Gill Budgell studied English and Education at degree level and then took the RSA Diploma in TESL, having realised she was ill-equipped to cope with the needs of blingual pupils in her primary classroom. And so a life-long interest in language teaching began. 

She taught briefly in Germany and then several years in primary mainstream schools before developing an interest in resource provision and becoming a literacy publisher. And so it is that for the past twenty years Gill has worked in education as a consultant publisher, researcher, writer and content provider. For the last five years she has worked independently across most age ranges and sectors under the name of 'frattempo'.

Gill continues to specialise in early years and primary literacy issues including phonics, creativity, ICT and motivating reluctant readers.

She has been series editor and author on a number of projects including the best-selling handwriting course, Penpals for Handwriting and has more recently contributed to the ever-popular Macmillan Explorers programme.