I am Lucy, a proud mum of two amazing children that keep both me and my husband firmly on our toes!  I have always been passionate about education and ensuring every individual have access to the right learning at the right time. For me learning should always be of the highest quality and striving for that has been the driving force throughout my career. I've worked in education for over 15 years, spanning early years through to further education. I'm qualified in education and training , an early years educator and an early years SENCO, with extensive experience in leadership and management.   Along the way I have collaborated with a wide range of training organisations, reviewing their provision, analysing how they support learners and challenging 'one size fits all' approaches.  I've trained professionals in personalised learning and intervention strategies, developed quality processes, secured programme funding and created and managed learning programmes.  Naturally, this work drew me towards championing individuals with additional needs; something that has become the true focus of my career. Yet despite all of that professional background, it was becoming a mum that gave me the deepest understanding of how differently our brains can work.  My son has the most beautiful, inquisitive mind but it doesn't work in the same way as mine. In his early years I struggled to give him the tools he needed to learn and to communicate in his own way. That challenge set me on a journey of discovery and connected me to a world I will always be grateful for: The SEND Community.​

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In those early days, I poured time, money and energy into every therapy available. But I soon realised I was trying to mould my son to fit into a world that wasn’t built for him. His happiness mattered most. So, I dedicated myself to learning approaches such as Intensive Interaction, the Hanen approach, Floortime, Makaton, AAC, SCERTS, and Positive Behaviour Support. By embedding these into our daily lives, I was able to help him make sense of the world around him while building his skills and confidence. This became not just my role as a mother, but my purpose.​Experiencing the world through my son’s eyes has given me a profound appreciation of neurodiversity—how brains work differently, and how autism and other neurodevelopmental or sensory differences shape the way someone experiences life. He has been my biggest inspiration and my greatest teacher, showing me more about patience, resilience, and joy than I could ever have imagined.

Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not only about teaching him new skills, but also about educating others and fostering understanding. Prior to opening the doors at Carter’s Sunflowers, I was supporting nurseries and preschools; working alongside SENCOs and 1:1 staff to strengthen their practice with autistic children and developing an accredited autism programme for professionals and families. I’ve also supported families, walking alongside them through the diagnostic process, EHCP applications and reviews, and accessing additional support and funding.

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I am deeply passionate about raising awareness, building understanding, and driving change one person at a time. My mission is to create a world where my son, and individuals like him, can thrive. Because I believe that each of us can make a difference and together, we can change the world.

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