New Forest Dyslexia was founded in 2020 by Jenny Bowyer, a specialist teacher assessor. She is joined by Kirsty Tomblin (freelance assessor) and Margaret Mountain (office manager) to deliver in person assessment services in the South of England and online assessments across the world.

Jenny Bowyer - Founder and Specialist Teacher Assessor

Jenny is a qualified, dedicated teacher with over 10 years of experience working with children and latterly in teaching. She brings this expertise into her assessment work, giving advice and recommendations based on her knowledge, expertise and creative teaching methods.

Jenny originally trained as a primary school teacher and after leaving full-time teaching, re-trained as a dyslexia specialist, tutoring individuals in schools, colleges and universities with SpLD, and then later carrying out assessments. She has a special interest in how dyslexic-type difficulties impact on maths learning.

She currently offers full diagnostic assessments for dyslexia (all ages) and support for other specific learning difficulties. She also offers consultation and training for schools, colleges and workplaces. She has a current DBS check on the Update service and an Assessment Practising Certificate from The Dyslexia Guild.

Outside of work, She enjoys exploring the New Forest and Dorset, reading, gaming, crafting and singing. She has an MSc in Heritage and Museum Studies and enjoy a good mosey around an art gallery.

“Jenny is patient, enthusiastic, inspiring, creative in her teaching as well as highly trained and knowledgeable.” – C, Fareham

“She finds the fun-est and most interesting ways to make me learn!” – J, Fareham

Kirsty Tomblin - Freelance Specialist Teacher Assessor

Kirsty is a qualified secondary school teacher with 20 years of teaching experience. Most of these years were spent in mainstream secondary teaching and now Kirsty works as a specialist teacher in a local independent school. Her extensive teaching experience proves very useful for assessment work as it means that she is able give practical advice and strategies that are workable for schools and families alike.

Kirsty started her training to become a dyslexia specialist whilst still working in the classroom. She was driven by a desire to help the many young people whose needs were undiagnosed and who faced significant barriers to their learning at school. Once qualified, she began teaching individuals with SpLDs in a local school and has recently become qualified to carry out assessments.

She currently offers full diagnostic assessments for dyslexia (all ages) and support for other specific learning difficulties. She has a current DBS certificate on the update service and an Assessment Practising Certificate from The Dyslexia Guild.

When not working Kirsty enjoys walking, reading, playing badminton and being anywhere near the sea! She shares her home with her husband, 2 children, a cat and 2 guinea pigs!

Eleanor Russell - Freelance Specialist Teacher Assessor

Eleanor is a qualified secondary school teacher with over 25 years of teaching experience teaching and 8 years as a SENCO at Bloxham School.

She currently offers Full Diagnostic Assessments for Dyslexia and/or ADHD (any age), Workplace Needs Assessments and Short Educational Reports for exam access arrangement purposes. Eleanor has a current DBS check on the Update service, an AMDDA and an APC with the BDA. She also has an MSc in Psychology from Brookes University. She has a specialist interest in the relationship between self-esteem, working memory and attainment in literacy and numeracy.

When Eleanor is not working, she enjoys walking along the Dorset coastline, swimming, visiting her ‘grown up’ kids and time in the garden with her new puppy, Willow.

Margaret Mountain - Office Manager

Margaret is the Office Manager for New Forest Dyslexia and provides administrative support for our Assessors, Jenny Bowyer and Kirsty Tomblin. She deals with email and phone enquiries, bookings, helping with the completion of parental paperwork for assessments (when needed), emailing information out for assessments and generally any other Administration duties. She particularly enjoy helping enquirers find the best solution to their queries.

Margaret's original working background was in a solicitors office, so she is used to dealing with office practices! Her previous work entailed a lot of problem solving at times, preparation of and checking documents, expertise which she brings to New Forest Dyslexia.

As far as hobbies go, she has a love of history and enjoys visiting old buildings and churches. She also enjoys walks by the sea, knitting and cosying up with a good book in the evening.