Dr Susanna Pinkus

MY EDUCATION

I grew up in Harrow, and after attending local schools, I went on to take my first degree in English Literature and Education at Homerton College, Cambridge. At this time, I also qualified as a teacher and went on to spend several happy years teaching primary-age children.

Subsequently, inspired by my experiences as a teacher, I returned to Cambridge to complete a master’s degree and then doctorate in Education at Clare College, Cambridge. The focus of my doctoral work was on developing understandings of parent-professional partnerships in the context of having a child with additional needs.

EARLY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Upon completion of my academic studies, with a passion to apply and share what I had learnt, I returned to work in schools where I took on a series of inclusion-focused leadership roles. During this period, I continued to undertake academic supervision of post-graduate students at the Faculty of Education, Cambridge. I also qualified as an advanced skills teacher in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), providing specialist outreach support to schools. My first book, ‘How to Create A Parent Friendly School’, was published in 2008.

DEVELOPMENT OF MY CONSULTANCY

As a practitioner in school, and again through my academic research, I observed that parents often found navigating their way through the education system, and ensuring that their child’s needs were met, to be challenging. As a result, in 2015 I began to offer specialist consultancy for parents who were concerned about their children’s educational development and wanted advice about how to best support their needs. In 2020, with an established and growing international client-base, I founded Speros Consulting Limited.

MY FOCUS

Whilst the principal focus of my work is in directly enabling young people to be happy and successful learners and supporting their parents, I am also skilled in designing inclusive school systems to enable all to thrive.

Alongside, I have continued to work in schools, leading teams to enable the best possible experience and outcomes for young people. Presently, I work at one of the world's most famous schools as the Head of Learning Skills and SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator).

I regularly contribute in the media, consciously using my platform to inform and enable a better understanding of how to meet children and young people’s needs.

Outside of work, I most enjoy relaxing with my own family and our recent addition, Woody, who often accompanies me to work in his capacity as a trainee therapy dog.