The opportunity to be truly accepted, understood and supported.

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 19 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

SLT & Admin

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Emily Hollis MBE - Headteacher & DSL

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Hayley Furnell - Director & DDSL

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Gemma Connolly - Deputy Headteacher & DDSL

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Sian Bailey - SENDCo, DT & DDSL

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David Baines - Finance Manager

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Eve Skinner - HR and H&S Officer

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Sophie Bloomfield -Receptionist & Clerk

Teaching & Support Staff

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Beth Lanning - SEN Specialist Teacher

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Angharad Harry - SEN Specialist Teacher


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Ellie Chamberlain- SEN Specialist Teacher

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Jo Gillmore- SEN Specialist Teacher

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Katie Butterfield - SEN Specialist Teacher

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Jennie Herbert - HLTA

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Emily Skinner - 1:1 TA

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Lauren Goddard - SEN Specialist Teacher & 1:1 TA 

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Nikki Pay - 1:1 TA


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Natalie West - 1:1 TA

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Rachel Savage - Class TA


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Kathryn Hancock - Intervention Support / Class TA

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Sarah Roberts - Intervention Support / Class TA


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Sam Paston - 1:1 TA


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Heather Kerswell - 1:1 TA


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Scott Chandler - 1:1 TA


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Michelle Cox - 1:1 TA


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Demi Hill - 1:1 TA


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Leigh-Ann Stanton - 1:1 TA

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Kerry Gaylor - 1:1 TA


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Jackie Glass - Volunteer


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Tom Fantetti - Volunteer



Wellbeing Dogs


We have a number of wellbeing dogs who are onsite at different periods throughout the week.

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Winnie - Wellbeing Dog

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Dolly - Wellbeing Dog


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Margo - Wellbeing Dog

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Find out more about the Charity Excellence Framework 

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