa is dedicated to helping young people feel safe, understood, and ready to learn, while also supporting staff and families to build consistent, compassionate approaches around each child. Her work is rooted in the belief that strong relationships and emotional awareness can transform outcomes for learners.
Outside of work, Lisa loves all things spooky and cherishes spending time with her family.
“My purpose is simple: to help every person I meet feel seen, supported, and able to thrive.”
Sam
Class Teacher
Originally from South Africa, Sam is a passionate and caring educator who brings a unique blend of cultural richness, a wealth of teaching experience and teaching expertise to the classroom. She brings a vibrant and bubbly energy to the classroom, creating an environment where learning is both fun and meaningful. Known for her high expectations and commitment to excellence, she believes that every student can achieve great things with the right support.
In her classroom, Sam combines clear rules and boundaries with a nurturing approach, ensuring that students feel safe and respected while being challenged to reach their full potential. Her sense of humor and engaging teaching style make learning an enjoyable experience, and she is dedicated to fostering both academic success and personal growth in her students.
Her dedication to providing an outstanding teaching and learning experience is evident in the way she engages with her students, blending fun and creativity with a deep commitment to academic excellence. Sam is excited to continue inspiring and guiding her students, helping them grow both academically, socially and emotionally.
Mark
Class Teacher
Mark has extensive experience working with children with SEND and their families. Over the past eight years, whilst at Our Place School, Mark has dedicated his career to supporting SEN students and fostering inclusive learning environments. Mark recently completed my degree in Early Childhood with a specialisation in SEN, which has equipped him with the knowledge and skills to serve the students at school better. In addition to his teaching role, Mark is the school’s Careers Lead, where he guides and supports students in their career planning and development where appropriate.
Lexi
Class Teacher
Lexi achieved a First-Class Honours degree in Performing Arts at Cardiff University, and she completed a PGCE in Secondary Education at the University of Exeter. Lexi started her teaching career 12 years ago, working in a range of settings, and she her specialist teaching journey in January 2017 at a trauma-informed, residential specialist school in Stroud. In her role as a teacher at Our Place School, Lexi strives to engage her students in positive learning and life experiences, and to help them to achieve their full potential socially, emotionally, personally and academically.
Jo
Class Teacher
Before joining Our Place School in 2023, Jo spent six years working in adult SEND care homes. During this time, Jo earned her Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care and obtained a Higher Education Certificate in Autism Awareness from Coventry University. Jo went on to achieve a BSc in Psychology with Developmental Disorders, which she completed with first-class honours from the University of South Wales.
Jo has worked in several large SEND schools in Cardiff and placements in an early intervention clinic for children with significant communication difficulties. It was here that Jo gained valuable insights into the profound connection between behaviour and communication.
Jo holds a Level 2 Playwork Certificate. Jo believes play fosters creativity, social interaction, and emotional growth, providing a holistic approach to education.
Jo is also proud to share that she is autistic (Level 1, formerly Asperger’s). This personal experience allows Jo to empathise with our students and some of their struggles, whilst maintaining high expectations, believing in their potential to succeed not only academically but in developing essential social and living skills in a supportive environment.
Isobel
Class Teacher
Izzy attended Oxford Brookes University, where she studied Primary Education. After graduating, Izzy embarked on her teaching career in a mainstream primary school, where she worked for nine years. In addition to her full-time role, Izzy also worked on weekends and during school holidays in a Special Educational Needs setting. This experience deepened her understanding of the diverse needs of students and strengthened her belief in the importance of tailored educational approaches.
Izzy’s dual experience in mainstream and SEN settings has made her a well-rounded educator, equipped with the knowledge and empathy to meet the needs of all her students. Her dedication to education and her passion for helping children of all abilities thrive continue to drive her forward in her career.
Naomi
Class Teacher
Naomi has been teaching children with special educational needs since 2004. She originally trained as an art teacher at the University of Leeds and spent 2 years teaching art and textiles in a mainstream secondary school before discovering that her passion lay in special education. Naomi likes to use her creative talents in all aspects of the curriculum and is passionate about language, arts and literacy for all. Naomi recently returned from New Zealand, where she spent 13 years teaching in different special schools as a class teacher, arts specialist and as an outreach teacher, supporting children with EHCPs working in mainstream settings. Naomi’s special interests are engagement and early communication.
Vicky
Class Teacher
Vicky has been a teacher for nearly 20 years. She achieved a 2.1 degree in English literature then went on to gain a primary education PGCE, with a specialism in Early Years education. Before gaining her teaching qualification, she worked as a TA in a SEN school in Bristol. She has spent her career working in schools with high proportions of pupils with SEND particularly ASD, speech and language, and behaviour. Vicky is passionate about inclusive education and over the years has become skilled in early reading and early literacy skills- delivering sessions for student teachers at the University of Worcester, writing articles for education journals, and supporting staff across schools.
When she is not at school, Vicky can be found growing vegetables on her allotment, walking her dogs or taxiing her own 3 children around!
Nathan
Class Teacher
Nathan started at Our Place school in early 2025. His teaching career has spanned almost 25 years and he has dedicated his time in helping SEN students to do their very best in their independence, communication, behaviour, regulation and education. Nathan has experience in organising residential trips, youth clubs and art exhibitions. His last art exhibition was at the Worcester Cathedral in the Summer 2023 in which he curated a ‘Daisy Chain’ installation for the circular Chapter House room within the Cathedral. SEN Schools across the Worcester, Hereford and Shropshire counties decorated daisy pictures which were then joined together around the circular room to make a daisy chain. Being a student focused teacher Nathan believes that by getting to know student’s individual characters and their specific needs in education, their triggers, likes and dislikes is paramount to their success.
Alycia
Class Teacher
Coming soon!
Matt
Teacher Apprentice
Coming Soon!
Jacob
Duke of Edinburgh Lead
Coming soon!
