Emerson House
Emerson House was established in 1991 by two pioneering educators - Jane Emerson and Dorian Yeo - as a teaching centre for children with special educational needs in literacy and mathematics. Today, Emerson House continues the long tradition of helping children aged 6-11 who need extra help with literacy and mathematics using our research and experience based programmes. Our teachers are trained specialists with extensive experience in teaching children with dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder).
Children are taught in small groups or one-to-one. They benefit from the combination of our specialist programmes and concentrated extra attention from specialist teachers. Our pupils come to us from both the independent and state sectors with all activities being conducted at our centre in Hammersmith, West London.
Many parents approach us directly for initial advice about their child; other children are referred to us by their schools together with their parents, and some are referred via educational psychologists and other professionals.
In 2019 Emerson House was featured in the annual Parliamentary Review. You can read more about us with this link to the article.
A full report on Emerson House is also available on the website of CReSTeD, the Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils, or can be found by clicking here.
Cathryn Learoyd, Principal
Having started her career in children’s book publishing, Cathryn Learoyd has been teaching and counselling children with learning difficulties for fifteen years.
Cathryn joined Jane Emerson at the teaching centre in 2014 and is now the Principal of Emerson House and the Managing Partner of the teaching partnership. In addition to managing Emerson House and teaching Literacy, her main role is to assess and understand the needs of each individual child and to liaise with parents and schools to focus on providing the tailored support each child requires to remain in or return to mainstream or specialist school.
She has trained as a specialist teacher for dyslexia and also as a master practitioner in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). She has published ‘Growing Confident Children’, designing NLP-based exercises for the emotional problems typically faced by children with learning difficulties.
The independent CReSTeD report on Emerson House noted:
“Mrs Learoyd’s background, in publishing children’s books and as an NLP practitioner for children with emotional problems gave her a wide knowledge base even before she trained with the Hornsby Centre. She has a depth and breadth of experience on which to draw.”
Cathryn is married, lives locally and is a mother and step-mother to three boys and three girls.
Vicky Turrell, HEAD
Vicky has 30 years’ experience in Education Management and Teaching. Following her PGCE she became a class teacher in two leading preparatory schools and alongside this completed her training in
teaching pupils with specific learning difficulties. She was then appointed Deputy Head and SENDCo of a busy West London prep school and enjoyed helping teachers to adapt their lessons to suit pupils with diverse needs.
Vicky is familiar with the demands of the National Curriculum and has overseen several successful Ofsted Inspections. Vicky has also been Head of a British School in Madrid and received special mention in their Ofsted inspection as a ‘A headteacher who leads by example.’
In addition to her Specialist Training. Vicky has had previous experience of running two busy nursery and pre-prep schools and is very interested in the early diagnosis and remediation for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. She has expertise in Nutrition with a particular interest in children's gut health and how this is linked to cognitive function.
"Vicky is immediately loved and trusted by the children who are lucky to be under her wing. Her dedication to the organization of the lessons and the delivery of the best teaching programmes for each child is
exemplary." CATHRYN LEAROYD. PRINCIPAL
"Vicky is a warm and kind hearted person, teachers are born, not made." JANE EMERSON. FOUNDER.
Charlotte Fitzpatrick, Co-Head of Maths
Charlotte joined Emerson House in 2015 and she is our Co-Head of Maths, alongside Imogen. Charlotte has over twenty years of teaching experience and she holds the PGCE (Key Stage 1 and 2), CELTA and Level 5 Diploma in SpLD. Before specialising in teaching children with specific learning difficulties, Charlotte was a Year 4 Class Teacher at a leading London Preparatory school. Having been a Class Teacher, Charlotte has a solid understanding of school curriculums and also understands the challenges that children with SpLD face within a busy classroom setting. In addition to being a Class Teacher, Charlotte has taught in a school SEN department and has experience of teaching children with English as an additional language.
Imogen Hill, Co-Head of Maths
Imogen joined Emerson House in 2019 and is our Co-Head of Maths alongside Charlotte. Imogen has over 13 years teaching experience, specialising four years into her career with the OCR Level 5 Diploma in SpLD and gaining a special commendation for kinaesthetic learning. She has worked at leading preparatory schools in London and the South West, as well as having done voluntary work at schools in Ghana and India. Imogen has extensive knowledge of working with children struggling with SpLD, all the while ensuring a happy and positive learning experience.
Emerson House Learning in the USA
Dr Paula Bishop-Liebler opened our first learning centre outside the UK in Charlottesville, Virginia and online across the country. You can read more about EHL at:
https://www.ehlearningcharlottesville.org/
