CPsychol, FHEA (BA Hons Psychology, PGCE, NASENCo)
Laura Purser is a Chartered Psychologist and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with extensive experience in teacher education, psychology, and inclusive practice. She is Director for SEND in Initial Teacher Education and Academic Programme Director for the BA Primary Education (QTS) at the University of Reading, where she teaches as a Lecturer across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Her work centres on children’s mental health, trauma-informed and neuropsychological approaches to education, SEND, and inclusive pedagogy.
Laura’s career spans both Higher Education leadership and classroom practice. Prior to her current role, she held senior positions at the University of Buckingham, including Assistant Director of Teacher Training and Head of Inclusion and SEND, Head of Primary, Prep and Early Years Initial Teacher Training, Senior Lecturer, NASENCO Course Lead and Wellbeing and Mental Health Lead. Earlier in her career, she worked as both a primary and secondary school teacher across maintained and independent sectors, specialising in Psychology, Drama and Theatre Studies, and undertaking leadership roles as Head of Learning Support, SENDCO and Inclusion.
Her professional focus lies in embedding evidence-based understandings of child development, mental health, and neurodiversity into education and professional practice. Laura has published across academic, professional, and public platforms and regularly delivers national keynote addresses, conference papers, and practitioner training. Her work bridges applied psychology and education, with a particular emphasis on psychologically informed approaches to teaching and leadership.
Kintsugi Bowl – A symbol, reminding us…
Flawed imperfection is where beauty lies.
Fragmentation of self can become integrated.
We are never broken.
Alongside her academic work, Laura is actively engaged in community and system-level leadership. She serves as Chair of Governors at a primary school and works extensively with schools, local authorities, and national organisations (Brighter Futures, SSAT, Learning Shared, BELMAS, CATCH/PACT) to deliver training on SEND, mental health and wellbeing, neuropsychology, executive functioning, and restorative and de-escalatory approaches to behaviour.
Beyond academia, Laura has a longstanding involvement in the performing arts. She has appeared in numerous musical theatre productions and is an advanced Latin dancer, regularly dancing Salsa and Bachata, attending national Latin Dance Congresses and teaching in a range of educational and community settings, such as stage schools and dance companies, even opening up her own summer dance school ‘Salsarios’. These creative pursuits inform her relational, embodied, and human-centred approach to education, learning, and wellbeing.
Laura has published across academic, professional, and public-facing platforms on children’s mental health, inclusion, trauma-informed practice, and the psychology of education. Her peer-reviewed work explores what new teachers need to understand about child mental health, alongside professional writing that bridges theory and practice for educators and families.
A compass hidden – a reminder to navigate inclusive and psychologically informed practices
Laura is a regular keynote speaker at national conferences and has contributed to major sector events across education, psychology, SEND and mental health, including practitioner conferences policy-focused forums, and research congresses. Her work is widely used in teacher education, school improvement, and professional development contexts.