Meet the Connect and Play team

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Our team has a wealth of experience in special educational needs for young children.

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Jennifer – National lead

Before coming to Sense, I worked as the lead teacher in a cognition and learning resource base. I loved working with children and teaching them to explore their communication in the classroom and beyond. Seeing a child who previously couldn’t communicate, sign to their parents or play with a peer was such a privilege! I hope to bring all I have learned in the classroom to our services, to enable families to both connect and play.

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Chloe – National coordinator

Originally from an arts background, I’ve had the privilege to work on a range of community projects, focusing on cultural education for children and young people. Throughout my previous roles, I have loved supporting young people to discover new forms of self-expression, communication and connection. I’m really excited to bring this passion to Sense’s Early Intervention and Play Team and help families access the best support and opportunities for them!

Birmingham

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Laura – Play leader

I love creating fun and engaging opportunities for children and their families to connect and communicate through their experiences. Previously I was a teacher and I love to bring my classroom experience to the role and always aim to create a setting where children and families feel valued, safe and happy. Messy play is my favourite session, I’ll gladly get stuck in with these activities!

Seeing the progress so many of our children have made throughout these sessions is incredible and I look forward to seeing it continue.

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Kelly – Play leader

My background is in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and speech and language therapy. As a play leader I meet the needs of children and their families through delivering engaging opportunities and experiences. SEND is a personal passion for me. I have two children myself with disabilities and support needs and so I share my own experience and knowledge to help guide families and ensure everyone can access the best possible support.

Loughborough

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Natasha – Play leader

Before joining Sense, I was based at a children’s hospital providing play and support to children and their families. I’m passionate about play and the importance it has for children whilst ensuring that play is adapted to meet each child’s individual needs.

As an Early Intervention and Play Leader, I’m here to create a fun and creative atmosphere for children and families to encourage play, communication, and development.

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Sami – Play leader

Before working at Sense, my experience has been in education as a teaching assistant with nurture specialism, delivering support and interventions to many children of all ages including those with specific SEND and SEMH needs.

Yoga with the children is a passion of mine along with nature, being creative, and play.  It brings so much joy to be able to support children and their families in their journeys with connection and communication. Being a mum myself, along with a Rainbow and Brownie leader, adds lots of fun experiences too!

Wales

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Emma – Play leader

With previous experience in learning support, speech and language, I am passionate about working with children and love nothing more than to see a child’s progression as they grow in ability and confidence.

I use my previous knowledge and experience in each session to meet the needs of every child and their parent/carer. I aim to make the sessions as fun and inclusive as possible, while providing a safe comfortable environment for everyone. I use a lot of arts, craft and sensory methods as I believe this allows the child to express themselves and, most importantly, have fun!

Bristol

Claire – Play leader

In my previous role, where I worked as a SEND teacher, I really enjoyed planning and delivering inclusive and stimulating activities which would encourage the children to make connections with others and the environments around them.

Through engaging in a wide range of multi-sensory and immersive experiences, children begin to make valuable interactions through their play with others whilst developing new forms of communication – something I always love to see!

I`m really looking forward to continuing to offer these exciting experiences to children and their families at Sense.