Alison joined the board in June 2016, having been a member of nurtureuk since 2006. Alison has been a qualified teacher since 1996, having started her teaching career in London and Surrey. She is currently Head of Inclusion for Exeter Children’s Federation. In this role she is the strategic lead for safeguarding, children in care, attendance and inclusion across three schools in Devon.

Alison joined the board of nurtureuk because of her passion for improving the education and life chances of children from deprived backgrounds. She has seen the success of nurture groups first-hand, having led a Quality Mark nurture provision for seven years. She continues to use the six principles of nurture across her Federation, to improve the inclusion of all pupils. She is a Qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinator and has recently gained her National Professional Qualification of Headteachers. Her interest in children affected by social, emotional and/or mental health issues has encouraged her to become a Specialist Leader in Education for the Exeter Consortium and Teaching School Alliance. Through this role, she has become part of a Primary Support Partnership which works to reduce permanent exclusions across Exeter Primary Schools.

Alison brings a wealth of education experience to nurtureuk, and shares her first-hand knowledge of the current context for schools. She aims to keep the well-being of children at the heart of everything she does.