A Rainbow of Understanding was created in 2022 to support families and settings in an empathetic way. After 20 years of working in education, health and social care I was faced with needing to leave my role as a nursery director to support my autistic son after his mainstream school placement broke down. Despite being a qualified SENCo and holding a Master's degree in integrated working, I found the SEND system emotionally challenging, confusing and conflicting. Everything I had learnt about high-quality SEN support was largely absent; it became apparent that my son's education rested on me having the knowledge, time and skills required to navigate the system. I am passionate about offering families services to support them in knowing their rights and giving them the confidence to advocate for their child/ren. 

Alongside my passion for SEN and EHCP, I offer parent support and consultancy to Early Years Settings. Throughout my career, l have been fortunate to work in many settings, including owning and managing a nursery and forest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted. My skill sets include supporting families in child development, early identification of SEN, individual support plans and creating a child-led curriculum.  Staff leadership and development are also key interests and I enjoy conducting and participating in research projects. For further insight into my career, my research is published in the Pen Green text; Studying for an Early Years Degree.