WHO I AM
Before establishing her consultancy in 2026, Kirsty worked for three local authorities as an EAL lead teacher and team manager. With more than 20 years of experience in education, she brings a thoughtful and supportive approach to working with schools, combining strategic expertise with a clear understanding of the day-to-day challenges staff face. Her background as a former headteacher, alongside qualifications including a Master’s degree in Psychology, a postgraduate diploma in specialist maths teaching, and SENCO accreditation, enables her to offer advice that is both informed and practical. Through reviews, training and consultancy support, Kirsty works in partnership with schools to develop realistic action plans that strengthen provision and help all children thrive.
Expertise
KHolden consultancy offers tailored support based on Kirsty's experience of over 20 years in education particulary recently as an EAL lead teacher and team manager. She also utilises her expertise from her current role as an Independendent Literacy specialist and auditor with the English Hub.
Literacy support
Kirsty can support and English leads to ensure their schools has sytems in place to develop oracy, structured talk, reading and writing through data analysis, audit of provision and bespoke support to meet the needs of individual settings.
EAL
Support with advice, guidance and training for schools to plan, deliver and assess the impact of EAL teaching intervention or EAL teaching strategies. Kirsty can also provide EAL assessments of pupils new to the UK school system or those whose progress is causing concern.
SEND and EAL
Speiclalist EAL assessments can be provided to support EAL pupils who may have underlying barriers to learning which may need to be identified prior to any SEND assessment. Specialist CPD to identify EAL with SEND can be delivered alongside school systems to aid early identification of SEND needs for EAL pupils.
EDI
Equality, Diversity and inclusion audits, policy, training and advice to meet the needs of individual settings can be provided. Support is tailored to the characteristics of learners and specific cohort needs which can cover key themes relating to equalities, diversity, British Values, cultural capital and racism.