Election addresses by nominees to the BATOD National Executive Council 2022-2024

Sarah Angove

I have been a BATOD member since qualifying as a QTOD in 1993. I have previously spent time
on NEC as a representative for BATOD Wales/Cymru and found that I gained a lot from this
experience as well as contributing to the ongoing work. I would now like to return as an elected
member having missed the opportunities to share and collaborate with others from across the
country.
I have worked in many different roles as a QTOD in schools for the deaf, resource bases and
peripatetic teams initially in South Yorkshire and later in Wales. I have also supported Teachers of
the Deaf in training as a placement supervisor.
Growing up in a signing environment I continue to value flexibility in communication strategies for
individual children.
My current role is as an implant centre QTOD, serving as a team coordinator.
I continue to be a member of the BATOD Cymru committee and value the way my professional role
enables me to meet many QTODs throughout Wales and gain an understanding of the issues and
challenges they face.
I feel strongly that it is essential for Deaf children to have access to appropriately qualified
professional support and appreciate meeting with others in BATOD who share this passion

Sibel Djemal

Manager, Sensory Support Team 0-25yrs, Cambridgeshire.

In my current post I provide strategic leadership on the development of policy and practice in Sensory Impairment, in particular, the areas of Deafness, Vision Impairment & Multi-Sensory Impairment.  This includes the development of effective interventions and support for those children and young people who have additional needs in relation to Sensory Impairment.  I have a strategic lead for the research and development of effective interventions and provide expertise and support to schools, settings, families and other professionals.  I also advise and quality assure specialist enhanced provisions in the county as well as responding to Freedom of Information requests.

I ensure the effectiveness of out county provision for children and young people who have an Education, Health and Care Plan for Deafness, Vision Impairment & MSI.

I ensure that the SEND Countywide Specialist Sensory Service provides high quality and inclusive evidence based support and interventions to schools, families and other professionals. This is delivered through training, access to up to date information and research, feedback from service users and measures of impact.

I have line management responsibility and also provide professional supervision to ensure that Sensory Impairment practitioners are able to meet the requirements of external professional and regulatory bodies.  I also have responsibility for managing resources to make sure that the service delivers on it’s core and statutory duties consistently across the county.

Claire Jacks

I am Assistant Head – Team Leader (Hearing) for Thomasson Sensory Service in Bolton. I also enjoy my role as an External Teaching Placement Supervisor for both the University of Manchester and the University of Birmingham. I am an Early Years Specialist although my caseload covers 0-19 year olds. My current role is with a peripatetic team which has a strong proactive approach to supporting d/Deaf Children and Young People. As well as my current peripatetic role I have previously worked in other Local Authorities as a peripatetic ToD, in a School for the Deaf and in a resource base. I am a member of the very well regarded North West Early Years Music Group, a working group for ToDs who run Pre School Groups. I am also member of the newly formed North West Post 16 working group. In my role as an elected member of the BATOD NEC I have completed the mentor training and look forwrad to being paired with a mentee. I am currently really interested in the growing understanding of the importance of pragmatics for deaf children. I was honoured to have been voted Chair of BATOD North Committee in 2019, a position I continue to value. I felt that as Chair of the North Committee it would be helpful to become a member of the NEC, to contribute to the work of the NEC and also to feedback information to the committee members.

Tina Wakefield

I have had over 35 years experience in teaching and 30 in teaching deaf children and young people. My experience ranges from originally being a class teacher, a secondary school SENCo, and then a QToD working in a variety of integrated resources and peripatetic settings. I then managed a large service for Deaf Children and Young People.

I am at present a part time educational consultant working mainly for NDCS and NatSIP. I deliver training, complete reviews of services and am involved in writing national resources such as quality standards.

I am a governor of a primary school with a high level of SEND and social deprivation, and was previously a governor of a Teaching Hospitals Trust with particular interest in disability equality.

I have been involved in the development of testing and ensuring fair access for deaf children for many years working with the DfE and STA.

I have a progressive hearing loss and feel this has helped me to understand the personal challenges met every day by deaf children and young people. I have always been a keen member of BATOD and really appreciate the  hard work carried out by this organisation for the profession

Nicky Weightman

I have been an elected member of NEC since March 2018 and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

I continue to co-ordinate the team of BATOD accredited Language Modifiers and have also worked with Rachel O’Neil to write and roll out an online language modification course.

During 2020 with all meetings going online I was able to meet with and discuss exam accessibility with all the exam boards in England, in addition to making contact with ABs in Wales, NI and Scotland.

This year I became the secretary for the BATOD North committee, hopefully adding new skills and competancies.

I would like to remain on NEC, to offer what I can and to continue to learn from the other members.