I have always been interested in human behaviour and how a person thinks, experiences emotions and learns.  This lead me to do a degree in Psychology and set me on a journey to learn about Autism, a journey that I am still on today. I gained a Masters Degree in Autism but learnt the most from all the children and adults that I have had the privilege to work with.  Every person is unique and has taught me to see the world from a different perspective, gaining knowledge, understanding and a curiosity to keep learning. 

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I started my career working with adults with complex learning needs. This taught me that behaviour is communication and how to engage, without always relying on spoken words alone. My first teaching role was working as a consultant to train companies about Neurodiversity and creating inclusive work places.  This taught me to create inspirational training that would change mind sets and influence change. Once I found Teaching, I knew I had found my passion and that I wanted to surround myself with the individuals that inspired me to learn daily about perception, emotional regulation and the impact of these factors on cognition and learning. I trained as a Primary school teacher and went on to teach in mainstream, special provision and then for the Specialist Advisory team in the Local Authority. 
 

I am passionate about Early Years Education and all children having the opportunity to thrive. Too many children do not have access to quality education as their needs are not understood and they have not been given the tools to engage, communicate and access the curriculum. Many children have sensory processing needs and an early years environment can be overwhelming, causing them to disengage.  Through my work I have used many evidence based approaches to support children and young people with developmental differences.  I have trained in SCERTS, TEACCH, Theraplay, FloorTime, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Augumentative and Alternative Communication and Makaton signing.  The environment and supportive tools are important, but ultimately interaction is the key to unlocking learning potential and well-being.

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​I am a firm believer that if we can develop understanding amongst adults and children we can make the world a better place for young people with additional needs to live and give all children the opportunity to access education. I have found the insight that parents and carers can provide so important when planning the next steps for learning. Nobody is as passionate about supporting a child or young person to reach their potential, as a parent or carer. The common attribute is unconditional love, determination and dependability! I believe that together we can maximise learning and support children to take the next step towards their potential.​ My aim is to give children an understanding of the world they live in and teach them the skills they need to make choices, access school life and to actively take part.