Ally is our Alternative Provision Lead and a qualified Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) and Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), with more than 20 years’ experience supporting children with SEND, SEMH and complex additional needs.
Before joining Sense Inclusion in 2023, Ally spent over 15 years working within a local SEND primary school, including as Lead ELSA within its specialist autism provision and supporting children across all year groups.
Ally has undertaken specialist training in developmental trauma and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)-informed practice, strengthening her understanding of how early experiences, attachment, relationships and emotional safety can influence behaviour, regulation and engagement.
Her areas of experience include:
Ally brings a particularly calm, nurturing and relational approach to her work. She supports children to develop emotional understanding, recognise and communicate difficult feelings, build trusting relationships and develop strategies for managing anxiety, anger and dysregulation.
As Therapeutic Provision Lead, Ally helps create individualised support around each child’s developmental, social and emotional needs, adapting activities and expectations to their level of regulation, engagement and readiness.
Her practice is child-centred, trauma-responsive and relationship-based, with a strong emphasis on helping children experience safety, connection and success before expecting them to engage with greater demands.
At Sense Inclusion, Ally works closely with the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure therapeutic thinking is reflected within day-to-day provision and linked meaningfully to each child or young person’s identified needs and outcomes.