Supporting Families & Professionals
About SEND Support Banbury Ltd
SEND Support Banbury Ltd was founded by Esme, an independent social worker with both personal and professional experience of supporting and assessing people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Esme established SEND Support Banbury Ltd to provide specialist, person-centred support and assessments that recognise that every individual and family is different. With experience across social care, assessment and SEND, the service aims to make what can often feel like a complicated or overwhelming process easier to understand.
Esme Platt - Neurodevelopmental Independent Social Worker
Hi, my name is Esme Platt, and I set up SEND Support Banbury Ltd in 2022 because SEND, and specifically neurodiversity, is deeply rooted in both lived experience and professional practice. This includes my own lived experience of receiving a late diagnosis of autism, which strongly informs my values, understanding and approach to my work.
My social work journey began in 2014 when I volunteered for the Early Intervention Service. In 2015, I completed a Diploma in Social Sciences before going on to study Social Work. In 2018, I graduated with a 2:1 Bachelor (Hons) degree in Social Work.
Since qualifying, I have worked as a frontline social worker within child protection. I am now an independent social worker specialising in safeguarding and SEND. I am also an autism assessor, supporting the assessment and understanding of autism and neurodiversity.
Alongside this, I work within our Alternative Provision, where I provide therapeutic support to children and young people. My approach is centred around understanding each child as an individual, recognising their strengths and needs, and creating the right environment for them to feel safe, supported and able to thrive.
Through SEND Support Banbury Ltd, I am passionate about bringing together professional expertise, lived experience and a genuine understanding of SEND to ensure children and young people receive the support they need to reach their potential.
Maddisyn English - Speech and Language Therapist
Hi, I’m Maddisyn (Maddi) English, a speech and language therapist. I have extensive experience working with a wide range of people with Autism, as well as a passion for delivering relevant training to patients, family, teachers, carers, and workplaces on various diagnoses and their impact on day-to-day functioning. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from Southern Cross University, Australia, I have gone on to work in hospitals and educational settings on both sides of the globe. I have undertaken placements at Innisfail Hospital and Ipswich Hospital in Australia, worked at Brisbane Catholic Education (a network of 141 schools in Australia), and since moving to the United Kingdom, I have worked as a speech and language therapist at a specialist Autism Spectrum Condition school.
Justine McDonnell - Occupational Therapist
Hi, I’m Justine McDonnell, an occupational therapist. I am a dedicated Lead Occupational Therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner with a proven track record of over a decade in providing specialised care and support to individuals with diverse needs.
My journey began with a focus on personalised technology coordination at Hft, where I assessed individuals with learning disabilities to identify and implement assistive technologies, empowering them to lead more independent lives. This experience laid the foundation for my subsequent roles, where I transitioned into leading Occupational Therapy services and integrating sensory approaches to support students with autism in a special school environment.
I am a passionate advocate for neurodiversity, celebrating the strengths and unique perspectives that each individual brings. With a deep understanding of the diverse ways people experience the world, I aim to foster an environment that embraces differences and empowers clients to navigate the world in their own authentic way.
Having personally navigated the challenges of dyslexia and combined ADHD, I bring a unique perspective to my practice. I understand the importance of tailored approaches and strive to create interventions that honour the individual learning styles of my clients.
Phillipa Bloor - Occupational Therapist
I am a dedicated and passionate Occupational Therapist who believes children with the right support can reach for their full potential. I foster a culture of collaboration and cohesion with local services to ensure therapy is not only effective but also seamlessly integrated into the community. With a strong emphasis on a family-centred therapeutic approach, I involve not just the child but the whole family in the process. I have an understanding from my own learning difficulties with Dyslexia that not all children learn in the same way, therefore I am passionate to ensure each child, no matter what level, can achieve their full potential in a learning style that is fun and suits them. I enjoy working closely with children creating activity programs to develop realistic and attainable goals for each child, to enable them to build their self-esteem and confidence to believe in their own ability.
Dr Suzanne Smith - Clinical Psychologist
Suzanne is an HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist who has specialised in neurodevelopmental conditions in children and young people since completing her Clinical Psychology Doctorate at Birmingham University in 2009. Since qualifying, Suzanne has worked in the NHS for specialist neurodevelopmental services as Senior Clinical Psychologist, conducting autism and ADHD assessments, autism profiling, post-diagnostic support and intervention and consultancy to allied health care professionals.
In addition to her NHS role, Suzanne has worked as an associate within private sector and is also a Sessional Lecturer at Warwick University. She is trained and regularly administers ADOS-2 modules 1-4, as well as trained in MIGDAS-2 Monterio Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing Autism Spectrum, Second Edition, QB computerised ADHD screening assessment tool and the following cognitive assessments: WAIS-IV, WISC-V, WPPSI-IV.
Suzanne is particularly passionate about schools becoming more neuro-affirmative in their philosophy, teaching and support. She has specialist interests in complex presentations of autism such as pervasive demand avoidance subtype, gender disparities across ADHD and Autism, and co-occurring developmental trauma. Suzanne also has a special interest in Tourette’s Syndrome and has completed training in CBiTT Comprehensive Behavioural intervention for Tics and Tourette’s.
Dr Claire Farrow - Clinical Psychologist
Dr Claire Farrow is a Clinical Psychologist (D Clin Psy) who has been qualified since 2021 after completing the Teesside University doctoral programme. She currently works within an NHS role which focuses on children and young people who have a diagnosis of Diabetes. Outside of this role she is ADOS-2 and ADI-R trained and works within different services to complete ASD, ADHD and FASD assessments. Prior to training she worked extensively within mental health services including CAMHS, LD CAMHS, adult rehabilitation and Older Adults services. She has worked on large scale NIHR research. Outside of work she enjoys travel, DIY and building flat pack furniture.
Gail Elliott - Clinical Nurse Specialist
Gail is an experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 20 years’ experience supporting children, young people and families across NHS mental health services. She has worked extensively within CAMHS, crisis services and community mental health teams, supporting a wide range of emotional, behavioural and neurodevelopmental needs.
Gail has specialist expertise in ADHD assessment and diagnosis, with strong experience in identifying autistic traits, emotional regulation difficulties and complex mental health presentations. Her work includes completing comprehensive assessments, providing clear and compassionate feedback to families, and offering practical guidance and signposting to appropriate support services. She regularly supports young people experiencing anxiety, low mood, self-harm and eating-related difficulties.
Gail works closely with parents, schools, social care and multidisciplinary professionals to ensure children and young people receive joined-up, person-centred support. Gail is known for her calm, thoughtful approach and her ability to build trusting relationships with families during what can be stressful and uncertain times.
Gail is also currently completing a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and continues to undertake regular specialist training in neurodiversity, safeguarding and mental health. Gail is passionate about helping children and young people feel understood, supported and empowered.
Kelly Hewitt - Support Worker
Kelly works within our Alternative Provision and brings over 20 years of experience working with children. She is passionate about supporting children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and creating an environment where every child feels understood, valued and supported.
Kelly is committed to helping children overcome barriers to learning, build confidence and develop their individual strengths. She believes that every child has the potential to thrive when given the right support, encouragement and opportunities to succeed.
Dean Wells - Support Worker
Dean works within our Alternative Provision and brings over 12 years of experience supporting young people in specialist educational settings. He has worked in a specialist school for autistic boys, as well as within a local Alternative Provision at a college.
Dean is passionate about helping young people feel understood, supported and confident in their learning. He is committed to building positive relationships, recognising individual needs and helping each young person develop their strengths, overcome barriers and reach their full potential.
Joanne Kirby-Wyatt - Administrator
Jo is the backbone of our office, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. From managing the day-to-day administration to supporting the team and making sure everything is organised, Jo plays a vital role in keeping the office running efficiently. Jo is always there to help and is an essential part of our team.
