Meet The Staff - Kents Hill Infant Academy

At Kents Hill Infant Academy, we take immense pride in our dedicated staff. Each member of our team plays a vital role in creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child can flourish. On this page, you’ll find team photos and biographies that highlight their unique skills, experiences, and commitment to our students. We believe that knowing our staff fosters a stronger connection between families and the school creating a true community spirit.

Senior Leadership Team

Mrs Gemma Thurston

Headteacher

Mrs Nathalie Smith

Deputy Headteacher / SENCo

Mrs Jodie Townsend

Assistant Headteacher

Wider Leadership Team

Mrs Gemma Kenrick

Senior Classteacher

Miss Rebecca Carter

Senior Classteacher

Mrs Jacqui Spink

Senior Classteacher

Ms Tina Hamblin

Wellbeing Manager

Teaching Team

Mrs Emma Finnis

Classteacher

Ms Simone Cohen

Jobshare Classteacher

Miss Abbey Spencer

Classteacher

Office Team

Mrs Sara Allchorne

Office Team Lead (HR) and clerk to the Academy Committee

Mrs Beverley Clark

Office Team Lead (Finance)

Mrs Shameem Allen- Barrington

Attendance and Admissions Officer/Admin Assistant/Nursery Admin

Mrs Lauren Lewis

Attendance and Admissions officer / Nursery Admin

Wider Teaching Team

Mrs Victoria Bottomley

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Miss Jess Burke

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs Danielle Davitt

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Amazon Suite Team

Mrs Alice Buglione

Amazon Suite Lead

Mrs Lyn Wood

Amazon Suite Lead

Miss Zoe Johnston

LSA

Mrs Charlotte Chambers

LSA

Mrs Sarah Poth

LSA

Learning Support Assistants

Mrs Tracy Turner-Powell

Jobshare Reception LSA

Mrs Carol Horler

LSA

Miss Emma Clarke

Reception LSA

Mrs Kathryn O’Leary

SEND LSA

Mrs Julie Hillman

Midday Superviser and LSA

Ms Karen Lengthorn

SEND 1:1 LSA

Mrs Kathryn Noble

SEND 1:1 LSA

Miss Mollie King

SEND 1:1 LSA

Nursery Team

Miss Claire Line

Nursery Manager

Mrs Claire Crispin

Nursery Room Leader

Miss Kayley Johnston

Nursery practitioner

Mrs Sarah Brown

Nursery practitioner

Ms Denise Shapland

Nursery MDA

Mrs Tina Goode

Nursery practitioner

Mrs Amanda Petty

Nursery practitioner

Miss Kayleigh Fitzsimmons

Nursery practitioner

Mrs Gemma Rothon

Nursery practitioner

MDA Team

Mrs Julie Hillman

Midday Superviser and Little Vikings Assistant

Mrs Sonya Cutmore

MDA

Mrs Azza Omar

MDA

Mrs Fiona Leng

MDA

Mrs Esther Doswell

MDA

Mrs Karen Baveystock

MDA and Bridging Club Assistant

Mrs Michelle Lone

MDA and Little Vikings Assistant

Mrs Charlotte Chambers

MDA

Miss Laura Rattenberry

SEND 1:1 MDA

Site Team

Mrs Donna Carswell

Site Manager

Mrs Maxine Wood

Cleaner

Mrs Teresa Sparrow

Cleaner

Mrs Alison Wilkins

Cleaner

Mrs Sarah Brown

Nursery practitioner

Sarah is an experienced nursery practitioner with training in the Montessori EYFS teaching approach.

Miss Kayley Johnson

Nursery practitioner

Kayley is an experienced nusry practioner who is passionate about eary education.

Mrs Claire Crispin

Nursery practitioner

Claire is an experienced EYFS practitioner and LSA having worked in all phases of school education.

Miss Claire Line

Nursery Manager

Claire is an experienced nursery manager who is passionate about early education.

Mrs Kathryn O’Leary

SEND LSA

Mrs O’Leary is an experienced LSA with experience in both special and mainstream education.

Miss Emma Clark

LSA

Miss Clark is a very experienced LSA , including supporting classes, teaching phonics and children with SEND.

Mrs Gemma Rothan

Reception LSA

Mrs Rothan is an experienced Reception LSA.

Mrs Carol Horler

LSA

Mrs Horler is an experienced LSA in supporting both classes and pupils with SEND.

Mrs Tracey Turner-Powell

Jobshare Reception LSA

Mrs Turner-Powell has been an experienced LSA at KHIA for over 15 years. She ahs experience in supporting whoel classes and chidlrne with SEND and medical needs.

Mrs Charlotte Chambers

LSA / MAD

Mrs Chambers is an experienced EYFS practitioner and SEND LSA.

Miss Zoe Johnston

LSA

Miss Johnston is passionate about supporting pupils with SEND.

Mrs Sarah Poth

LSA

Mrs Poth is passionate about supporting children with SEND.

Mrs Lyn Wood

Amazon Suite HLTA

Mrs Wood is an experienced HLTA with specialisms in both speech and language and early years.

Mrs Alice Buglione

Amazon Suite Lead

Mrs Buglione is a qualified teacher with a passion for supporting pupils with SEND.

Mrs Danielle Davitt

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs Davitt is an experienced HLTA who loves teaching and learning.

Miss Jess Burke

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Miss Burke is an experienced HLTA who specialises in teaching the infant age range.

Mrs Victoria Bottomley

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs Bottomley is an experienced HLTA who specialises in teaching in Early Years.

Miss Abbey Spencer

Classteacher

Miss Spencer is an Early Career Teacher and is passionate about teaching.

Ms Simone Cohen

Jobshare Classteacher

Ms Cohen is an experienced teacher, with a previous career as a scientist. She brings her passion for Science to KHIA!

Mrs Emma Finnis

Classteacher

Mrs Finnis is an experienced teacher who is an expert in the Maths mastery approach we follow at KHIA.

Mrs Jacqui Spink

Senior Classteacher

Mrs Spink has been in education for more than 20 years and is passionate about early education, specialises in the infant age range.

Miss Rebecca Carter

Senior Classteacher

Leading on: English and Read, Write, Inc.

Miss Carter is an experienced teacher and leader with expertise in phonics and leading teaching.

Mrs Gemma Kenrick

Senior Classteacher

Leading on: Personal Development and writing

Mrs Kenrick has been teaching for over 20 years and is passionate about inspiring a lifelong love of learning.

Mrs Jodie Townsend

Assistant Headteacher

Leading on: Teaching and Learning, Key Stage One and Maths

Mrs Townsend is an experienced leader who has been teaching over 15 years. She is passionate about great teaching and is a great mentor to all our early career teachers and the wider teaching team.

Mrs Nathalie Smith

Deputy Headteacher / SENCo

Leading on: SEND, Pupil Premium, Children in Care, Deputy Safeguarding Lead, PE and the Sports Premium spend.

Mrs Smith has worked in education for over 20 years and is an experienced SENCo. She supports other SENCos in schools across Essex and is our SEND strategic lead in our trust.

Mrs Gemma Thurston

Headteacher

Leading on: Safeguarding , Health and Safety, Attendance, Assessment, Curriculum and History Lead.

Mrs Thurston has worked in education for over 20 years and is an experienced senior leader with specialisms in curriculum and SEND. She is also passionate about school improvement and leads on SPP Peer review across our trust.

Denise Shapland

Nursery MDA

Tina Goode

Nursery Assistant

Amanda Petty

Nursery Assistant

Miss Laura Rattenberry

SEND 1:1 MDA

Ms Karen Lengthorn

SEND 1:1 LSA

Mrs Kathryn Noble

SEND 1:1 LSA

Miss Mollie King

SEND 1:1 LSA

Kayleigh Fitzsimmons

Nursery Assistant