Hello, I'm Laura Hanson, founder of Early Steps SEND Consultancy.

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I am a qualified teacher, Early Years SENCO, and Designated Safeguarding Lead with a Master's degree in Education and a background spanning education, safeguarding, family law, policing, and family support services.

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My experience includes working within nurseries, primary schools, alternative provision, and specialist SEND settings, supporting children and young people with a wide range of additional needs. Alongside my consultancy work, I currently teach within an alternative provision, working directly with children and young people up to the age of 16, including those accessing Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) packages.

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My alternative provision experience includes teaching children and young people with high levels of SEND and complex needs, many of whom are unable to access mainstream education successfully. I work with learners who may require highly individualised programmes, significantly adapted teaching approaches, reduced or flexible timetables, home-based education, intensive emotional and behavioural support, and carefully planned transitions back into education.

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I have extensive experience supporting children with autism, ADHD, speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health difficulties, sensory processing differences, anxiety-based school avoidance, and complex or distressed behaviour. This includes working with children whose needs can present significant barriers to engagement and learning, and who may require a high level of adult support, risk management, regulation support and individualised planning in order to access education safely and meaningfully.

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My teaching within alternative provision includes assessment and baseline work, identifying gaps in learning, planning and delivering personalised education, monitoring progress, developing individual learning programmes, and gradually rebuilding children's confidence, engagement and readiness to learn. I also work closely with families, schools, local authorities and multi-agency professionals to ensure education is responsive to the child's individual needs and wider circumstances.

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My current role includes supporting the implementation of EHCPs, SEND Support Plans, personalised learning programmes, Positive Behaviour Support plans, and ongoing dynamic risk assessments to ensure children can safely access education in a way that meets their individual needs. I am trained in both Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA).

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Through Early Steps SEND Consultancy, I provide professional, practical, and compassionate support for children, families, nurseries, schools, childminders and other professionals across South Tyneside and the wider North East. Whether supporting early identification, school readiness, nursery transitions, EHCP processes, inclusion planning, safeguarding, home-based tuition, alternative provision or return-to-school planning, my aim is always to help children access the right support at the right time.

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Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and I am passionate about helping families and professionals make that happen.

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Laura x