Vanessa has been a teacher and leader for over 20 years across all phases. Specialising in language development in maths and autism for her MEd, Vanessa was pivotal in setting up and leading the first centre for applied behaviour analysis and autism within Richmond. She was awarded her NPQH in 2014, before joining The Howard Partnership Trust in Surrey, as a Head of School, becoming Executive Head in 2018. Appointed to her current role as THPT Head of Specialist & Inclusion in January 2021, Vanessa led the special phase merger into the trust and in 2024 successfully completed her NPQEL. Vanessa continues to lead inclusion and the SEND continuum across all three phases in THPT, passionate in her commitment to enabling equity for all and ensuring that children meet and exceed their own aspirations and are prepared for their futures.