Richard Aird has over 23 years experience as a special school headteacher, having headed up day and residential schools in both maintained and non-maintained sectors.  During OfSTED inspections in 2002 and 2004 the quality of his school leadership was judged on both occasions as being of an excellent standard and his exemplary management style has been described as a major strength.

Richard has extensive experience preparing bids for external accreditation marks, as area in which he was highly successful as a headteacher and now retiring from headship, Richard is able to incorporate the benefit of all this experience into his new role as an independent consultant and trainer in SEN and disability. In addition to his wide ranging experience as a headteacher, Richard is also a recognised authority in SEN and has published widely on a variety of SEN related topics, including a full length text, The Education and Care of Children with SLD & PMLD (David Fulton: London) which has been a set text on the reading lists of numerous universities since its publication in 2001.

Richard is an established and motivating conference speaker and has been an associate tutor in SEN at the University of Worcester for many years.  Richard has a sound, practically based understanding of how organisations such as schools and residential homes ought to function and how they can be helped to develop and improve. Whether what is required is an insightful appraisal of whole school/organisation performance, a school improvement plan, a key note presentation, or the provision of training, Richard is well able to facilitate benefits that will be tangible and enduring.  

Karen Aird qualified initially as a graduate teacher in the education of children who have severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties before re-training at Birmingham University in the specialist field of multiple sensory impairment.

She enjoyed many years successful experience as a teacher and assistant headteacher in both primary and secondary phase special schools before joining Richard as a director of SENsible Consultancy.  Most recently Karen authored a specialist curriculum for pupils who have PMLD that received outstanding praise from special and mainstream teachers across the United Kingdom. In addition, Karen is highly knowledgeable about the National Curriculum and its framework of assessment as it relates to children who have SEN and disabilities. 

Karen is a highly respected practitioner in the education and care of children who have complex disabilities and is always in high demand for the provision of specialist advice, training and consultancy. 

And on a practical note:
Both Karen and Richard have extensive experience of managing performing and expressive arts in the special school, taking special delight in leading children’s workshops in creative learning via art forms such as story telling, drama based performance and music making.