Supporting Children’s Learning, Development, and Wellbeing.
Specialist Teacher | SEND Support | Neurodiversity - Dyslexia - Autism- ADHD | Developmental Psychologist |Inclusion advisory Service | Specialist Support |
Specialist Teacher | SEND Support | Neurodiversity - Dyslexia - Autism- ADHD | Developmental Psychologist |Inclusion advisory Service | Specialist Support |
2090 school days in a child’s education….
Tara Dakin
Developmental Psychologist | Specialist Teacher| Inclusion Advisor.
A values-led approach to inclusive education, grounded in evidence and experience.
With over 25 years in education , spanning teaching, senior leadership, local authority advisory roles, and national consultancy , my work is defined by a sustained commitment to inclusion, psychological integrity, and safeguarding.
As a Chartered Psychologist with a Master’s in Developmental Psychology, a qualified teacher, and former SENCO and safeguarding lead, I bring both psychological insight and practical expertise to my practice. I have worked across early years, primary, secondary and post-16, including complex and high-exclusion contexts, and have trained and supported educators across systems.
This service was founded in response to the growing disconnection between what we know — from neuroscience, psychology and lived experience , and what is often enacted in practice. Too often, emotional development is pathologised, and children are defined by perceived deficits rather than supported through contextual understanding. My work challenges this, offering a more rigorous and compassionate way forward.
Through consultation, training, and direct work with families and professionals, I offer:
Specialist assessment and support that is developmentally informed and relationally attuned
Strategic guidance for schools and settings seeking to embed inclusive practice meaningfully
Independent professional insight for complex cases, exclusions, transitions, and safeguarding concerns
Advocacy for families navigating SEND systems, EHCPs, and multi-agency processes
I believe inclusion must be intelligent, ethically sound, and attentive to context , not a checklist. This is work that must be done well, and done with care.
Tara Dakin
What makes me different to work with?- '“Perhaps nothing, I’ve been privileged to meet and work with many outstanding professionals in this field.”
Inclusive support for children, families and schools , led by psychologist, educator and inclusion specialist Tara Dakin
I’ve spent 25 years walking alongside children and families through some of life’s toughest landscapes , from exclusion and trauma to terminal illness, refugee experience, and care. I’ve led system change in SEND, trained professionals across education and health, and supported some of the most vulnerable children in the UK. I bring the science of human development , neuroscience, psychology and pedagogy , into real, relational, everyday practice.
I work with schools, parents, carers and local authorities to offer practical strategies, clear assessment, and deep understanding. I’m here to think with you, not about you , to bring insight, hope, and evidence to complex situations.
I believe every child deserves to be seen and supported in their wholeness, not reduced to a diagnosis or label. And I believe families and educators deserve expert guidance that is as kind as it is robust.
So, what makes me different? Perhaps nothing , except I will always do my best. With curiosity, compassion, and the courage to ask better questions.
Whether you're navigating EHCPs, behaviour, anxiety, SEND, or just feel something isn’t right. I offer trusted, principled support built on decades of specialist experience. Let's help your child thrive: emotionally, socially, and academically.
Please get in touch , I’d be honoured to work with you.
I’m a DfE-recognised Specialist Teacher, a Chartered Developmental Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, and hold an Enhanced DBS.
My work is grounded in real-world teaching, evidence-informed psychology, and a deep belief in seeing and supporting every child as an individual.
