Every Pathway Every Possibility !
Hello and welcome, I’m Claire, the founder of Panks Pathways. I’m passionate about helping children and young people learn, grow, and feel understood in a way that works for them. My journey in education began in 2009 as a Learning Support Assistant in primary schools, where I discovered how much I loved supporting children. I went on to work in an Ofsted-rated Outstanding all-through school, gaining experience across the primary phase. In 2020, I became a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), teaching across all primary year groups and adapting lessons to suit every learner’s ability and needs. I hold a Diploma in Specialist Teaching and Learning in Schools and am certified in Level 3 Paediatrics First Aid, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aware, with many professional development courses completed throughout my career. I’m also a Personal Assistant to a wonderful 15 year-old with Down Syndrome; a young person I’ve had the privilege of supporting since he was four. On a personal note, I’ve been married for 24 years, my husband runs a successful groundwork company, and we have three amazing sons (now young adults!). My eldest is a nutritionist, my middle son is training to be a primary school teacher, and my youngest is studying through the Open University as a young learner. School wasn’t the right fit for him and seeing him thrive has been my greatest inspiration for starting Panks Pathways. Outside of work, I love cycling, walking, and taking on sporting challenges for charity, my next one is the Brighton Hike in June 2026! Panks Pathways was built from both professional experience and personal understanding, combining compassion, creativity, and flexibility to help every child flourish in their own unique way
My Services
Understanding Every Mind, Supporting Every Need.
Every child and young person deserves support that truly understands who they are not just what they need to learn. As a Learning Mentor, I offer a unique and flexible approach to supporting children and adolescents up to 18 years of age with Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs), helping them work towards their goals both in education and in everyday life.
My service is designed especially for children who are home educated, whatever the reason for that choice may be. I provide individualised mentoring and learning support that adapts to each child’s needs, abilities, and pace, because not one size fits all. Every child’s journey is different, and my role is to walk alongside them, guiding, encouraging, and helping them build confidence and independence along the way.
Support can take place at home or out in the community, depending on what best helps the child engage, learn, and grow. I also offer tailored sessions for primary-aged children to help fill learning gaps and strengthen core skills.
What makes my service distinctive is the way I combine learning support with personalised assistance for children who learn in their own unique way - including those who may also need help with personal care or everyday practical tasks. I understand that learning and wellbeing go hand in hand, and that progress comes from nurturing the whole child, not just their academic goals.
Whether it’s building focus and motivation, developing social and life skills, or achieving personal learning milestones, I’m here to provide compassionate, consistent, and practical support that helps each child move forward on their own path.
Tailored Support
Providing individualised, neurodiversity-affirming learning that’s PDA-aware, inclusive, and accessible for all abilities and needs.
Consultation
I understand how important it is for your child to feel comfortable and for you to find the right support. I offer a free 30-minute initial consultation so we can see if I’m the right person to support your family. A social story about me will also be available beforehand, to help your child get to know me a little more.