Professional Experience

Qualifications

  • Doctorate in Educational Psychology (DEdPsy)

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (Primary Education and Maths)

  • BSc (Hons) in Psychology

Professional membership

  • Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Practitioner Psychologist  Registration Number PYL26486

  • Chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

  • Division member of Educational and Child Psychologists (BPS)

  • Full membership of the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP)

  • I had an extremely rewarding career, for over 10 years, ensuring that all the children in my classes flourished. I taught in inner-city, multi-cultural and rural primary schools in the UK and in a very large (six form entry) British International School abroad. The school community represented 52 nationalities and nursery aged children through to young people attending the Sixth Form.

    As a senior manager, alongside my teaching role, I was responsible for Assessment, Moderation and Reporting across Key Stage 2. I liaised closely with colleagues from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 5 and I contributed to school improvement through policy development and training.

  • As an advisor, for 4 years, working for a national company across the UK, I led developments in the education market with Local Authorities, School Improvement Partners and Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnerships (CYPSP). I designed and trialled comprehensive online questionnaires and surveys, gathered data (including the views of a large number of children, young people and adults) and presented findings to a range of audiences.

    I also worked extensively with Social Care professionals and Youth Justice Teams in a number of authorities across the UK. I worked in support of service providers to effectively meet the needs of children and young people and measure ‘soft’ outcomes and distance travelled.

  • After completing a Doctorate in Educational Psychology (DEdPsy) at Bristol University in 2009, I worked across three very different local authorities in South West England. Since September 2021, I have worked as an independent educational psychologist (EP). I work with children of all ages through to young adults, with their families and other professionals in a range of settings (including; in nurseries, mainstream and special schools, academy trust schools, in private and independent schools and in residential provision and colleges).

    I have worked in support of children and young people with many gifts and strengths as well as many differing needs. Whilst working in local authorities I was the link EP (often over a few years at a time) for a number of very different primary, secondary and special schools, including:

    • Two specialist secondary schools for young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan for Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties

    • A special school for young people and adults (aged 11 to 25 years) with Severe and Profound Learning Difficulties and often significant medical needs

    • A primary school with Specialist Resource Provision for children with a Hearing Impairment

    • A secondary school with Specialist Resource Provision for young people with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

    I also worked with alternative providers (e.g., Hospital Education, Tuition Services, Pupil Referral Units and with voluntary sector organisations.

    Whilst working for 4 years within a multi-disciplinary team, I gained invaluable knowledge and experience working collaboratively with colleagues in Health, Social Care, Education, Youth Engagement and the Police to achieve improved outcomes for children and young people with, and without, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

    In the 13 years that I have worked as an EP I have also:

    • Contributed to diagnostic processes and assessment pathways led by Community Paediatricians for autism spectrum disorder. I am ADOS trained and have delivered Cygnet training to parents and carers

    • Trained in Narrative Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy approaches and used them when working therapeutically with children and young people

    • Delivered training to different audiences on a range of topics e.g., at annual local authority conferences for Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinators (SENDCos) and in whole school training for a secondary school together with their feeder primary schools

    • Had a specialism within an Educational Psychology Service in working with Post 16 to 25 year olds and also led on Restorative Justice training across the authority

    • Been part of multidisciplinary resourcing panels within local authorities e.g., Early Years multi-agency panel

    • Completed audits and contributed to school policies