News and Upcoming Events

Harriet

Harriet is the Founder of Sparklers Foundation (PGCE, FCCT, MEd SEND, NPQH, Doctorate Research Student).

Harriet is an Assistant HeadTeacher of a Special Needs school in Surrey and has over fifteen years of teaching experience as a qualified Teacher in both mainstream and Special Needs settings.
She is also the parent of children with Special Needs. With the support of her husband, Richard, the passion for providing support for families managing SEND has evolved into Sparklers Foundation.
She is a graduate of Kingston University, Sheffield Hallam University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology and the Southern Education and Leadership Trust, UK.

Simona

Simona has experience as a mother and professional and is a valued member of our board of trustees. She has a PhD in Chemistry, an MSc in Toxicology and a degree in Biological Chemistry.

Simona has experience working with the central government department of health and is professionally equipped in the drafting of legislations, assessment of clinical papers, liaising, setting up, running and chairing of government departments and other organisations.

Simona has run Risk assessments with regards to chemical toxicity in foods and provided food safety advice to consumers and other authorities including the European commission. Some of the projects Simona has led are as follows:

-Provision of precautionary advice on the consumption of fish during pregnancy.

- Co-ordination of the department of health emergency pandemic flu response during the pandemic flu outbreak in 2009.

Simona comes with experience as a parent with the process of with EHCP plans. She loves cooking and is a fantastic help to the organisation with fundraising events. Her fluency in English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish makes her invaluable in meeting the needs of some parents who do not have English as their first language. It is a pleasure to have Simona as a Sparklers trustee.

John

John has 37 years’ teaching experience, including 30 years involvement in the education of young people with learning difficulties, including MLD, BESD, PMLD and co-morbid conditions. Prior to that, he spent several years’ in large comprehensive schools teaching both boys and girls.

At a strategic level, John has 27 years’ experience as a school governor negotiating policy with Local Authorities, appointing senior staff and working in a team having shared, rather than individual, responsibility

Trained originally in Mathematics and RE, John has taught across the curriculum (including humanities, languages & careers). He has held posts of responsibility as subject leader in Mathematics or ICT.  From 1997 to 2015 and was subject leader for Mathematics in a school for students with moderate and complex needs including ASD and BESD.

John has been involved in SEND throughout his career in schools and in a hospital setting. His experience is very benefitial to Sparklers as a Trustee.

Richard

Richard is a Biomedical Scientist with the British Army and the parent of three children, two with diagnoses of Autism.
He has  seventeen years voluntary experience as a Teacher for children and young people.

Richard and Harriet faced a number of challenges with their own children when they were diagnosed with Autism. The learning from their own experinece has encouraged them to help other families who find themselves in a similar place and  with similar challenges.
At a strategic level, Richard has been a Director of Sparklers since it's inception and holds the offices of Data Prtection Officer.

Richard's academic degrees are in Bioligical Science and Biomedical Science. He is a graduate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and De Montford University.