Our Story
We’re a small, dedicated team of educational professionals with a shared belief that every child deserves the chance to shine and make progress.
With a background in SEND education, our team includes specialist teachers, consultants and learning support staff; all committed to building positive, supportive relationships with learners and their families.
At our purpose designed centre in the heart of Ashbourne, we offer morning and afternoon sessions that feel more like communities than classrooms - places where young people are encouraged, respected, and gently challenged to achieve their potential.
Who We Work With
Children and young people with or without an EHCP
Families looking for expert insight and practical solutions
Schools seeking targeted support or placements
Local authorities funding specialist services
We’re proud of our professional knowledge and even prouder of our compassionate, people-first approach.
Meet the Team
Anna, Louise, and our core team of teachers and learning support professionals each bring warmth, experience, and expertise to the children they support.
Here’s a bit more about our fantastic team.
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Anna is the founder of The New Ways Learning Centre and has been working as a specialist teacher for over 20 years after moving on from mainstream teaching. She leads our team and loves meeting our new learners and their families, supporting them to settle and enjoy their new positive learning experiences.
Fun Fact - Anna plays rugby for Ashbourne Rugby Club; her favourite position is with the backs!
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Jo is a specialist teacher who joined the New Ways team after working in mainstream education for over 10 years. She loves getting to know the learners and their interests, to plan fun and engaging activities to help them learn best.
Fun Fact - Jo's favourite hobby is baking for friends and family. From Victoria sponge to chocolate brownies, you name it, she'll give it a go!
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Kara has been part of the New Ways team since 2023 and enjoys sharing her love of maths and science with the learners.
Fun Fact - Kara put off having to get a ‘real job’ for as long as possible by travelling, then worked in IT, advertising and for a charity promoting sports and fitness for young people before qualifying as a teacher in 2011.
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Sarah joined the New Ways team after working in primary schools for over a decade teaching children from EYFS to Year 6. Two years later and Sarah is loving working within the one to one and small group setting, especially using the multisensory resources for all kinds of learning activities.
Fun Fact - Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, especially exploring the great outdoors in all kinds of weather!
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Gaynor began teaching over 30 years ago, based mainly in SEND specialist provision. She had a break from teaching, working as a librarian and a childminder, then a full time mum and carer before joining the New Ways team. She really enjoys helping the learners to build and develop a positive sense of self and reach their full potential by learning and understanding where their strengths lie.
Fun Fact - Gaynor enjoys dancing, planting and growing things and being creative – the messier the better!
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Louise has been working with Anna at the centre since we opened our doors in 2022. She manages all the bits that make the business run smoothly and can usually be found in front of her laptop (or someone else's!).
Fun Fact – Louise loves sport, food and travelling. If she’s not watching, playing or coaching a sport, then she is on holiday!
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Fiona joined New Ways in early 2024 to support the business side of our ever growing service. She can also often be found designing displays, crafting or making resources. When Fiona is not working, she loves to keep fit - especially outdoors and enjoys watching at the side of a football pitch.
Fun Fact - Fiona loves listening to music, particularly dance music and would love to try her hand at being a DJ!
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Natalie started off her working life as a scientist, working on drugs to treat respiratory disease, but had been involved in lots of secondary school outreach programmes whilst at university. Fast forward a few years and she became an A level examiner and tutor, before branching out to work in F.E. colleges and Adult Education settings teaching maths. She started at the New Ways Centre in 2023.
Fun Fact – Natalie likes the whizz bang bits of science. The ceiling in The Hive is evidence of this!
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Ronja is our very busy teaching and learning assistant. Originally from Finland, she likes to use the practices from her 4 years working in a specialist SEND school. Ronja loves finding new ways to approach tasks and looks for different strategies to help students.
Fun Fact - Ronja loves to crochet and go for adventures all over the world.
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Sarah began her working life in sales and marketing before moving to teaching 15 years ago. Her teaching career began in primary schools before becoming a specialist French and Spanish teacher so has taught everyone from pre-schoolers to adults! She currently juggles her work at New Ways alongside her A Level teaching commitments at Derby College. She is enjoying getting to know the learners at New Ways and loves the ability to teach 1:1 and in small groups.
Fun Fact - Sarah lived in Spain for 5 years. She came home to get a ‘proper job’ but misses the weather and food!
Contact us
Have questions? We’re here to help.
It’s sometimes easier to talk on the phone.
You can book a no obligation consultation call with one of our experienced team members.