Ability Bridge SEND

‍I bring thirty years of direct in‑classroom teaching experience across primary, secondary, mainstream and special schools, including specialist resource bases. My work has always focused on building solid, trusting relationships and on identifying, understanding and meeting the needs of children, young people, families and staff. I hold a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Reading, awarded with distinction.

Across my career, I have held senior leadership roles in both mainstream and special‑school settings, alongside positions including Designated Safeguarding Lead, SENCO, Head of Autism Services, Specialist Leader of Education, Designated Teacher for LAC/PLAC, and outreach roles supporting primary and secondary provisions; I have leadership experience at governance and trustee level across both mainstream and special schools.

My work extends across health and social care, contributing to multidisciplinary assessment, planning and intervention for children and young people with complex neurodiverse needs. I have delivered training that supports joined‑up practice across education, health and social care. I have also served on Wokingham Borough Council’s Multi‑Agency Inclusion Clinic (MAIC) panel, contributing to multi‑disciplinary decision‑making for children and young people with complex needs and Emotional Based School Avoidance. I am trained as a Therapeutic Thinking Lead, supporting whole‑school approaches to behaviour, regulation and inclusion.

I was commissioned by OnLineTraining International to rewrite their twelve‑week autism online tutoring course for school staff, ensuring alignment with current research and the evolving understanding of autism in females. I also created and delivered autism training as a Lead Trainer for the Autism Education Trust. Over the years, I have trained and tutored thousands of teachers and school staff through twelve‑week online courses and bespoke CPD across a wide range of SEND topics, including Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Understanding Behaviours that Challenge.

I design and deliver bespoke continued professional development for senior leaders and teachers in mainstream and special‑school contexts across the UK and South Africa. This includes tailored training for individual school contexts and cohorts, covering autism across all phases, ADHD, Demand Avoidance, genetic conditions, pica and polydipsia, AuDHD in females, and the impact of adverse childhood experiences on education.

‍Alongside school‑based work, I lecture at university level for trainee teachers and academic colleagues and am an active member of the SEND in Initial Teacher Education Community of Practice (SEND in ITE CoP). I have written training workshops for multiple organisations, including private health companies focusing on neurodiversity and patient experience.

I contributed to the Department for Education’s Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS), supporting national development of neurodiversity‑inclusive practice in partnership with NHS England and local Integrated Care Boards. I also design and deliver workshops and conference talks for school leaders and teachers across various organisations including The South and West Association of Leaders in Special Schools (SWALSS).

My consultancy work supports mainstream primary and secondary schools to understand need, reduce barriers, and help children and young people remain in education and within their community.

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