Meet The
SENsational Tutors Team
Find out more about SENsational Tutors and the amazing team behind it!
Helping Families With Children With SEND
Our friendly team is the heart of SENsational Tutors. All with a background in teaching, we’re a diverse group of experienced individuals who share a deep commitment to helping families with children with SEND. For parents, this means access to expert support and being able to speak openly to people who truly understand their child’s unique needs. For tutors, it means joining a supportive community that values their worth, skills and dedication.
Our Fabulous Team
Joanna Gibbs
PGCE, QTS, B.A. (Hons), M.Ed. (social, emotional and behaviour difficulties)
Joanna founded the company in 2017 in order to fulfill her lifelong ambition to help children and young people with special needs. She has over 20 years of experience both in this country and abroad.
Joanna is a very hands-on leader and interviews every tutor to ensure they meet the high standards upheld by the company. She is incredibly proud of every one of our SENsational Tutors and makes sure that they know!
She is passionate about her team, seeking new business partnerships and collaborations in order to change the world!
Her passions are travel, progressive education and hedgehogs.
Helen Webb
B.Ed (Hons), QTS
Helen has been teaching for over 30 years in mainstream and specialist settings. She has significant leadership experience, having spent time as a SENCo and Headteacher in Primary Education.
Helen is the Safeguarding Lead and manages all aspects of the day-to-day running of the business. Helen loves to organise our involvement in SEND shows and events and is very proud of our signature Blue Bear and her other slightly quirky ideas!
Her passions are cooking, musical theatre, camping and Kermit the Frog.
Enquiries Manager: Private families, schools and other enquiries
Lizzie Deere
NASENCo Qualified, QTS, B.Mus (Hons)
Lizzie is a very passionate and knowledgeable member of the team who has extensive experience working with a diverse range of needs and has in-depth knowledge of the EHCP and EOTAS processes. Lizzie is Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the company and manages all aspects related to Local Authority clients and developing relationships further.
Lizzie very much enjoys planning parties and events that continue to be enjoyed by all. Ask her about the After Eight game!
Her passions are music, renovating, cricket, baking and Christmas.
Enquiries Manager: LA/EOTAS/Personal Budgets
Jess Taylor
PGCE, QTS, B.A. (Hons) PG Dip. Ed. (Autism Studies)
Jess is an incredibly creative and innovative member of the team with extensive experience as a teacher in secondary mainstream and specialist settings.
Jess manages the recruitment and onboarding processes for tutors, and we all rely on her highly organised approach to everything!
Her huge passion is art, which she uses to help in enriching the lives of others – in particular an art group for people recovering from Long Covid.
Jess loves dancing, her girls and painting.
Recruitment Manager
Sammie Batcheldor
B.A. (Hons) Primary Education, QTS, NPQML
Sammie is an experienced primary teacher working with a wide range of needs. She ensures that the world continues to discover and learn more about SENsational Tutors by creating fabulous social media content and marketing opportunities.
She champions our young people by sharing the work they have done and celebrating their achievements.
Competitive to the core, Sammie is always up for a challenge and likes to win!
Her passions are holidays, MAFS, long walks and Zumba.
Media and Engagement Manager
Carla Lapworth
B.A. (HONS) Early Childhood Studies, PGCE, QTS
I have over 18 years of experience working in Early Years and Leadership. I am passionate about helping people and supporting others’ wellbeing.
I am now a professional organiser and love to find solutions to problems.
My passions are my family, going for walks in the woods with our dog, Christmas and decluttering!
PA and Administator
Hannah Ackroyd
B.A. (Hons) Primary Education, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Hannah has 19 years of experience working with SEND primary-aged children, having spent ten years teaching within mainstream and specialist provision. She has always had a particular interest in supporting the behaviour and well-being of young people with SEND, believing that creating the right environment and developing trusting relationships is key to a young person feeling safe and happy to thrive.
She is now enjoying talking all things SEND, championing inclusion, and working with SENsational Tutors to support the families of children and young people with SEND further, by fighting for a better future, collaborating with other like-minded supporters of SEND.
Her passions are food, food and more food, especially cheese, as well as being outdoors in the fresh air and working off her love of food in the gym, in amongst her CrossFit family.
Project Manager and Administrator
Alicja Fox
Alicja is an incredible bookkeeper and has a fabulous brain – everyone always wants to be on her team when playing a game!
She keeps everything running very smoothly in the accounts department.
Her passions are numbers, spreadsheets and wine.
