Lauren Kay
Lauren Kay is an Early Years teacher at Gilbert Heathcote School in Whittington Moor, Chesterfield. She has worked in Early Years since the beginning of her career and has been Foundation Stage lead for a number of years, in both large and small settings, across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. She is experienced in teaching children from 2 to 5.

Lauren is passionate about delivering excellence across the Early Years sector. She has made significant changes to the Early Years provision in recent years and is eager to share this excellent practice in order to raise standards. Lauren is keen to develop innovative practice and support other settings on their journey to excellence. Lauren is eager to monitor and evaluate teaching and learning and adapt this according to the needs of pupils. Lauren’s clear vision for Early Years ensures collaboration across her Early Years team. Lauren is eager to develop her own professional development through supporting other schools.
Ruth Crotty
​Ruth Crotty is Year 5/6 teacher and English Subject Leader at Eckington Camm’s CE Primary School, where she has been working since 2014.   Ruth has experience of working in all year groups from Nursery to Year 6 whilst undertaking supply teaching and PPA cover.  Over a period of twenty years, Ruth has taught on a contractual basis from Year 3 to Year 6.  Ruth’s passion is English and supporting less experienced colleagues, including students training to be teachers and teaching assistants. 
Eckington Camm’s is currently judged as outstanding by OFSTED and children’s standards in writing have improved year-on-year since Ruth became English Subject Leader.  Ruth has been directly involved as Year 6 teacher in two writing moderations under the new KS2 writing framework.  For the most recent moderation, Ruth achieved 100% accuracy in her judgements.
Ruth has experience of working with other English Subject Leaders within a cluster group (including KS1, KS2 and KS3).  She has led writing moderation within her own school and attended several cluster moderations and training sessions led by Derbyshire County Council.  She has also worked on a one-to-one basis with other Year 6 teachers to assist in the validation of judgements.  As an English Subject Leader, and previously Art & Display, MfL and Science leader, Ruth has developed a variety of mentoring techniques that have proven to improve outcomes for pupils.
Nicola Walker
Nicola Walker is Deputy Head Teacher at Duckmanton Primary School. She currently teaches in Year 2, having over 27 years of teaching experience ( 16 years as a member of SLT) working across KS1 and EYFS, in schools graded as ‘good’, ‘outstanding’ and in ‘special measures’.  Her main areas of responsibility are currently Maths and Assessment, as well as leadership and management of EYFS & KS1.
On taking up her post at Duckmanton in 2012, Nicola’s main priority was to develop a child- centred, cross-curricular approach to learning. The success of this development is now evident in data, recent OFSTED reports, but most importantly in the children’s attitude to learning. Children’s needs and interests are carefully planned for and balanced with the requirements of the curriculum; Nicola’s main passion is for instilling a love of learning.
As Deputy Head Teacher, Nicola has had the privilege of mentoring NQTs and supporting student teachers on placement from Sheffield Hallam University. Nicola has also undertaken Post Graduate Studies in ‘Developing the Role of the Subject Leader’ and ‘The Role of the SENCO’.
At this stage In her career, Nicola really feels that she has something to offer colleagues and would relish the opportunity to share her experience and expertise as an experienced classroom teacher and leader.