Mrs Cook

The majority of my personal and professional journey has been rooted in St Helen’s, having first attended the school as a pupil. Returning later as a Teaching Assistant, I was fortunate that the Headteacher recognised my potential and invested in my development by supporting me through a four year teaching degree. This opportunity laid the foundation for my career in education and instilled a strong sense of commitment to the school community.

As a qualified teacher, I was given the opportunity to shadow the Religious Education subject leader. Through this experience and after completing my Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies, I progressed into the role of RE Subject Leader. Leading Religious Education enabled me to collaborate closely with the parish, the Diocese of Brentwood, and local deanery subject leaders. These experiences strengthened my confidence and leadership skills, culminating in my role in leading the transition to the newly devised Religious Education Directory.

As my experience developed, I was offered the opportunity to shadow the SENCo, an area I had not initially anticipated becoming so passionate about. In reflection, I recognise the early influence of my Reception teacher, Miss Bullock, who was the SENCo at the time, as a possible inspiration. This experience marked a turning point in my career pathway and led to my appointment as Assistant Headteacher and SENCO, joining the Senior Leadership Team.

I have since completed the NPQ for SENCOs, which has been both motivating and inspiring. It has deepened my understanding of the strategic and operational responsibilities of the role and strengthened my ability to lead inclusive practice across St Helen’s. This professional development has directly informed my leadership approach, ensuring that inclusion remains central to school improvement.

In my role, I have engaged in a range of collaborative CPD opportunities. I have presented to the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) panel, sharing best practice and engaging in professional dialogue with other schools, particularly around executive functioning. Prior to this, I attended Mindsparks coaching, which enhanced my understanding of brain development and executive function, further influencing whole school practice.

The IQM presentation contributed to the successful reaccreditation of the school at Flagship status, recognising the high quality and impact of inclusive practice at St Helen’s. Additionally, I have supported the hosting of annual visits from Dutch educators, where we showcase and discuss our inclusive approaches, sharing our rationale and learning.

The sustained investment in my professional development has enabled me to grow in confidence, competence, and leadership capacity. I take great pride in my role at St Helen’s and remain committed to continual learning and the ongoing development of inclusive practice within our school community.