The Team

Shally Saleri-Palmer

Head Teacher

• B Ed (Hons)
• NPQH

Shally qualified from Derby University in 1993 and taught as a mainstream primary teacher for seven years across Derby City. In 2000 she became Deputy Head Teacher of Allenton Primary School. In 2006 Shally took the role of Behaviour Consultant for Derby City Council. In this role she worked in the Inclusion team and Behaviour Improvement Programme offering outreach support, training and consultation for students with behaviour difficulties. In 2008 she became Head Teacher of Derby City Councils Key stage 1 and 2 Pupil Referral Unit. In 2012 she became Deputy Head Teacher of Derby City Councils outstanding secondary special school for 11-19 students with a wide range of special needs including Autism, moderate to severe learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural disorders. As St Martins is also a Teaching School Shally was involved in developing training packages for schools, working with University students, newly qualified teachers and whole school staff training.

Andy Bennett

Deputy Head Teacher

• BA (Hons) – Social and Cultural Studies in Sport
• PGCE in Primary Education

Andy was appointed Deputy Head Teacher in September 2022 following 2 years as Assistant Head Teacher. He is currently completing work as part of the NASS (The National Association of Independent Schools & Non-Maintained Special Schools) Leadership programme.

In September 2018, Andy arrived at Bladon House School and took on the role of PE teacher. As a keen sportsman, with a first class honours degree in Social and Cultural Studies in sport, Andy was able to combine his knowledge and love of sport, with his passion for teaching. Alongside delivering exciting and purposeful PE sessions to all students at Bladon, Andy also became a NAPPI (Non-Abusive Psychological and Physical Intervention) trainer, and supported the Strategic Behaviour Lead with incidents of challenging behaviour.

Andy completed his Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University of Leicester in 2013 before teaching in a Leicester City special needs school for the next 5 years. During this time, Andy taught young people with a wide variety of learning difficulties, successfully mentored a trainee teacher, and became skilled in his delivery using TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children) methods.

Emma Goodall

Assistant Head Teacher / Inclusion & Safeguarding Leader

In September 2024 Emma was appointed Assistant Head Teacher.

She joined Bladon House School September 2007 as a newly qualified teacher. She qualified as a teacher from Derby University in 2007. Over the next 7 years Emma established her teaching career and helped to develop curriculum plans and marking policies. In 2014 Emma left Bladon House School and went to work in a school for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Emma was the Head of Key Stage 2 at this school and supported with education and health care plans and also transitions for young people joining the school setting.

In September 2017 Emma returned to Bladon House School to run the primary unit. Emma was promoted to phase leader and supported two other primary phase teachers and TAs to develop a wider curriculum. Emma was then promoted in 2020 to whole school inclusion lead, in this role Emma developed individual intervention plans for young people who were not making as much progress or struggling to access the main classroom for learning. Emma also supported and chaired some EHCP meetings during this year. Emma accessed training for Designated Safeguarding Leads and then joined the DSL team later in the year.

In September 2022, Emma was promoted to Safeguarding and Inclusion Lead. This role includes chairing EHCP meetings, attending LACS, CINS and PEPS as well as leading DSL meetings at Bladon House School and ensuring all areas of safeguarding are monitored and maintained.

Oliver Perkins

Assistant Head Teacher / Open Skies Upper School Leader

Oliver joined Bladon House School in September 2018 as a class teacher after graduating from Derby University with a PGCE specialising in special educational needs. After three years as a class teacher he became a middle leader for the upper school phase in September 2022, which has allowed him to create links with the local community and facilitated the work experience programme. He became Assistant Headteacher in September 2023.

Matt Cousins

Registered Manager and Head of Care

• Level 5 Diploma Leadership and Management.

• Level 4 NVQ Health and Social care.

• Level 3 NVQ Care for Children and Young people.

Matt joined Bladon House School in 2002 as a Residential Support Worker and has a wealth of experience of supporting children with ASD and associated complex needs. Over his 14 years at Bladon House Matt has worked as a Team Leader and House Manager supporting and leading teams of care professionals in achieving positive outcomes for Children. Matt was successful in becoming the Schools Deputy Head of Care in 2015 before being appointment as the Children`s Homes Registered Manager and Head of Care designate in July 2016. He became fully registered in February 2017.

Heidi Crockford

Deputy Head of Care

• NVQ L3 Health & Social Care 
• NVQ L3 Care for Children & Young People

Heidi worked in the domiciliary care sector for 8 years prior to joining Bladon House School in 2017. She is highly experienced in supporting children with Autism and associated complex needs.

Heidi has supported a range of teams during her time as a Team Leader and House Manager. In 2023 Heidi was appointed Deputy Head of Care.

Helen Lovegrove

Deputy Head of Care

• BA (Hons) Health and Social Care with Policy and Leadership
• Level 5 BTEC Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare

Helen qualified at Nottingham Trent University in 2010. While studying for her degree Helen worked as both a volunteer and a Support Worker in the community. Helen started her career with the SENAD group in 2011 at Pegasus School as a Support Worker, then a year later became a Care Manager. Having realised that working with children with learning difficulties and challenging behaviours was the career path she wanted to follow, Helen fulfilled her aspirations to be a manager in the care sector and was successful in gaining the position of Deputy Head of Care at Bladon House School.

Leanne North

Deputy Head of Care

• Level 3 Award in Education and Training
• CPD Level 4 NVQ – Management
• CPD Level 3 Diploma Health and Social Care- Children’s 

Leanne joined Bladon House School as a Residential Support Worker in 2002 during a gap year before starting University. It quickly became evident that her future career path would change as she became more involved and passionate about the work that she was doing with the students. She made the decision to stay and began her career in special needs education and care. Over the past 18 years Leanne has progressed from Support Worker to Team Leader, House Manager, Care Coordinator and now Deputy Head of Care.

Emma Deloughery

Behaviour Strategic Lead

• BSc(Hons) Psychology
• Attachment Lead in Schools
• Functional Assessment
• NVQ L3 Caring for Children and Young People
• L1 Theraplay

Emma read Psychology at the University of Liverpool, graduated in May 2013 and then quickly joined Bladon House School in the June of that year.

Emma has been a NAPPI trainer since May 2016 and has since continued to coordinate all NAPPI training onsite. She worked closely with the Deputy Head of Care to introduce PODs, not only to SENAD but also to NAPPI who now use these within other organisations. She has also redeveloped positive behaviour support plans ensuring that they are as accessible as possible to young people.

Emma has a real passion for promoting positive behaviour support and embeds this within everything she does. She supports teams to develop programs and restraint reduction plans to improve the young people’s quality of life. She wants the young people to have access to opportunities to allow them to become as independent as possible.

Charlie Jennings

Accreditation Leader

Andy Doughty

School Systems & Online Safety Lead