Meet the Team

Hi, I’m Sarah, and I am the Provision Lead at The Acorn Centre.

My role is to support pupils with SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) needs within our Tiered Behaviour Support Service in DSPL9, based at The Acorn Centre. I lead a small team of staff supporting 68 primary schools across DSPL9.

I have extensive experience working with children with complex SEMH needs, specialising in creating nurturing, structured, and inclusive environments where pupils can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

I am passionate about developing innovative strategies within mainstream schools to promote positive behaviour and emotional regulation in children who may be at risk of exclusion. I work closely with school staff, families, and external agencies to ensure every child receives tailored support that meets their individual needs.

My background has always been in Primary Education, with nearly 20 years of experience. I began my career in Finchley as a class teacher and subject coordinator, with a strong passion for supporting children who struggled with behaviour by building positive relationships and trust.

In 2011, I relocated to Bushey to raise my growing family and spent 12 years working in a local school as a class teacher, subject leader, and more recently as SENCO, gaining the NASENCO award. The school had high levels of SEMH needs, and I worked collaboratively and creatively with the team to reduce pupils’ risk of exclusion.

My passion has always been supporting children with complex needs and challenging behaviours, approaching behaviour as a form of communication that can be understood and supported with the right provision for each child. My SEN knowledge around ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, sensory processing and anxiety is extensive and supports my current role due to many children supported by our service having underlying and overlapping needs - often going undiagnosed. 

My passion and knowlede has been further informed by personal experience. Having supported my nephew, with SEND needs, through a permanent exclusion, I gained first-hand insight into the profound impact exclusion can have on children, their families, and school staff. Through this experience, I developed a deep understanding of the SEND landscape in Hertfordshire and the opportunities and services available to support children during unsettled times in mainstream school. When initially supporting my nephew to reduce his risk of exclusion, I explored every creative avenue for bespoke provision within his mainstream setting prior to his exclusion. Post-exclusion, his journey followed a path through Alternative Provision and specialist settings to ensure his needs were met effectively.

The skills and knowledge I gained from this journey, combined with my SENCO training and experience, have enabled me to offer advice and strategies widely across DSPL9 for children at risk of exclusion.

I look forward to continuing working with the DSPL9 team to support children, families, and school staff in implementing the best SEN provision for pupils with SEMH needs.