My Qualifications: BSc Psychology (University of Kent); PGCert Primary (University of Cambridge); MEd (University of Hertfordshire); PGCert Autism (University of Birmingham); National Award for SENCOs (University of Plymouth); PGCert Social Science Research Methods (UCL).
Early life experiences with SEND
I was born in Treliske hospital, Truro to very hard working Cornish parents. When I was five years old, I became big sister to a brother with severe spina bifida and hydrocephalus. I journeyed with my brother through hospital appointments, operations, learning difficulties and disappointments until, sadly, he left our world in 2006 at the age of just 22. I saw first-hand what it was like to live with a physical disability that confined you to a wheelchair and to find learning so challenging that when everyone else was learning to write their name you were still learning how to hold the pencil. I saw my parents struggle and I hid my own tears when things didn’t go to plan. As soon as my brother was born, I wanted to help. I wanted to help make things easier for him when he was wearing his splints, or having stitches taken out post op. This desire to help others has never left me.
Education & Work Experience
Whilst at University studying Psychology, I volunteered at a school for children with severe learning difficulties. The teachers and teaching assistants amazed me with the patience and skill they imparted day after day. I saw what a difference they made – they were able to help non-verbal children communicate and smile; to achieve every day. I knew that I wanted to be able to make a difference like they were; I wanted to teach children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Five years later, having completed my primary PGCE, worked as a primary school teacher for four years, completed my MEd and spent 6 months travelling the world with my husband, my ambition became a reality. In January 2005, I took the position of English and RE teacher at a secondary school for children with moderate learning difficulties in Hertfordshire. It was an incredibly challenging role but I loved it and I learnt so much. During my first year at the school, I developed a keen interest in Autism. I was fortunate to be offered a funded place on a PGCert Autism course, which I completed whilst working at the school.
Autism Base Manager
After successfully completing the PGCert in Autism, and shortly after having our first child, an amazing opportunity came my way. The school had funding to develop a specialist autism provision and I earned the position as manager of this provision. We had approximately 50 students with a diagnosis of ASD in the school at the time. I worked on a 1:1 basis with students, with small groups of students and supported teachers and teaching assistants. I also helped to create and deliver a a 10-week training programme in ASD with two Educational Psychologists. Initially this training was delivered to staff within the school before it was then rolled out to other schools and establishments in the area.
Family life with SEND & SENDCO role
After working as autism manager for just over 2 years, I became pregnant with our second child. Despite taking lots of precautions, and there being no sign of it in the scans, Ella was born with severe spina bifida . Ella had an open hole at the base of her spine, which meant that she needed life-saving surgery at 3 days old (at Great Ormond Street Hospital – GOSH). Although the surgery was successful, it could not repair all the damage. As we struggled to manage Ella’s medical condition, we started to feel the pull back to our family in Cornwall more than ever before.
We arrived back in Cornwall in November 2009. I was still on maternity leave, we had a house that needed much renovation and Craig, my husband, was trying to keep up his job in Hertfordshire whilst coming down to see us at weekends. It was a challenging time for everyone, especially my parents with whom we lived for 6 months during some much-needed house renovations! Also during this time, Ella was never very well; it was becoming clear that she had very complex bowel and bladder problems.
For the first 3 years of Ella’s life, I juggled maternity cover positions (one in a school for children with severe learning difficulties and one in a mainstream primary school) with numerous hospital appointments (many still up in London at GOSH), house renovations and being Mum. In January 2012, I had my chance to get back into a permanent position when I took on the role of SENDCO (part-time) at a local primary school. I had no idea how challenging the role would be as the level of need at the school was so incredibly high. But again, it didn’t seem to matter how hard things were, I loved the fact that I was able to use my knowledge and experience to help others. During this time I was also able to gain an invaluable qualification, the National Award for SENCOs.
Whilst working well beyond my hours at school, I was also working increasingly hard as Mum to a daughter with very complex medical needs. By this time, it had been determined that Ella was incontinent with both her bowel and bladder. We had been catheterising Ella since she was six months old and bladder management was relatively stable. But, no matter what we tried, nothing seemed to help with bowel management. Even when she was four years old, there could be days when we would change up to 12 soiled pull ups a day.
In July 2013 Ella had an operation at GOSH to have an antegrade colonic enema (ACE) formed. The aim of the ACE was to enable us to carry out bowel washouts with Ella so that she would be ‘clean’ in between times. The five years that followed the ACE were pretty horrendous really. The washouts were incredibly painful for Ella and she was enduring 90 minutes on the toilet 4 times a week and still soiling considerably. She had to have further operations at GOSH due to complications with the ACE and she experienced immense trauma.
In March 2014, we had a new addition to our family – another little girl. I extended my maternity leave as I was really struggling to manage Ella’s medical needs with a newborn and our eldest. When I did return to school, I once again fell in love with the role for which I have so much passion. Unfortunately, Ella’s medical condition deteriorated to such a point that she was unable to attend school. And so it was, that in December 2017, I gave up my position of SENCO to become full time Mum, carer, and home-school teacher.
In the three years that I was at home with Ella, I learnt such a lot. I discovered what it is like to teach my own child at home. I learnt what it is like to live every day with a highly anxious child, a child who is unable to sleep, a child who fears the very operation she so badly needs. I held my daughter’s hand as she underwent general anaesthetic for the eighth time – this time to have a colostomy formed. I had to hold her hand again and again as she went on to have five more operations. I witnessed Ella experience severe trauma and then relive that trauma time and time again (she now has a diagnosis of PTSD). I saw all my children miss out on so much because of disability and I experienced my own health struggles as I tried to manage everything.
Kynde – a new chapter
In February 2020, I wrote these words, under this very heading: “as things begin to settle and opportunities for me to work have opened up, I am ready to continue my SEND journey with Kynde. I hope that you will join me!“
And then COVID was upon us all, we went into lockdown, life moved on, and a new opportunity arose.
SENDCo – a new role
In September 2022, I took on the role of SENDCO again. This time working for four days a week. It was such a juggle, but we did it, and I was thriving being back in my professional role. I was given a lot of autonomy with my position, which was such a pleasure. I ran my own timetable, which led to me working 1:1 with children, running small group sessions, meeting with parents and running coffee sessions, writing policies and referrals, working with teachers, and leading whole school INSET. But, after nearly two years of running on adrenaline and the professional high, and with Ella’s emotional and physical health still being unstable, my health took a turn for the worse and I was advised to take a break from work. And so it was, with sadness, that I decided to leave my SENDCo role. Little did I know that, just weeks after handing in my notice, my world would be turned upside down …
Family Life
On Wednesday 7th June 2023 my super healthy, 68-year old Dad was admitted to hospital with viral symptoms and confusion. At 12am on the morning of 8th June, my Mum and I were sitting in the relative’s waiting room at ICU as Dad fought for his life. After two and a half agonising hours, we found out that Dad was in an induced coma suffering from the devastating neurological condition, encephalitis. Two weeks later, as Dad began to wake from the coma, the journey to recovery began; he needed to relearn everything – he couldn’t swallow, drink, eat, speak or move. As I write this, now ten months on, Dad is making progress in a rehabilitation centre, but it is slow and it is cruel and he is still unable to stand or move independently. Until now, I have not had the opportunity to return to any professional work. But, as things stabilise with my own health, Ella’s health and my Dad’s, it truly feels like now is the right time to slowly start dipping my toe into Kynde again.
Kynde – a fresh chapter
I am here, in April 2024, exited to reclaim those words from four years ago:
“as things begin to settle and opportunities for me to work have opened up, I am ready to continue my SEND journey with Kynde. I hope that you will join me!“