Meet Jo
Our emotions expert Jo is a qualified teacher with over 25 years of experience working in both state and independent schools across the UK. During this time she has taught children from Reception to Year 6, supporting them through one-to-one sessions, small group work and whole-class teaching.
Alongside her teaching role, Jo trained and worked as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). In this role she planned and delivered tailored emotional support sessions for children with a wide range of needs. She also worked closely with pupils who required additional help in the classroom, including those with special educational needs, and designed practical interventions to help them learn and thrive.
Jo’s experience extends beyond supporting pupils and includes working closely with their siblings, parents, wider families and teachers. She has collaborated with educational psychologists, social care teams and other professionals, and has received regular training from Psychology First on emotional understanding. She has also undertaken additional training in trauma-informed approaches, neurodiversity, support for young carers and bullying prevention.
Jo has served as a Parent Governor, chairing both the Head Teacher’s Performance Management Committee and the Learning and Achievement Committee. These roles gave her valuable insight into children’s wellbeing, learning environments and the challenges schools face in supporting emotional development.
On a personal level, Jo is a mum to three wonderful daughters, each with their own unique strengths and challenges. Between them, they have needed support with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Anxiety, Depression, Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and high intellect. Through their journeys, she has experienced first-hand the difficulties families face in seeking assessments, understanding needs and finding the right emotional support. These experiences continue to inspire and shape Jo’s work in creating supportive and accessible emotional resources for children and families.