My name is Jo Roberts. I am AuDHD and I live with my husband who is Autistic-Tourettes and my son who is AuDHD also. We all have a PDA profile which can make daily life extremely tricky! My son is currently at his second mainstream primary school, having been unable to cope with the first, so I have lived-experience of the challenges faced by families and education providers in meeting the needs of NeuroDivergent young people. NeuroDivergence is my hyper focus and I love learning about individuals and their quirks! I feel very passionately about supporting ND folk to navigate their way through the sometimes murky waters of the education system, and to find a way that works for everyone involved, with the child taking absolute priority at its core.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education in 2008 and have spent over a decade working in special schools and alternative provisions. During my career I have embraced Continuous Professional Development opportunities and have a wealth of training and qualifications linked to SEND and Inclusion under my belt. I am also a qualified Senior Mental Health Lead and have extensive knowledge of using trauma-informed approaches.

Many of the pupils I have worked with, especially those who have experienced trauma, have displayed significantly complex and challenging behaviours, including physical and verbal aggression. I am proficient at working out what is driving the behaviour whilst supporting them to regulate, and have learnt not to take it personally which enables me to remain calm in high-stress situations. As a teacher, I have worked closely with parents, carers and families to support their children and young people to thrive.

I feel very passionately about enabling students to both have and achieve their aspirations, whilst supporting them to be as independent as possible. Throughout my career I have supported children and young people with some very complex behaviours, disabilities and mental health needs. I have a wealth of experience in multi-agency working as the young people that I have worked with over the last decade have often had involvement from social care and / or therapists and specialist professionals e.g. PBS / CAMHS. I have experience in advocacy and mediation and in developing working relationships with families and professionals to best support the child and their individual needs.