My name is Joe Thorp, I am the Head of Advocacy & Support, committed to championing the rights and needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). I bring over 10 years experience working across multiple Local Authorities, alongside families and professionals, to ensure children receive the support they are legally entitled to.

I am a strong advocate for inclusive education and firmly believe that every child deserves an approach that recognises their strengths, understands their needs, and supports them to thrive. In my role, I have a deep understanding of how complex, overwhelming, and emotionally demanding the SEND system can be for families, particularly when navigating assessments, provision discussions, and decisions that have long‑term implications for a child’s wellbeing and future.

As Head of Advocacy & Support, I provide strategic direction, professional oversight, and quality assurance to ensure our advocacy practice is calm, structured, and child‑centred. I lead by example, embedding a compassionate and solution‑focused approach, while supporting parents and carers to understand their rights, communicate confidently with professionals, and make informed decisions.

I am deeply committed to partnership working, ensuring that the child remains at the heart of every conversation and that advocacy is consistently purposeful, ethical, and impactful.

My leadership experience has strengthened my ability to:

• Set clear direction and standards for advocacy practice

• Listen carefully to families concerns and priorities

• Translate complex statutory processes into clear, practical steps

• Advocate confidently within multi‑agency and professional settings

• Support parents to feel empowered rather than overwhelmed

• Maintain a child‑focused, solution‑driven approach, even in highly challenging circumstances

I am particularly passionate about creating a service where families feel respected, supported, and never alone. For me, advocacy is not about confrontation, but about clarity, collaboration, and persistence, enabling families to secure meaningful and sustainable outcomes for their children.

Above all, I am driven by the impact that the right support, delivered at the right time, can have on a child’s confidence, education, and quality of life and by the reassurance this brings to the families who rely on our leadership, expertise, and commitment.

At SENDsible, our collective experience working within Local Authorities gives us a unique perspective. Having worked on both sides of the table, we use our insight to inform strong, effective advocacy and truly understand the challenges families face.