Anna is passionate about creating a service in which children, schools and therapists can all thrive. As Director, she leads and supports the Interactions team while remaining closely involved in the clinical thinking and whole-school work that shape the service.
Interactions is a values-led social enterprise, so putting children and schools at the heart of every decision matters deeply to her. She also believes supported, valued therapists are better able to provide the consistent, compassionate care children need.

Speech and language therapy experience in schools

Before founding Interactions, Anna spent ten years working as an NHS speech and language therapist in Wakefield and Leeds. Her roles included supporting children in schools and clinics, working with Language Disorder and developing innovative school-based approaches, including Communication Friendly Schools audits.

She established Interactions in 2016 and now brings that experience to schools through practical, evidence-based support that connects therapy with classroom learning and the wider environment around each child.

Whole-school communication and trauma-informed support

Anna particularly enjoys helping schools develop whole-school approaches to speech, language and communication. Her focus is on making useful strategies part of everyday teaching, so children can use their skills confidently across the school day and staff are supported rather than given more work.

Her training in trauma-informed practice and sensory inclusion also helps her support schools with children whose communication needs overlap with trauma, anxiety, regulation or complex behaviour. She brings practical strategies and wider professional thinking when a child’s needs require additional input.

What communication means to Anna

Anna originally planned to work in hospitality. A documentary about people who stammer changed that direction completely and made her realise how fundamental communication is to confidence, connection and the ability to advocate for ourselves.

I love the connections we make with individual children: showing them they can do it and seeing their confidence and engagement grow.

Friendly & approachable

Flexible and collaborative

Empathetic

Focused on practical strategies that work in real school life