Clare Holmes
Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead
Clare joined the University of Chester in 2019. She is an experienced educational practitioner and worked in mainstream secondary education for the 28 years in a range of pastoral roles including SENCO, Designated Teacher for Looked After Children, Safeguarding Lead and Mental Health Lead. This led her to complete the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination (NASENCO) alongside becoming a Specialist Leader of Education for Emotional and Mental Health. Clare has also worked on multi-agency initiatives to embed attachment-aware and trauma-informed approaches in schools and other settings.
Clare teaches on a range of modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and leads on several projects in partnership with Local Authorities and charities.
Clare teaches on the Undergraduate BA SEND and BA Primary Education Studies courses. At postgraduate level she teaches on the PG Cert in Attachment, Trauma and Mental Health and is programme lead for the standalone practitioner enquiry module for Attachment, Trauma and Mental Health.
Clare is an advocate for inclusive practices within education and has a personal commitment to her own continuing professional development in the field of special educational needs and disabilities, with a particular interest in social, emotional and mental health needs. This is reflected in the research undertaken as part of the CEPD partnership and project work.