About

Hi, I’m Emily Risby – founder of Wholechild SENDCo Ltd.

I believe that supporting a child starts with seeing the full picture: the child, their family, and the world around them. That’s why I take a whole-child, whole-family approach to finding practical, meaningful solutions.

I bring both professional and personal insight to what I do. I’m a qualified teacher, a SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator), a trauma-informed practitioner, and a parent. I also have dyslexia, so I understand first-hand the challenges that come with being neurodiverse in mainstream settings. I know the pressures children face in school, and the expectations parents are under.

My work is rooted in four core values:
🔹 Solution-focused thinking
🔹 Collaborative relationships
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Evidence-based practice

Hi, I’m Emily Risby – founder of Wholechild SENDCo Ltd.

My work is rooted in four core values:
🔹 Solution-focused thinking
🔹 Collaborative relationships
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Evidence-based practice

Hi, I’m Emily Risby – founder of Wholechild SENDCo Ltd.

My work is rooted in four core values:
🔹 Solution-focused thinking
🔹 Collaborative relationships
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Evidence-based practice

My Journey

I began teaching in 2004, specialising in the arts. Over time, I developed a deep interest in supporting children with additional needs and trained as a SENDCo in 2012, focusing on Autism and trauma-informed practice.

In 2016, I became a parent — a turning point that gave me real insight into navigating both family life and the world of SEND support. It deepened my empathy and strengthened my drive to make a difference.

By 2020, I expanded into coaching and mentoring, specialising in solution-focused approaches for families. Soon after, Wholechild SENDCo was born.

Qualifications

BE d Primary Art Specialism QTS Teacher

SENDCo Msc

Certified Trauma Practitioner

National Professional Qualification of Senior Leadership 2025

My Journey

By 2020, I expanded into coaching and mentoring, specialising in solution-focused approaches for families. Soon after, Wholechild SENDCo was born.

Qualifications

BE d Primary Art Specialism QTS Teacher

SENDCo Msc

Certified Trauma Practitioner

National Professional Qualification of Senior Leadership 2025

Testimonial: Exeter Parent (June 2022 – October 2024)

Emily works differently - and its exactly what my daughter and I need. Her incredible positivity and focus on what is working rather than what isn't working is really helping us. Instead of me dropping my daughter off to therapy I work with Emily remotely on how I can help my daughter, with my daughter joining us for a few minutes at the end of each session. This takes the pressure off my daughter and enables me to be part of her 'team' and change things at home for her. I'm pleased to say that my daughter's anxiety has reduced, I'm able to be more supportive and encouraging, and her school attendance has greatly improved.

Testimonial: Hope Cove Parent (December 2022)

We contacted Emily to help us navigate the EHCP process with regards to our daughter who has additional needs and is struggling within the school system. Emily is wonderful, and we cannot recommend her highly enough. To have the support and guidance from someone who has extensive experience of SEND needs really helped us to not feel alone trying to get the best support in place for our child. Emily is kind, approachable, understanding and honest with her support and advice. It really felt like we had someone holding our hand throughout, guiding us in advising what information and evidence we needed and how best to approach writing the documentation. We have the utmost gratitude to Emily and would wholeheartedly recommend her.

Testimonial: South Devon Parent (January 2026)

Emily helped our family enormously when our two children were struggling to attend school. Over the course of two terms, she provided step-by-step guidance that was truly transformative. Her practical tools and thoughtful advice supported both of us as parents and our children, helping us navigate a very challenging time with confidence and hope. We are forever grateful for Emily’s genuine care, empathy, and wisdom. Her calm, understanding approach made a huge difference to our family, and we can’t thank her enough for the positive impact she has had on our lives. I hope this is ok Emily! I can’t quite put into words how grateful we are for all your support.

Testimonial: Devon Parent (January 2026)

Thank you for our meeting and those notes (which are 'spot-on').

It's wonderful to have your support and both A. and I very much appreciate it.

I'm pleased to report some positive signs. When I talked to A., she was delighted at the idea of us doing some 'problem solving' or sticky note work each week and timetabling it. So we'll now do this every Sunday. I bought an incredibly cheap page-a-day diary for this and A. appreciated that.

I'm very pleased to say that her appetite has been more normal now for several days, and she reports having some quieter times in her mind than she was experiencing.

She's also taking a flask of camomile tea to school each day which she says is also helping.

Thank you for the offer of leaving it open. I feel like A. and I are on the right track and it's wonderful to know I can get in touch if/when we need further support.