YOUR CHILD FIRST

Lead Consultant: Jamie Parker

My Background & Qualifications:

I trained as a child psychologist in 1996 and worked with children with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour, providing assessment, diagnosis, support programmes and pathway setting for 4 years. I then went on to lead a team of 7 psychologists working for a private 52 week a year boarding school in the north west of England. In 2005 I retrained in education and became a primary school teacher, specialising in SEN. I enjoyed a highly rewarding 7 years as a class teacher, working as SENCO & then school leader and Deputy head teacher in 3 large London Schools. My responsibilities also included working as Child protection & Health and safety officer for numerous schools. During this time, I gained my Masters degree in education, specialising in SEN and SEN policy. I actively contributed to the dialogue around positive change in SEN, in schools and wider education – participating in borough wide SEN/appeal panels and wrote and contributed to numerous borough and mutli-school wide policies on SEN, child protection and health and safety.

My personal experiences with SEN… I have 2 children with Autism, one who is currently 8 & one is 5 year old. My focus from their early life has been trying to ensure that they are both happy and receiving the best possible support at home and in school to make progress and meet their potential.  Noticing the life issues they faced every day, I ensured that a diagnosis was carried out by the relevant professionals quickly & using my personal/professional knowledge and expertise; I worked diligently to focus all efforts, resulting in them receiving an EHCP in nursery and reception respectively. My children face the same pitfalls and personal issues every day; however, with the intervention and support they have in place through their schools and wider education/care; their future is bright and they have every chance of reaching whatever potential they may have.