We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Claire Walley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Claire, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Setting up my company, The SEN Expert was the biggest risk I have ever taken professionally and to some extent personally. After working in education for 14 years in schools in the Uk and US I had progressed to senior management and had enjoyed the security and to some degree the inevitable promotions and ‘climb to the top’.
During lockdown, whilst on maternity leave with my 3 month old daughter – all that security stopped. I was told I was being made redundant – maternity pay would stop, career would stop and no job to return to. This situation was really make or break. Do I try to find a new job earlier than planned, missing time with my baby? Do I stop working and see my career I took so long to build end.
I decided to take a risk. I set up my company when my daughter was 4 months old. I worked on my website and socials whilst she was sleeping on me. I walked for miles pushing the pram putting up posters and spent evenings putting together welcome packs for local education providers. When I first started I had one client and earned £60 per week. A year on, I work three days a week and most evenings to cover all the work I need to get completed. The SEN Expert made £30000 + profit in its first year and most importantly it has provided me with the flexibility my previous roles never did. I get to see my daughter, plan my work around her and love my work now. I vividly remember a colleague being told by our Headteacher that she couldn’t attend her daughter’s parents evening as it was parent’s evening at our school – “chose which children you support”, she was told. It was evident it wasn’t her own!
Taking a risk has been the best decision I have ever made. ‘Job security’ is overrated, ‘job satisfaction’ is my modus operandi. now!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
The SEN Expert offers a range of services for young people, families and schools. We offer support for parents to help navigate the complex world of Special Educational Needs. We will work with you closely to ensure the best for your child.
Services offered include Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) ‘Health Checks’, diagnosis guidance, school searches, advocacy and meeting support. The SEN Expert offers a range of supportive and friendly services for young people.
We can support young people as individuals or with their support network. Services range from diagnosis support, mentoring, advocacy, exams support and tutoring.
As an experienced school leader, The SEN Expert knows how to help schools secure solid outcomes for their SEN students. Services include coaching for SENCOs, auditing, meeting support and staff training and budget reviews.
The SEN Expert was set up by Claire in 2021 following a successful career spanning 14 years in school improvement, special educational needs, safeguarding and the arts.
Claire has worked as a Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, Consultant and SENCO in both state and private schools in inner city London, the Southwest, the Midlands and the USA.
Claire has a First-Class Honours Degree in Fine Art, hence her creative approach to SEN. She has also secured a PGCE in Art and Design, the NPQSL (National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership) and the Inclusive Leadership Award. Claire secured Gold Flagship status from the Inclusion Quality Mark at her last school.
Throughout her career, Claire has ensured solid outcomes for the young people she has worked with. Be that a set of good exam grades, a placement in specialist setting or getting a part time job.
Claire is a working mother, so understands the challenges parent’s face trying to ensure their children are happy and successful. We aim to provide young people with a creative route to the personal and professional adult life they deserve.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Prior to setting up my business I had no idea how important socials were to building your brand, connecting with clients and developing your reputation. I am in the process of building an online community for parents, professionals and young people with special educational needs on Instagram and have some thoughts to share on how I built my audience.
Firstly, I reached out to colleagues in the field and offer to produce content for them. Blog posts, take overs lives etc. From there I was able to tap into their audience and was seen as a trusted source of information.
Secondly, I ensure I interact with my audience. Although it is a challenge at times I respond to every DM. I have made use of a call booking system which is automatically shared via my DMs which has made securing serious clients much smoother.
Lastly, I have found that providing consistent content with small snippets of advice has appealed to my audience. Asking them what they would like to know more on and providing it to them in bitesize chunks – so they can learn something new, whilst they make a cup of tea or are on the school run!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Being consistent, compassionate and quick to respond. I am impatient by nature and although in many ways this is a flaw – it has become a real asset when giving clients the confidence I am reliable and there for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesenexpert.co.uk
- Instagram: @senexpert
- Facebook: @thesenexpert
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/83118274/admin/
- Twitter: @thesenexpert
- Other: https://blog.thesenexpert.co.uk/ https://www.google.com/search?q=the+sen+expert+google+review&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB959GB959&oq=the+sen+expert+google+review&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160.4252j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Image Credits
Claire Walley – photo credit