About Us
Welcome to Elmley Dray School. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for the children and young people we serve.
Elmley Dray School specialises in supporting learners aged 9 to 18 who have a diagnosis of autism or present with autistic traits, alongside challenges with mental health regulation, particularly anxiety. We also work with learners with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and other co-occurring difficulties, enabling us to provide tailored support to a wide range of children and young people.
Our school is designed to feel like a home from home. With no more than 40 learners on roll, we offer small, carefully structured learning groups of up to eight students per class. For some activities, such as PE and Natural World, groups come together to encourage collaboration and social development.
We recognise the importance of meeting each student’s sensory and emotional needs. Our setting includes:
- A dedicated sensory room
- A therapy garden and outdoor learning spaces
- A nurturing environment for students working at an EYFS stage, with specialist resources and support.
All our teachers are qualified specialists in autism or have lived experience within the autistic community. Many also hold mental health qualifications and bring extensive expertise from working within the SEND sector, ensuring that every learner receives the highest quality of care and education.
At Elmley Dray, we are proud to be a child-centred school, placing each learner at the heart of everything we do. Our dedicated and passionate staff work tirelessly to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive, grow, and achieve their full potential.
We are excited about the future of Elmley Dray School and the positive impact we are making in our community. If you’d like to learn more about our work or join our Professional Advisory Team, please get in touch at info@elmleydrayschool.co.uk
Meet the Team
Senior Leadership Team
Emily Hollis - Headteacher, Senior attendance champion & DSL
Gemma Connolly - Deputy Headteacher & DDSL
Sian Bailey - SENDCo, DT & DDSL
David Baines - Finance manager
Natalie West-Johnson - HR manager & attendance officer
Hayley Furnell - Director
Teaching Team
Beth Lanning
Angharad Lanning
Ellie Chamberlain
Lara Holmes
Katie Butterfield
Lauren Goddard
Leigh- Ann Stanton - Cover supervisor & admissions officer
Intervention Team
Kathryn Hancock - Class & intervention TA
Sarah Roberts - Class & intervention TA
Emma Beckham - OT
Teaching Assistants
Jennie Herbert
Rachel Savage
Hayley Lines
Demi Hill
Grace Beams
Julie O'Neill
Kelly Dale
Nikki Pay
Sam Paston
Kerry Gaylor
Heather Tredget
Michelle Cox
Lorraine Whitelock
Lisa Hallet
Support Team
Sophie Walsh - Receptionist & attendance officer
Charna Freed - Lunchtime supervisor
Mandy Sherwood - Housekeeper
Jackie Glass - Volunteer
Our Wellbeing Dogs
