Sparkhouse Creatives CIC offers a nurturing alternative education provision for children aged 5-12 in the North Cotswolds. Located in Bourton-on-the-Water, we specialise in learning through creativity and the arts. Our small, structured, relationship-focused sessions help children reconnect with learning, develop their social abilities and improve their emotional wellbeing in order that they can thrive.
Gemma Wingrove
Provision Lead
Gemma began her career nearly thirty years ago as an English and Drama teacher in a large secondary school, driven by a strong passion for supporting children with additional educational needs. After leading an English department, she was given the opportunity to broaden her role to include EAL and SEN provision, where she developed targeted interventions and curriculum support for children with specific learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism.
As her career progressed, Gemma went on to lead and teach within on-site SEN units linked to mainstream schools. In these roles, she designed and delivered bespoke, evidence-based curriculum experiences that were flexible and responsive to individual needs, enabling children to thrive within a supportive school environment.
Gemma has also taught across the full primary curriculum and held leadership roles in primary education, leading on curriculum development and delivery. Alongside this, she introduced programmes focused on emotional wellbeing, emotional literacy, and psychoeducation around neurodivergence.
In addition to her classroom practice, Gemma has worked in leadership, advisory, and consultancy roles, delivering CPD and training with a particular focus on literacy and inclusion. This included supporting teachers with the practical application of inclusive and adaptive strategies in the classroom. She has also served as a tutor on a PGCE course, quality-assuring and assessing student teachers as part of their journey towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Alongside her teaching qualifications, Gemma has completed training at all levels of IPSEA SEN law. Over the past three decades, she has had the privilege of working with a wide range of children and young people from diverse backgrounds, many of whom faced significant barriers to education.
More recently, Gemma has been working part-time with Cotswold Youth Theatre, part of Sparkhouse Creatives CIC.
While Gemma brings extensive professional experience to Sparkhouse, she also brings lived experience. With a sibling who has severe learning disabilities and complex needs, and a child with ADHD and dyslexia, she has a deep personal understanding of the challenges faced by families. This perspective continues to shape her commitment to creating learning spaces that place each child and their individual needs at the centre.