Our Staff

As Headteacher of Tolleshunt D’Arcy, I am incredibly proud to lead our wonderful school community. With over 15 years of experience in education working as an LSA, HLTA, teacher and senior leader I bring a deep understanding of how to support children to thrive. I joined Tolleshunt D’Arcy in 2023 and have since led the school from strength to strength, including achieving a Good Ofsted outcome. Our staff team is exceptional, our pupils are happy, well-behaved and curious, and our wider community is consistently kind and supportive. Everything we do is driven by one purpose: to prepare our children for a bright and successful future through rich knowledge, strong values, and essential skills.

I hold a BA (Hons) in Childhood and Youth Studies and the NPQH.

SENDCo

I hold the National SENDCo Award and have a strong passion for inclusive practice. I believe that all children can succeed when given the right support, opportunity and encouragement. At Tolleshunt D’Arcy, every teacher is a teacher of SEND, and we work together to ensure that what supports our pupils with SEND often enhances learning for all.

Safeguarding Lead

As the Designated Safeguarding Lead, I firmly believe safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Our safeguarding procedures are robust, embedded and always a priority. Ensuring that our pupils feel safe, valued and listened to sits at the heart of our work.

Below, you can find out more about the incredible team I am proud to lead.

I joined Tolleshunt D’Arcy in September 2024 teaching Reception and Year 1 and currently teach Reception. I love teaching at Tolleshunt D’Arcy because of the supportive, collaborative team and the opportunity to make a real difference in every child’s learning and development.

I am an experienced and dedicated school leader, currently overseeing Maths, Geography, Phonics and the EYFS/KS1 phase. Over the past 20 years I have taught across all key stages and previously served as Head of Lower School in Key Stage 2, although my particular passion has always been for teaching and leading  Early Years and KS1.

I have also served as a temporary Deputy Head and English leader as well as leading foundation subjects.  I have led on school improvement, assessment and curriculum development. My expertise has been sought beyond my own school; I have been seconded to coach teachers in other settings and regularly support trainee teachers and ECTs. At Tolleshunt D’Arcy, I have delivered Maths CPD focused on oracy and mastery, and I am working closely with the Venn Essex Maths Hub to support maths in our school through the Teaching for Mastery Embedding Programme.

Professional, approachable and child-centred, I support Miss Reece  in ensuring every pupil receives the highest quality education. When deputising, I also work closely with families and serve as DDSL to help maintain a safe, nurturing environment for all children.

I have worked in Primary Schools for 15 years as both an LSA and HLTA, gaining valuable teaching practice and extensive experience of supporting children with a wide range of needs. I joined St Nicholas Tolleshunt D’Arcy in 2023 to train as a teacher, and I have loved the school’s strong sense of community and its dedicated team. I gained my teaching qualification with distinction, further strengthening my skills in the classroom.

My passion for art and theatre inspires me to create engaging, imaginative learning experiences, as I believe creativity is a powerful tool for building confidence. I am committed to helping every child express themselves, grow in independence and achieve their full potential. 

I have over 20 years of teaching experience across a wide range of year groups and have worked in several schools, which has given me a broad understanding of different learning environments. Throughout my career, I have led many key areas of school life, and I currently oversee the School Council, PSHE, Safeguarding, and English, focusing on both reading and writing.

I am particularly passionate about reading and love inspiring every child to develop a lifelong love of books. I work to help pupils at the school to become confident, fluent, and enthusiastic readers, using creative approaches and tailored strategies to meet the needs of all learners.

I enjoy bringing creativity and imagination into all areas of the classroom. I love incorporating art and hands-on activities into lessons, helping children engage deeply with their learning and express themselves in meaningful ways.

I am dedicated to supporting both academic progress and personal growth, and I am committed to making school a place where every child feels valued, motivated, and inspired to achieve their best.

I have been teaching at Tolleshunt D’Arcy for three years and, during this time, I have taught across both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. It has been a pleasure to contribute to the growth of the school, and I am proud to be part of such a calm, nurturing community. I have a particular love for reading and thoroughly enjoyed working within early reading development in Key Stage 1. My strong knowledge of phonics has enabled me to support children successfully through their Phonics Screenings, and now, working in Key Stage 2, I continue to build on these foundations to help children become confident, fluent readers and expressive writers.

My teaching practice is rooted in mutual respect, understanding, and positive relationships. I strive to create an environment where praise, encouragement and collaborative learning are at the heart of every lesson. I also have a keen interest in wellbeing, and as the school’s Wellbeing Lead, I am committed to supporting our children in developing emotional resilience, self-awareness, and a sense of belonging within our school community.

I hold a Level 3 qualification in Leading Forest School, which enriches both my teaching and my commitment to nurturing the whole child. The children benefit greatly from their time in our wonderful Forest School area, developing confidence and new skills each week. During sessions, I guide children to take thoughtful risks, explore the natural environment and build connections with nature. It is a privilege to see them learn practical skills such as using tools, den building and nature craft, and to watch even the quietest pupils flourish through play, creativity and adventure.

Jennifer has taught in a variety of schools across Essex, gaining extensive experience in year groups from Early Years through to Key Stage 2. She has been part of the Canonium Trust for the past eight years, during which she also spent time leading the Trust’s specialist autism centre. This role strengthened her passion for inclusive practice and her commitment to supporting the individual needs of every child.

Jennifer is dedicated to creating a nurturing, engaging learning environment, and her favourite part of teaching is the way children continually surprise and inspire her with their positivity, curiosity and humour. Outside of school, she enjoys keeping active and spending time with her own children and dogs.

I have been part of Tolleshunt Darcy School since 2018, and it has been a joy to teach and grow with this wonderful community. I bring strong subject knowledge and a calm, reassuring presence to my classroom, creating a positive and purposeful environment where children feel confident, supported and motivated to achieve their very best. I am incredibly proud of the excellent progress my KS2 pupils make each year, and I work hard to ensure every child feels valued and successful.

Beyond the classroom, I love getting involved in all aspects of school life, from KS2 productions and Residential trips to Sports Day and whole-school events. Sport is a particular passion of mine; I hold a Level 2 Coaching Qualification and enjoy encouraging children to be active, work as a team and discover the joy of physical activity. My teaching is also shaped by a strong understanding of Christianity, and I care deeply about nurturing pupils’ sense of values, respect and reflection. As Sustainability Lead, I champion climate action and help our children understand the impact they can have on the world around them.

In my leadership roles across PE, ICT, RE and Sustainability, I have enjoyed adapting our PE scheme of learning, updating equipment, strengthening our computing curriculum through specialist training and supporting pupils in developing curiosity, digital confidence and global awareness. I also hold a Level 2 Qualification in Understanding Behaviour, which underpins my supportive, consistent and thoughtful approach to pupil wellbeing.

Tolleshunt Darcy is a special place, and I feel privileged to contribute to such a caring, active and forward-thinking school community.

Mrs A Fowler (Administrative Assistant) 

Mrs A Bowring (Caretaker)

Miss H Johnson (Outdoor Supervisor) and Miss T Williams