OpenGate Education Central

I am passionate about ensuring every child and young person has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of the challenges they face. With over 14 years' experience across education, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and Alternative Provision (AP), I have built my career around improving outcomes for children, supporting families, and developing high-quality services.

As a qualified Teacher, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo), and experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), I have worked across schools, local authority services, and specialist provisions. My experience spans both frontline practice and senior leadership, giving me first-hand insight into the challenges faced by children, families, schools, and professionals. I am a strong advocate for equity, inclusion, and early intervention, believing every child deserves to be understood, valued, and supported to thrive.

A significant part of my career involved leading a local authority Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) In-Reach and Outreach provision for children and young people who had been permanently excluded from school. This included overseeing a specialist centre providing intensive support, alongside outreach services delivered within schools to help young people re-engage with education and overcome barriers to success.

My expertise includes SEND, safeguarding, quality assurance, service improvement, school improvement, and leadership development. I have led workforce development, service reviews, quality improvement programmes, and organisational change, combining strategic leadership with a practical understanding of what works on the ground.

I was proud to contribute to the Department for Education's Change Partnership Programme, supporting the testing and implementation of national SEND and Alternative Provision reforms. In recognition of my wider contribution to education, I was honoured to attend the King's Garden Party in 2025.

As a passionate advocate for neurodiversity, my approach is rooted in integrity, collaboration, and a commitment to working without judgement. What continues to motivate me is creating positive change for children, families, schools, and communities by building inclusive services and ensuring every child has access to the right support at the right time.

I believe the best outcomes for children and young people are achieved when the right people, services, and opportunities come together around them. My career has been built on developing strong partnerships, improving services, and ensuring children and young people can access the support they need to thrive.

As Head of Referrals & Partnerships at OpenGate Central, I work closely with local authorities, schools, trusts, families, and professional partners to develop high-quality alternative provision pathways that are responsive to individual needs and focused on positive outcomes.

My background spans operational leadership, safeguarding, alternative provision, and partnership working within local authority services. Alongside this, I have led large-scale NHS projects across multiple clinical specialties, developing expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, governance, contract management, quality assurance, and service improvement.

I am particularly passionate about ensuring children and young people are supported by skilled, compassionate professionals. My experience includes developing robust safeguarding, quality assurance, and safer recruitment processes, with a strong focus on attracting, selecting, and retaining the right people first time while maintaining high standards of practice.

My approach is built on integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. I believe strong partnerships, effective governance, and a commitment to quality are essential to delivering meaningful outcomes for children and young people.

What continues to motivate me is creating opportunities for children and young people to succeed by bringing together the right support, the right partnerships, and the right people around them.