Courtenay Norbury is a Professor of Developmental Disorders of Language and Communication at University College London. She is a qualified speech-language therapist, did her PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, is a founding member of RADLD and was formerly Chair of Governors at a local primary school.

Her research focuses on language disorders across a range of different clinical conditions. She led the Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study (SCALES), a population study of language disorder from school entry to the end of primary school. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and a co-authored a popular textbook: Language Disorders from Infancy to Adolescence.

Victoria is particularly passionate about the organisation’s ethos around inclusivity, and the great sharing and learning we can do together, from and with each other.

Victoria has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for many years within West Yorkshire and the North West and for a range of different organisations including the NHS, The Communication Trust, as an Independent SLT, and working within higher education.

She is currently working as a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. Victoria says she feels ‘privileged to be a member of the NAPLIC committee and the recent Chair role (May 2024) and is looking forward to the exciting new experiences and challenge that this brings’!

Email Victoria Wadsworth

As a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) Kara is passionate about supporting people with DLD to share their views and ideas about the world and best hopes for their futures.

Kara has worked in a wide variety of clinical areas, mostly around Scotland and in New Zealand. Currently, she works as part of a joint NHS/Education Service supporting pupils with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in mainstream school settings in Fife.

Kara is excited to take on the role of Vice Chair and is looking forward to supporting NAPLICs work in knowledge exchange, promoting best practice and liaison with other organisations.

Derek Burgon has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist since 1986 having qualified from the then Birmingham Polytechnic. He has worked in children’s community services and special schools alongside teachers and support assistants.

His current post is to work with teaching staff and parents to support children in mainstream schools with speech, language and communication needs associated with moderate learning difficulties.

Sarah Earl originally trained for teaching KS2 in Psychology and Education with London University. During her years in teaching KS1-3 (in specialist facilities and mainstream) in Sussex she has increased her focus on SEN, particularly SLCN, Dyslexia and Dycalculia. She now works on a freelance basis training teachers and carrying out exam access assessments.

Sarah joined the committee three years ago. She regularly represents NAPLIC on the Communication Trust’s Communication Consortium and contributes the reviews of recent government publications and other articles relating to current issues to the newsletters.

Carolyn Gelenter initially trained as an Early Childhood teacher (0-8 years) and has taught across the primary age range.She works as an advisory teacher for SLCN for Westminster LA, where together with the local NHS SaLT service, she developed a range of collaborative working models over the past 15 years.

Carolyn is also a licensee for ICAN.

Lesley Cherriman has worked in England, The Falkland Islands, Scotland and now the Isle of Man since she became a Speech and Language Therapist in 2000. The majority of her work has been in the community, in mainstream environments, working with children with a range of speech, language and communication needs, their families and all those in the community supporting each child.

In the Isle of Man Lesley works with primary aged children in schools and with teachers and families. She delivers Elklan training with SLT colleagues as well as continuing to raise awareness and talk about Developmental Language Disorder with whoever she can. Lesley’s interests are Developmental Language Disorder, speech disorder and stammering. As a NAPLIC committee member Lesley can be contacted about the DLD Friendly Audit.

Cheryl started her teaching career as a secondary music specialist. The experience of teaching lower set GCSE groups, in particular, sparked an interest in understanding why some children and young people find it harder to learn than others.

After many years of teaching across all key stages, and further study, she joined the centrally–based, Surrey County Council Learning and Language Support specialist teaching team in 2005.

Stephen Parsons has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for 35 years. He trained in Australia but has spent most of his career in England and specifically in Hackney in London. He now lives in Norfolk and works as a researcher, trainer and author. He is particularly interested in how whole class practice can include children with developmental language disorder.

Stephen is active on Twitter via @WordAware

Mary Jo Spearey was born and grew up in Derry in Northern Ireland in troubled times. She began her teaching career over 34 years ago including working as an Advisory Teacher. Throughout her career she has always been extremely interested in Speech, Language and Communication.

In 2009 she took up the post of Head of Service of ComIT, Communication Intervention Team – a school-based service that serves the five local Education Authorities of South East Wales. Currently, ComIT is one of three teams that makes up SenCom – Sensory and Communication Service.

ComIT has developed very close integrated and joint working with the local health authority Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABuHB) Speech and Language Service. Approximately 250 schools across the region are supported and enabled to understand, identify and help children and young people to develop their Speech, Language and Communication skills, especially those with SLCN.

Kate is a proud mum of two children, one of whom has Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Kate is a passionate advocate for those with SLCN, both personally and professionally. Listening to children, and upholding the rights of the child are very important to Kate.

Kate has a keen interest in improving teaching staff knowledge and understanding of DLD and the strategies that make a positive difference. Kate thoroughly enjoys delivering the DLD Together course for families of children with DLD.
Since 2006 Kate has been a teacher in Birmingham (where she was born and grew up). Following an undergraduate degree in Psychology (University of Cardiff) Kate qualified as a teacher with an Early Years specialism (3-11 years). After teaching in inner city Birmingham she became an Inclusion Leader (SENCo). Since 2018 she has been an advisory teacher for Cognition, Language & Learning in one of Birmingham Local Authority’s SEND advisory teams.

Kate is currently in the final year of an MSc in Language and Communication Impairment in Children (University of Sheffield). She is carrying out research with adolescents who have DLD using creative methods to explore their experiences of school.

Kate is also an Elklan tutor.

Jan brings over 22 years of educational experience with specialist expertise in Speech, Language, Communication Needs (SLCN). She has successfully led a SLCN Centre within GLF for over 10 years, growing the provision to almost three times its size, while consistently achieving excellent outcomes.

Jan has recently secured a new role as Inclusion Lead for SLCN within a Multi-Academy Trust working across all key stages and is looking forward to bringing a strategic overview of speech and language across the trust.

Jan holds an MSc in Language and Communication Impairment in Children and is passionate about advocating for young people through evidence-based interventions. She has extensive experience supporting students with complex needs.

Jan is committed to inclusive education, diversity, equity, and social justice. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, spending time with her four grandchildren, and is an active member of her local church.

It is an absolute privilege to be part of the NAPLIC committee, bringing DLD and SLCN to the forefront.

Laura started her teaching career in 2003 in a Speech and Language Class in Northern Ireland. She then taught in a regional school for pupils with DLD and then their Outreach Service, supporting staff and children in mainstream settings. During that time, she had a part-time secondment to the Language and Learning Service, working collaboratively with Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists. Laura’s current role is now within an Early Years Local Impact Team providing advice and guidance to staff and intervention to children.

Laura has worked diligently to demonstrate and evidence her skills, knowledge, application, and reflection by gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in SEND, specialising in SLCN and Educational Testing. As a Director for Causeway Neurodiversity, Laura is jointly responsible for organising fun events for families as well as information raising sessions and advocating for children with SEND. She enjoys delivering the DLD Together course for families of children with DLD and leads on SLCN/DLD as a member on the nasen NI SEN Advisory Group.

Marie completed a Masters in English and Applied Linguistics in her home country of France, and initially worked as an English teacher. After moving to England she worked as a Family Support Worker as part of the Sure Start initiative in Brighton and Hove. Running groups jointly with a Speech and Language Therapist ignited her interest in children’s language development and the challenges faced by some children and young people to develop their communication skills.

In 2009, Marie completed her Speech and Language Therapy Postgraduate studies at City University, London. Since then she has worked as a clinician, clinical lead and service manager in the NHS. Her specialist interests are in DLD and Multilingualism and developing the knowledge and skills of education staff to support their understanding of children’s communication challenges and ensure best practice in and out of the classroom.

Marie is currently the Programme Lead for Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) in Hartlepool.