Jen Neehuis – Health and Wellbeing Lead

I have worked at Birch Wood since 2015. Having previously worked across all sites and provisions as a senior teaching assistant I have great experience in supporting young people with a wide range of needs. In 2023 My role within the Birch Wood community progressed into the Health and Wellbeing team where I am now the Health and Wellbeing Officer primarily based at Grange drive site. I provide a support service for students dealing with medical needs, illness, injury and emotional wellbeing.

I am responsible for overseeing the health care training of staff and ensuring staff adhere to the correct healthcare procedures including medicine administration. On a day to day basis I work closely with class teams, the school nurse, admin staff, health and educational professionals and families.

Julie Cassidy – Health and Wellbeing Assistant

I started my journey at Birch Wood in 2010 as a Learning Support Assistant and spent many years gaining knowledge and experience in EYFS. I then moved to the Autism Provision for 4 years before becoming Senior Teaching Assistant where I worked across many classes at Grange Drive site. I have followed my dream and am now part of the Health And Wellbeing Team based at Grange Drive, supporting Jen, our Health and Wellbeing Officer, and Jacqui, our School Nurse. I have the pleasure to work daily with some of our most complex health needs students and am passionate about ensuring that every student gets their individual needs met.

Sally Thurman – Health and Wellbeing Assistant

I am part of the Health and Wellbeing team and I have been working at Birch Wood since 2018 in the first instance as a Learning Support Assistant in EYFS then Senior Teaching Assistant in KS1/KS2 before taking on the role of Health and Wellbeing Assistant.
I work with a dedicated team and am passionate about delivering the best possible support and care for students medical and emotional wellbeing.

Jacqui Warrington – School Diana Nurse

I am the Diana Special Needs School Nurse for Birch Wood school. I am a qualified Learning Disability nurse and I began working with the Diana Children’s Community Service in 2018. This when I joined Birch Wood School and became a part of the Health and Well being team.

My role here is to support staff with the health needs of Birch Wood students. This involves training staff with clinical skills to ensure health care needs are met safely in school, which then enables the students to attend school. I am also able to support families and carers with students health needs, whether this be advice, referrals to other professionals, and liaising with GP’s, pharmacies and other agencies involved in the students care.

Sarah Alldridge – Home School Link Worker

I began my position of Home School Link Worker in November 2017. My role is to support you and your child as a positive link between home and school. As the Home School Link Worker I offer support and advice to families of the children who attend our school whilst having the ability to signpost you to relevant and required agencies. I can support you in our parent’s room or in some circumstances I can come out to your home to discuss any concerns or to assist you with completing and checking any forms.

Jen, Julie, Sally and I have a good communication link between ourselves, SLT and teaching staff to ensure that all of our Birch Wood School, Birch Wood Vale students and their families are receiving the support that they require.

If you are a potential parent or carer who is thinking of applying for a place here for your child then please feel free to contact me so that we can discuss your child’s needs and arrange a tour of the school.