Steve Chinn
His first experience of teaching maths was as a Doctoral student at the University of Leeds where he taught ‘A’ level maths to first year food science undergraduates, who had failed to pass this exam at school. That was a long time ago!
During a year as visiting Head of a specialist school in the USA, he studied special education at the Johns Hopkins University and co-authored ‘The Test of Cognitive Style in Mathematics’.
He returned to the UK in 1986 to set up his own secondary school for dyslexic students. This school won several awards, including ‘Highly Effective School’ and ‘Beacon School’ status from the Department of Education and the ‘Award for Excellence’ from the Independent Schools’ Association. The school is now a part of the Priory Group.
During this time Steve continued to research, write and lecture about maths learning difficulties. One of his books, ‘The Trouble with Maths’ won the Times Educational Supplement award for ‘Books for Teaching and Learning’ and remains a best seller in its second edition. He compiled and edited the ‘Routledge International Handbook on Mathematical Learning Difficulties and Dyscalculia’ (2015) with 31 chapters from leading experts from around the world.
‘The Trouble with Maths’ went into 3rd edition in 2017 and ‘More Trouble with Maths’ tests and procedures for diagnosing dyscalculia) went into 2nd edition in 2017
He has lectured on maths learning difficulties and presented teacher training in over thirty countries. In 2013 he provided five days of consultancy for the Ministry of Education in Singapore. Steve has won a number of awards, including the Marion Welchman Award for international work on dyslexia the Lady Radnor Award for services to dyslexia.
Steve’s online resources for the Times Education Supplement received over 100 000 views and over 55 000 downloads. His webinar for Dyslexic Advantage has had 20,000 views.
It has been the research, teaching and listening experiences with students who have difficulties with learning maths that has convinced him that by working with them we can discover so much about how all children can learn maths more effectively.
Rebecca Thompson
Rebecca is a Specialist Teacher with more than 20 years’ assessment experience. She holds a current Assessment Practising Certificate, regularly carrying out diagnostic assessment for SpLD in maths/ dyscalculia and dyslexia, as well as carrying out access arrangements assessments. She is a senior assessor and IQA for the include-ed PAPAA course, supporting students with the demands of the course. She is a member of the APC accreditation team for the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and is a SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) approved CPD provider, offering SASC-approved programmes for mentoring and report-writing. She was also part of the SASC working group for the new definition for SpLD/ Dyscalculia.
Alison Tallentire
Alison originally trained as a primary teacher but left mainstream teaching to focus on her passion for helping children with specific learning differences. In recent years, Alison has dedicated her time and energy towards not only identifying, diagnosing and support young children but also teenagers and adults.
To this end, she has undertaken extensive research and training to enable her to help everyone who may be either dyscalculic or who have a severe maths difficulty along with people who have co-occurring differences such as dyslexia and DCD (dyspraxia). In addition, she can help identify those with suspected autism and/or attention and concentration difficulties. This support extends into older students who wish to go on to university.
As dyscalculia is a persistent difficulty, Alison also feels very much that eventually these young people will grow, flourish and become a valued employee. As such, she feels passionately that support and energy is dedicated towards helping people not only obtain employment but remain as an invaluable contributor to a company’s success due to their holistic and problem-solving capabilities.
Alison Tallentire
Dyslexia & Dyscalculia Services
Jet Lewin
Jet started her career as a primary school maths lead, writing for the Folens Maths Scheme. She began her route into specialist teaching and assessing after having children, continuing to work in schools while developing her expertise.
After the pandemic, like many people, she reassessed her priorities and made the move into self-employment, bringing together her skills in both literacy and numeracy support. She now teaches maths to students of all ages, carries out assessments for dyslexia and maths difficulties, and delivers webinars and INSET training.
Outside of her professional work, Jet volunteers as the chair of governors at a local primary school. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, walking her dogs, and spending time with her family.”
Amanda Keen
Having qualified as a teacher in 1995, I spent 17 years teaching across the whole of the primary age range (Early Years to Year 6). I then attained specialist teacher and assessor status for children with dyslexia in 2012 and became an Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA).
Since this time I have worked in Learning Support departments in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, supporting children with specific difficulties in both literacy and numeracy.
In 2018 I gained my Post Graduate Certificate in Dyscalculia with Distinction and was granted an Assessment Practising Certificate and Approved Teacher Status Dyscalculia. This qualifies me as one of the first specialist teacher assessors for children with dyscalculia in the country. Having Level 7 qualifications in both dyslexia and dyscalculia is seen as the “gold standard” for assessing dyscalculia (Peter Jarrett, Chair of the British Dyslexia Association’s Dyscalculia and Maths Difficulties Committee).
I have just completed my latest teaching role, which involved supporting children with dyscalculia through the use of a structured, multisensory teaching program. I am now self-employed as a full-time specialist dyscalculia tutor, working exclusively online. I am involved with staff training, both internally and within the local community of schools, and have run dyscalculia INSET at schools across the South East of England.
Bridget Mather
I am a primary school teacher, and specialised in Early Years in my training.
I have a huge interest in dyscalculia and other specific learning difficulties which impact working memory.
I have written some maths story books which look at early maths concepts, and some books for primary/early secondary school aged children exploring dyscalculia and maths anxiety.
I also work with schools and deliver workshops for parents to help them support their children’s early maths skills.
In January 2026 I completed the Level 7 course with SPLD Solutions Ltd and am now a qualified assessor with AMBDA Maths and APC.
https://www.billybeeslearning.co.uk/home
Armande Fryatt
I am a highly-qualified and experienced Specialist Teacher in Specific Learning Difficulties, Specialist Assessor, Mentor and Trainer, and I worked with children aged 4-18 in my role as a SENDCo. My work includes assessing on a regular basis, as well as managing a multi-disciplinary team.