Hazel Richards

Hazel Richards is a registered Speech and Language Therapist who worked in the NHS with children with complex needs in mainstream and specialist settings, including CAMHS for many years. After studying her master’s in Special and nclusive Education alongside her NHS practice, she moved into Further Education to work with young people with acquired brain injury. Her experience working with SENCos as a professional, school governor and parent led to her doctoral studies, which investigated SENCo identity and influences on practice. She taught at the University of Worcester in Education Studies and for the Department of Children and Families before moving to The University of Wolverhampton, where she taught Special Educational Needs, Disability, and Inclusion Studies and supported the National Award for SEN Co-ordination. She is now working as a senior lecturer on the Speech and Language Therapy routes at Birmingham City University. She has co-edited two books for Critical Publishing; Developing Your Professional Identity and Developing Your Expertise as a SENCo, both of which aim to progress practitioner knowledge, confidence, and practice.