Meet the Team
Dianne Allsup
Lead Specialist Teacher and Assessor.
BSc (Hons) Psychology,
Post Graducate Certificate in Education (PGCE),
MA (Special Educational Needs),
PG Dip (Dyslexia Research and Practice).
Approved Teacher Status with BDA
Associate Member of British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA)
Assessment Practising Certificate with PATOSS
Dianne is our company director. She draws on her 30 year career in education, together with her experience as a parent, to further inform the wealth of professional skills and knowledge that she shares with parents, schools and other specialist agencies.
Initially training to teach children in KS1, she then gained further qualifications and extensive experience in advising, assessing and planning the provision for a wide range of special educational needs across the primary and secondary age groups; this has included the SENCo role in a number of schools and being a specialist teacher for the Local Authority.
Joel Allsup
Administrator
Advanced technical Diploma in Animal Management
Extended Project Qualification
BSc Zoology (1st Class)
Joel is our company administrator. He will likely be your first point of contact with Chrysalis Education and you will find him organised, efficient, helpful and above all, approachable.
Joel is experienced at working with young people. He brings valuable experience and insight into the areas of neurodiversity.
Sally Walker-Smith
Specialist Dyslexia Assessor and Teacher
BEd (Hons).
PG Cert. (Specific Learning Difficulties)
Approved Teacher Status with BDA
Associate Member of British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA)
Assessment Practising Certificate with British Dyslexia Association
Philosophy for Children
With over 25 years teaching experience (Foundation to Y6), including 7 years as Inclusion Manager and SENCo in a large inner city primary, Sally has acquired training and expertise in providing for a wide range of specific learning needs such as dyslexia, ASD, ADHD, SEMH, Wave 2 therapeutic provision, Attachment and Trauma and the needs of children who have been fostered and adopted. Passionate about achieving the best outcomes for children, Sally is committed to finding creative, workable solutions to best meet the needs of all pupils.
Sally currently works part-time as a primary teacher in Greater Manchester, where she has previously held roles of SENDCo and Designated Lead for care experienced pupils. This keeps her fully aware of the demands of the current curriculum and the climate of modern-day teaching.
Kate Blundell
Specialist (SpLD) Teacher and Assessor
Masters (MA) Specific Learning Difficulties
Masters (MSc) Psychology
Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA and AMBDA FE/HE)
Assessment Practising Certificate (APC)
PG Cert and PG Dip Dyslexia and Literacy
PG Cert Language and Literacy Development
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Education Studies
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Society for Education and Training and Dyslexia Guild
Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society
Patoss Professional Member
Kate is a specialist teacher and assessor and a former SENCo. Her background includes conducting and managing diagnostic assessment and exam access as well as a range of assessment and support services in schools and post-16 settings. Having worked for a local authority specialist support team delivering outreach services to primary and secondary schools, Kate has extensive experience of planning and delivering specialist intervention programmes and multisensory teaching. She is committed to providing the best possible support for learners and schools.
With over two decades experience working in education, Kate now works part-time for a dyslexia professional body, passing on her knowledge and expertise to other assessors. She also delivers postgraduate qualifications to trainee dyslexia and dyscalculia specialists, and SENCos.
Kate Sutton
Specialist Teacher and Dyslexia Assessor
Associate Member of British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA)
Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC)
PG Cert (Dyslexia SpLD)
Masters (MA) in Education
SENCo Award
PG Cert (Education Information and Communications Technology)
BA (hons) in Creative Music Technology
Kate has over 23 years extensive experience in education, including leadership roles in a secondary school and Local authority, promoting performance, technology and music to raise the use of new technologies to enhance learning, amongst both teachers and the wider community. Other management roles have included primary liaison, head of curriculum roles, safeguarding, various pastoral roles, English as an additional language and SENCo.
After completing the national SENCo award Kate continued her studies, achieving an MA in Education and Post Graduate certificate in Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia). Her current role is senior lecturer and course leader for Dyslexia and Dyscalculia at Edge Hill University.
Having dyspraxia herself and being a parent of a young person with dyslexia and dyspraxia, Kate appreciates the challenges some day to day tasks can present.
Leanne Esposito
Specialist Dyslexia Assessor and Teacher
BA, PGCE, Postgraduate in Additional Learning Needs
Approved Practitioner Status with BDA
Associate Member of British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA)
Assessment Practising Certificate with British Dyslexia Association
Leanne is a highly competent, enthusiastic, inspiring and motivational practitioner. She currently works part-time at a High School and has significant experience deliverying multi-sensory literacy and pastoral support for KS3/KS4 with Special Educational Needs.
Leanne is passionate about promoting a whole school dyslexia-friendly inclusive learning environment; this is reflected by her creative and innovative approach to the assessment process and in the subsequent reports shared with schools and parents. The excellent relationship Leanne enjoys with her pupils promotes their independent learning skills as well as significant levels of progress.
Luke Allsup
‘A’ Levels in Maths and Biology
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Music
AS level in Physics
Extended Project Qualification
Luke works with Dianne to support those experiencing difficulties with mathematics up to GCSE level. He has developed clear insight into the learning needs of those who experience a specific learning difficulty and adapts the presentation of the curriculum accordingly.
Luke’s kind, cheerful and positive manner with his students reduces anxiety, resulting in enjoyable tutoring sessions and accelerated progress.
Tiffany Coles
‘A’ Levels in Maths, Chemistry, History and Music
GCSE's: Maths, Chemistry, History, Biology, Physics, Statistics, French, English Language and Literature
Tiffany works with Dianne to support those experiencing difficulties with mathematics up to GCSE level. With a very strong maths background, Tiffany has experience in helping young children within an orchestra and learning instruments; she delivers maths in a clear and palatable way for all children.
Locking Stumps Community Primary School in Warrington is our Partner School. We are delighted that the school governors are willing to formalise the relationship between Chrysalis and Locking Stumps as a partnership.
The relationship between Locking Stumps and Chrysalis began a number of years ago when Dianne initially supported the school as an Inclusion Teacher during her tenure at Warrington Borough Council. Since then, she has continued to provide support, advice and guidance on all SEN matters, including a period as Special Educational Needs Coordinator.
Locking Stumps is a two-form entry school where all children thrive within its inclusive, dynamic and vibrant setting. The staff and the governors are always open to new ideas, systems and interventions which can benefit the children.