Helen Benstead University of Sunderland

Dr Helen Benstead is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Sunderland and is Programme Leader of the MA in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion. Helen has considerable experience in the teaching of research methods in education and supervision of research in this field, with a specific interest in innovative methodologies to support and enable the participation of a range of children and adults with additional needs. Helen has published widely on the role of Teaching Assistants and their impact on the social inclusion of pupils identified with SEND. Helen has worked in central and local government, as a policy maker/advisor on Education and Youth at Mayor of London and within the Cabinet Office, and runs a social enterprise supporting Teaching Assistants in schools across the country.