Team
The Kernow English Hub Team are always available to help. Please contact us to discuss any early reading support that your school requires.
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Pamela Waters MBE |
Pamela is an experienced teacher and leader; she has been working in Cornish primary schools since 1999. She was Head at our hub school, Trenance Learning Academy, and has led the Kernow English Hub since 2018. Pamela worked closely with the DfE as South West representative on the English Hub National Council. Pamela has been Strategic Lead of OneCornwall Teaching School Hub West and has worked with secondary colleagues to develop professional development programmes bringing national speakers to Cornwall. Pamela has a passion for school improvement and is currently School Improvement Lead for Kernow Learning Trust. She is determined to ensure all pupils get the best start in life - it is for this work that she has recently been awarded her MBE |
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Vanessa Morley |
Following a successful career in business working as a director of a corporate services agency, Vanessa’s love of learning led her to retrain to become a primary practitioner. In this setting, she worked across key stages. Vanessa was rapidly promoted to be on the SLT and lead English and RE in a Trust school in Hertfordshire which was rated by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ across all areas in July 2022. Despite coming from a background in English, Vanessa had found writing the most challenging area to work with. Understanding the cognitive complexities involved in this process led her to undertake a Masters’ degree at the University of Oxford. She was been awarded a distinction for her research project which focused on the teaching and learning of writing. Vanessa is passionate about all aspects of teaching and learning. She is excited to be working at the Kernow English Hub to promote best practice and enthusiasm in the delivery of outstanding reading and writing pedagogy to enable both teachers and children to feel confident and to flourish. |
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Holly Lewis Co Hub Lead - Partner School / Literacy Specialist Team Lead - Early Reading Auditor |
As a Co-Lead and a Literacy Specialist for the Kernow English Hub, Holly lives and breathes reading. From her earliest memories, books have been her place to lose herself, and they are a source which feeds her soul. As a seasoned early years' teacher, Holly has had the privilege of nurturing young minds and sharing this love of books with hundreds, if not thousands, of children. Learning to read is hard work and Holly relishes the opportunity to introduce children to the world of words and stories - supporting them to expand their imagination. Holly’s work with the Hub allows her to partner with fellow educators, aspiring teachers and children. This collaborative approach improves the teaching of reading across our county in a supportive manner - giving everyone the best opportunity to be successful. |
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Alison Downing |
With over 30 years of experience, Alison has taught in a range of schools, including inner city and rural schools. She has taught across the primary phases, more recently in Reception and Year 1. Before becoming one of the Co-Hub Leads for Kernow English Hub, she was Assistant Head and English Lead at Trenance Learning Academy. As Head of Year 1, she led the teaching of phonics ensuring consistent above national levels in the Phonics Screening Check. One aspect of her role is leading the audit team. Alison is responsible for auditing a school’s early language provision, identifying action points, signposting training for staff, identifying resources and funding. She also delivers Literacy Specialist days in schools who are using Read Write Inc. as their SSP. Alison is passionate about teaching oracy and believes oracy can transform children’s learning and life chances. She led oracy at Trenance, which became a Voice 21 Centre of Excellence in 2024 and is Kernow Learning’s Trust Oracy Specialist. She has led oracy training, spoken at conferences and webinars. This year she is facilitator for the Reading Fluency course aimed at KS2. During the course she will support schools choosing texts, assessing fluency and share strategies for teaching automaticity, prosody and vocabulary. Alison believes that every child deserves the best teaching and wants to train and support teachers to improve their skills so that every child can become a reader. She realises that every school is unique, and she tailors the support the school needs. |
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Helen O'Kane |
Helen is Deputy Headteacher of Parc Eglos where she is the curriculum lead, including English lead. She has previously been a Headteacher, led the Kernow English Hub and delivered the NPQLL. She has taught across the primary phase but primarily in Year Two and Year Six. She developed a vast amount of experience and success when leading English across the Primary Phase during her time as both a Headteacher, an Assistant Head Teacher and as a classroom practitioner. Helen is passionate that all children leave primary school able to confidently seize all the opportunities that await them in their future educational journeys; she believes being an effective reader, writer and communicator is key. She has experience of building a comprehensive whole school reading and writing curriculum which delivers not only the required content of the statutory National Curriculum but also offers pupils a rich, current, and varied literacy diet. During her time as Headteacher, she successfully integrated reading into the curriculum outside of English and developed an effective and motivating approach to the teaching of reading in Key Stage Two: " Reading has the highest priority. High-quality texts underpin the whole curriculum, including in the early years. Pupils learn increasingly complex reading techniques as they study books, stories and poems from many different cultures. Pupils learn to love reading.” Nancledra School Ofsted: 18th December 2024 She has a clear understanding of what lies ahead for each age group due to her experience working in and leading throughout Key Stage one and Key Stage two. Helen also loves to learn, which means she keeps up to date with the latest research and best practice linked not only to the development of English but also in the fields of cognitive science and teacher development. She understands the complexities which face both classroom practitioners and school leaders and is therefore passionate about building effective relationships to ensure her support improves the outcomes of the children within your own unique school community. She looks forward to meeting you and your children in the near future. |
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Kyja King |
Kyja has been teaching for 20 years and is an experienced KS1 practitioner. She has many years of school leadership experience in a range of settings. Kyja believes that Reading is ‘the heart’ of the Curriculum and is passionate about ensuring that all children learn to read and develop a love of reading. As an experienced Literacy Specialist and SLE, Kyja loves supporting schools across the region as part of the Kernow English Hub, driving high standards of phonics and reading so that every child achieves their full potential. Kyja has supported many different settings across Cornwall, developing reading and phonics across EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Kyja has been a KS1 moderator for Cornwall Local Authority and currently leads on writing moderation across a large Trust. Kyja is passionate that we equip every child, regardless of their background, needs or abilities with the skills needed to promote and sustain a fair and equitable society. She believes supporting early language development through quality first teaching is an essential part of the journey. As a dedicated delegate of the National Oracy Project led by Voice 21 and ICAN, Kyja has led and managed change across her own school. She now relishes the opportunity to support other schools on their journey. Through recent national training led by Professor Teresa Cremin, also complimented by the English Hub’s Reading for Pleasure: Transforming your School’s Reading Culture project, Kyja is keen to support schools in implementing whole school ‘structural’ changes required to create a reading for pleasure culture. Kyja is very much looking forward to continuing to support schools to ensure the delivery of rigorous SSP programs to improve practice, attainment as well as practitioner’s confidence. |
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Tania Findlay MBE |
Tania Findlay is the Headteacher at Newquay Junior Academy, where she leads a vibrant school community with a strong reputation for excellence in literacy and inclusive practice. A Specialist Leader in Education for English, Tania has worked across multiple schools and Trusts to design English curricula, establish well-stocked libraries, and embed a love of reading throughout the curriculum. In 2020, she was awarded an MBE for Services to Education, recognising her impact on classroom teaching, school improvement, and the promotion of reading for pleasure.
Alongside her role at NJA, Tania is the Reading for Pleasure Literacy Specialist with the Kernow English Hub. She leads the “Transforming Your School’s Reading Culture” programme, supports English leaders across Cornwall, and contributes to national networks including the OU/UKLA Teachers’ Reading Group and the Literacy Tree’s Race & Cultures Representation Panel. She regularly reviews children’s books for national publications and maintains strong partnerships with authors, illustrators, and publishers-ensuring her pupils benefit from a rich and diverse literary experience.
Tania’s classroom experience spans all primary year groups, though her expertise lies in Upper Key Stage 2, particularly Year 6. She is passionate about ensuring high-quality English provision from Early Years through to Year 6 and is especially focused on supporting pupils through the transition to secondary school. As a mixed-heritage leader, she champions inclusive literature and believes that all children should see themselves-and others-reflected in the stories they read. Her leadership at NJA is rooted in the belief that reading is the gateway to lifelong success. |
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Amy Hooper |
Amy is an experienced KS1 teacher and reading lead, having taught in Cornish schools for more than 15 years. She is currently a Year 2 teacher and KS1 lead, leading English across her school and across the 8 schools in the ANDARAS MAT. Having worked extremely hard to raise the attainment and standards in her own school, she now relishes the opportunity to support other schools on their journey. Amy has a lot of experience working in schools that have a significantly above average number of pupil premium and SEN children. Knowing that reading ability has a considerable impact on both educational attainment and wider life outcomes, ensuring that all children regardless of their background or ability become readers, is something that she feels very strongly about. She has a passion for promoting the love of early reading, ensuring that we inspire children to be confident, fluent readers with the ability to unlock the whole curriculum. Amy feels very privileged to be able to work with a team of Literacy Specialists who are dedicated to developing a love of reading for all children. |
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Amy Rutter |
An experienced teacher, Amy has taught across all primary year groups, with the majority of her experience in Key Stage 1. She has successfully led Reading and English in a two-form entry school, where she implemented new schemes and carefully monitored their impact on pupil outcomes. Amy has also completed the National Professional Qualification for Leading Literacy (NPQLL), which has further strengthened her subject leadership. She has drawn on this training to support the strategic implementation of phonics and reading across her school. In September 2025, Amy will begin a new role with Little Wandle as a Trainer and Champion School Facilitator. This position will enable her to support schools across the country in their phonics journey, sharing up-to-date guidance and ensuring the highest standards of practice are maintained. Amy was among the first to implement the Little Wandle programme and has since become a passionate advocate for its approach. She has worked closely with many partner schools and wider within her previous academy trust to support other when adopting the scheme. Alongside phonics, reading for pleasure is a core focus for Amy. She is an avid reader with a deep enthusiasm for children’s literature. One of her professional highlights has been completing the English Hub’s Transforming Your School’s Reading Culture course, which she successfully embedded within her previous school. |
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Jo Pethick |
On her journey to teaching, Jo completed a degree in Education Studies. During this, Jo focused her studies on understanding how social class can act as a determiner of educational success. This underpins her whole drive for working in education, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, receives access to great teaching as this is one of the most powerful levers we have for change. Jo passionately believes that every child can become a reader and, most importantly, love reading.
Jo is an experienced teacher who has been fortunate enough to teach in a wide range of year groups. Currently, she teaches a year 1 class and has exemplary practice in delivering phonics. Jo leads early reading in her setting and has supported the introduction of RWI, which saw phonics screening scores rocket to 100% after its first year of delivery. Scores remain consistently high and school practice is championed by visitors and the trust. Jo is a RWI fanatic, and her love of phonics radiates to all. All reading leaders in the school approach phonics with the same positive attitude and this contributes to a school-wide, palpable ethos of positivity about reading.
This year, a large part of Jo’s role has been ensuring that reading teachers feel confident in delivering phonics in the most up-to-date way, ensuring fidelity to the scheme. Jo is in her element supporting staff in this way and loves nothing more than to see progress in delivery and subsequently, children’s reading ability. Jo is extremely excited to not only learn and grow with an amazing, experienced team, but to also work with a variety of schools in supporting the deliver of a rigorous SSP and witness the positive impact this will have. |
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Tracey Milsom Literacy Specialist |
Tracey has been teaching for 20 years and is an experienced KS1 practitioner. She is an Assistant Head and Early Reading Lead and has successfully led the teaching of phonics in her current school for many years. Tracey has extensive first-hand experience in phonics teaching, monitoring pupil progress and delivering interventions. She is currently a SLE in reading and KS1 assessment and is part of Kernow Learning’s writing moderation team. Tracey is passionate about supporting teachers, enabling them to use all the tools available to secure best outcomes for children. She leads regular training sessions and supports teachers to assess and group children effectively. Upon identifying children who need extra support, she works closely with teachers and support staff to put practical and achievable plans in place to ensure the greatest impact. Tracey has experience of the phonics screening check, managing the delivery as well as providing training to parents, student teachers and CPD for colleagues. |
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Helen Cobley Administrator |
Helen has worked in a variety of roles within education and business. She started her career in property and finance, then ran her own hospitality business, before completing her degree in Teaching and Learning. She has experience in primary, secondary and higher education, as well as outdoor activity. Helen will be the point of contact for bookings and events for the hub, or any administrative tasks that may arise and is happy to help however she can. |
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Chris Gerry I.T. Support and Website Administrator |
Having worked in a primary school for 16 years as a teaching assistant and then a teacher, Chris is enjoying working alongside many of the wonderful English Hub staff. Due to his background in computing and technology, he was brought onboard at an early stage to support with the I.T. of the Kernow English Hub. This included building the initial website to supporting at events with any technical requirements, and this is now his current role. |
