Meet the Team

Chris Buckley

I have been working in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) sector for over 18 years, building a wealth of experience across teaching, leadership, and specialist support roles. I am a qualified teacher with two Level 5 Professional qualifications in Specialist Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector and Positive Behaviour Support, which underpin my commitment to helping children and young people with diverse and complex needs thrive.

My career began at St. John’s School & College, a residential specialist provision, where I taught music and worked as a form tutor. I later progressed into middle leadership at St. John’s College before becoming Head of Education at St. John’s School, leading a multi-disciplinary team of teachers, therapists, mental health specialists, and residential support staff. During this time, I successfully led OFSTED inspections and worked in partnership with more than 26 local authorities, gaining deep insight into both strategic leadership and the lived realities of young people with highly complex needs.

In 2018, I moved into mainstream education to establish and lead the Specialist Support Centre (SSC), The Launchpad, at Maidenbower Junior School, supporting Key Stage 2 children with autism. Over six years, The Launchpad became a well-established and highly respected centre of excellence - an integral and celebrated part of the school community. I also supported Maidenbower Infants School in developing their own SSC for Key Stage 1 children with a wide range of neurodiversity.

Since 2024, I have been working as a freelance SEN specialist teacher and consultant. I am proud to work as a Specialist Teacher with SENse Learning, a truly innovative and person-centred alternative education provider that champions flexible, bespoke learning for children and young people with a wide range of needs. In addition, I support Specialist Music Service in Brighton, an inspiring alternative education provision delivered through music sessions which run in a professional studio in the heart of Hove. Alongside this, I provide training, advice, and hands-on support for parents, schools, and professionals working with children and young people with diverse neurodiverse profiles and complex needs.

Above all, I am passionate about creating inclusive, supportive, and aspirational environments where every young person can succeed.

Hannah Bryant

With over 20 years of experience as a class teacher, I have supported children with a wide range of abilities and needs within a classroom setting. Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to creating environments where every child can flourish academically, socially and emotionally.
I have worked collaboratively with families, colleagues, and external professionals to develop personalised learning programmes that build confidence and enable each learner to reach their full potential. I have also been on the other side – as a parent of a neurodivergent child, who has now grown up and is attending university.
 

My dedication to inclusive education led me to achieve a Level 5 Diploma in
Identifying and Teaching Learners with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties. This qualification supported my transition into the role of Teacher in Charge of the school support centre within a mainstream setting. Initially established as a specialist dyslexia centre, the provision later expanded to support pupils with Speech and Language needs.
 

My career then led me to join a Specialist Support Centre (SSC) for Autism, where I gained additional training and experience in areas including Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), ADHD, behaviour that challenges, and sensory integration. My commitment remains unwavering: to nurture
confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning in every child.

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Services

Parent & Family Guidance

We provide advice, guidance and practical support for families navigating the education system. Whether it is ensuring that support at school is the best it can be, advising on EHCP processes or liaising with local authorities, we can offer practical help that will improve outcomes for children and young people. We also offer workshops and one-to-one sessions to help parents feel more confident in supporting their child’s educational and pastoral needs both in the classroom and at home.

School Consultancy & Inclusion Support

We provide practical guidance on curriculum adaptation, classroom strategies, and creating environments where children with SEN can thrive. We are able to provide detailed individual education and support plans, resources, training, guidance and support for all school staff. We do not use ‘off the shelf’ support materials. We create uniquely tailored solutions that are practical and that work!

We work with schools and provisions to establish and develop inclusive practice, including setting up Specialist Support Centres or embedding SEN strategies into the wider school community. 

Leadership & Staff Development

Drawing on our senior leadership experience, we offer mentoring and professional development for senior leaders, SENCOs, teachers and support staff. We can also support schools in preparing for OFSTED inspections, ensuring inclusion and strong SEN practice is at the heart of provision.

Emotionally-Informed Behaviour Support

We specialise in therapeutic support for behaviour using evidence-based approaches, helping schools and families understand behaviour as a form of communication. We design proactive, person-centred strategies and plans that reduce barriers to learning and promote positive outcomes. Again, this is achieved using an individualised approach centred on the person, the context and their strengths and needs.

Training 

We deliver bespoke training for parents, carers, staff teams and leadership on a wide range of topics, including Autism, complex needs, inclusive teaching and Emotionally-Informed Behaviour Support. My sessions are designed to be practical, engaging, and immediately useful.

Alternative Education Support

As Specialist Teachers and leaders for alternative education provisions, we are able to offer support, guidance and bespoke plans for children, young people and specialist teachers who work outside of the framework of a school or any other type of educational institution

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