About – Iris Consultancy

Hello, I’m Helen,

Much like you, I’m no stranger to the art of juggling numerous roles and responsibilities.

I’ve walked many paths. From being a teacher, SENCO and Headteacher to a SEMH specialist and now an educational consultant.

As founder of Iris Consultancy, I’m an advocate for people like you, offering creative ideas, solutions and alternative perspectives to help children thrive.

As a professional working mum, co-parenting three school-age girls, I’ve felt the pressures you’re experiencing. Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual.

And if you’re a teacher, you’ll know teacher training doesn’t prepare you for every classroom challenge.

While it’s common to feel you lack the tools to resolve certain issues, I firmly believe you do. What’s often missing though is the understanding and strength to put this into action.

That’s where I come in.

**Relationships are at the heart of everything**

From my days as a teacher dealing with challenging classes to roles as a SENCO and Headteacher, I soon realised every child’s behaviour is a form of communication.

Often, they just need the right support, understanding and guidance from a trusted adult.

As a parent and a teacher, I understand both roles:

I know how schools and systems function
I have lived and breathed teaching whilst juggling class dynamics
I have faced challenges to create an inclusive classroom for pupils with SEMH needs

I’m skilled at navigating the complexities of an ECHP and disability diagnosis
And my daughter’s significant lifelong visual impairment has provided me with a dual perspective

I’m here to help you navigate the complexities of raising and teaching children and young people in today’s modern world.

Our Services

The Relational Approach

You won’t hear me putting anyone on the naughty step or in isolation.

Instead I believe in the Relational Approach to teaching and learning.

At the heart of this approach is behaviour as the communication of a need. I find this pivotal in understanding children’s behaviour, applying current research and theory from the fields of attachment and trauma to my work.

Working with schools, my approach aims to influence not only teaching practices but also the entire school ethos, while working with parents, the same principles are adapted and applied to positive parenting.

This approach allows parents to not only develop their relationship with their child to gain a deeper understanding of their emotional needs, it helps build their own confidence.

Working alongside children, families and schools is an immense privilege.

Over the past seven years, I’ve worked as an SEMH Specialist for a local authority, providing support to teachers, parents and children. The feedback I’ve received about the impact of my work has left me humbled and inspired.

I’ve mentored trainee teachers, conducted supervision for colleagues, teachers and headteachers, and lectured on Relational Behavior Management at the University of Hull.

Driven by the desire to offer more tailored and personal support, both to teachers and parents through the Relational Approach, I established Iris Consultancy so I could support even more schools and parents to positively impact their children.

Small actions have a great impact

Quick-witted and solution-focused, I wholeheartedly believe every problem can be resolved when a child’s emotional needs are met.

My superpower is tuning in to what people need, often before they even realise it. I’ve learned that life is a learning process for everyone and I’m here to guide you, in the classroom and at home, to empower children’s emotional well-being.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Helen

About me

Hello, I’m Helen,

**Relationships are at the heart of everything**

The Relational Approach

Working alongside children, families and schools is an immense privilege.

It can feel incredibly vulnerable

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