About

About NEST Pembs

Let me simplify your home education journey, so you can focus on what really counts – your child.

Let me help your child feel seen, supported and connected to others.

NEST Pembrokeshire has services to offer support to home educating families and children with barriers to school attendance for any reason.

Nest gives affordable educational support with bespoke and flexible online classes, advice, assessments, and more. 

We know there are a rising number of children who are struggling with attendance in mainstream school. If this describes your child, you are not alone in this.

A child’s wellbeing and mental health is more important than anything – an unhappy child is not going to be able to learn or thrive.

Some of the most exceptional and creative children are those who do not navigate the mainstream school system easily. Let me help you support your child by  creating bespoke educational support when they need it most. Maybe support is needed for a temporary situation, maybe longer term.

Find rest in NEST and join a community of families home educating their children for many different reasons, in Pembrokeshire and beyond.

About Me

I’m Michelle and I’m known for my empathetic, intuitive, and totally child-centred approach. You could say I’m a bit like an educational Nanny McPhee – when you need me I’ll be there for you!

My life-long vocation is in supporting children and young people to achieve success for themselves. Raising self-esteem, understanding and supporting anxiety in neurodivergent children, developing positive mental health, and also supporting families – all these things and more are at the heart of my mission and passion.

If you child is neurodivergent or has learning needs, (or maybe they are on a long waiting list for assessment), you may be feeling that the current support they receive isn’t enough. Or perhaps you are becoming overwhelmed with the process of accessing any support in the first place. Believe me, I truly understand how stressful it can all be.

I’m not affiliated to any school or Local Authority and my expertise and commitment ensure that your child’s best interests are always at the forefront of my practice.

Every child is different with different needs and different anxieties regarding their education and their educational settings.

Getting to the heart of the challenges they are facing is not always easy and can take time. Recovery from school based trauma is also something that doesn’t happen overnight. I am here to support your child’s learning journey in a personalised and sensitive way that helps them in their recovery. 

This is about us working together to support your child’s learning.  

Maybe you have chosen home education for different reasons and you feel confident with creating hands-on learning opportunities, but just need support with some academic teaching guidance. Perhaps you fancy joining my stress-free online classroom? Or regular check-ins or informal assessments to monitor their progress is all you’d like?  The level of support and  type of support and services are all totally flexible to your circumstances.

Over the years I’ve taught in Primary, Secondary and SEN settings, and was the lead at two SEN schools. Previously, I have also been an ALNCo in Wales, and many years ago, a SENCo in England. My journey has taken me through state and independent sectors, teaching children and young people from ages 7 to 18.  I was instrumental in establishing two SEN registered schools to support autistic children and those with a PDA profile, ADHD, Dyslexia, SpLD, ARFID, GDD,  issues with barriers to school attendance, anxiety, and school related trauma. 

  • Qualified teacher with twenty years experience
  • Registered with Education Workforce Council
  • Enhanced DBS check,  fully insured, and registered with ICO Information Commissioner’s Office – (data protection) 
  • BA Hons  from the University of Nottingham and PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status
  • Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing Level 7
  • Registered Test User with the British Psychological Society
  • ELKLAN  qualification (Communication and Language Support for Autistic Pupils)
  • Supporting Children, Teenagers and Young People with Pathological Demand Avoidance Level 3 
  • Previously SEN school lead
  • Previously worked as ALNCo (Wales) and lead at SEN unit attached to a school (England)
  • Previously Head of Department in outstanding Prep School in England
  • Previously co-ordinator for Children’s Fund supporting children living in areas of need
  • Experience teaching from Year 3 to post-16
  • Paediatric First Aid Level 3, Emergency First Aid at Work Level 3
  • Pembrokeshire Council Safeguarding certificate and previously school Designated Safeguarding Lead 

Additionally, I have completed extensive hours of CPD courses in a wide range of additional needs including supporting children and young people with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, working memory issues, eating and food issues, ADHD.  I have also led CPD in schools in supporting autistic children with demand avoidance, and also in other areas of supporting additional learning needs. 

I have been passionate about additional needs for many years and it is without doubt my area of specialist interest.

More importantly, I know that the challenges I have faced throughout my own education, and actually every aspect of life, have enabled me to connect to others facing similar things. Although not formally diagnosed, I self-identify as AuDHD and was unofficially assessed by a highly regarded specialist. When I told those close to me they said they always knew, even without a formal diagnostic label. How often this is the case!

As a parent, I have also had lived experience of supporting my own children and I home educated them both for a period as well. 

For me, my lived experience is far more valuable than all my professional qualifications in giving me the tools and insight to support others.