Laura Ball - Education and Strategy Lead

She/Her

(starting Jan 2025)

Laura has been working in education for over 20 years. Starting out as a mathematics teacher with a degree in mathematics, she has had the opportunity to teach in a range of educational settings, from mainstream schools to alternative provision, to a school in South Korea.

Laura believes that education is fundamental in shaping who we are and influences the future we build. She believes that every person has their own strengths and areas to develop, and it’s essential they’re given the opportunity to grow in all of them. To achieve this, barriers to learning need to be removed, and she sees it as her role to make sure those barriers don’t stand in the way of any learners’ success.

Being autistic herself Laura understands the challenges autistic learners face firsthand. For instance, her working environment is really important; she knows she can’t work well in a bright, hot room, but with the right environment, she knows she can give her best.  It is also important to engage learners in ways that resonate with their unique learning styles, Laura is always excited to explore ways to do this.

Education has been a lifeline for Laura; it’s allowed her to access society and the job market and overcome barriers created by lack of awareness of diversity. That’s why she was motivated to join Oaks Rise as she believes that Oaks Rise is committed to helping all learners thrive, and she will bring an unwavering commitment to ensuring every learner has an equally fair opportunity to succeed.

Shahnaz Zarif - Senior Learning Facilitator

She/Her

Shahnaz began her teaching career as a history teacher and head of department in an inner-city London secondary school with a high level of need and deprivation, before pivoting to work with students on EOTAS packages in 2019.

Shahnaz has always prided herself on her ability to build strong connections with students. However, she quickly became aware that the mainstream education system doesn’t work for all young people, and particularly for many neurodivergent pupils.

In her own words, “Working on interest-based projects with young people gives me such pride. When we throw out the textbooks and focus on the interests, strengths and skills of young people we make education work for them. I certainly never fit the mould that was expected of me at school, and hoped I could change things for students like me by becoming a teacher.

In my experience, learning requires a nurturing connection and a space where young people feel safe to be themselves and explore their interests with support in their own time. This is something we are able to provide at Oaks Rise by providing bespoke learning packages that meet students’ individualised needs and interests.”

Lauren Arthur - Learning Facilitator

She/Her

Lauren is an educator with a passion for inclusive learning, holding a first-class degree in English, a master's in Creative Writing, and a Level 3 Understanding Autism qualification. Her six-year educator journey spans roles across secondary and further education. Most recently Lauren worked as a Maths Lecturer at a large local Further Education College, supporting students who have previously struggled with maths. She is currently advancing her skills through a PGCE with a focus on teaching maths.

Lauren is our maths lead, she understands that our learners may have a complex relationship with the subject, rooted in anxiety and trauma. Lauren uses activities and real-world contexts to reframe and rebuild confidence by making problem solving relatable, relevant and rich.

"I joined Oaks Rise driven by a desire to be part of a community that truly celebrates individual learning pathways. Curiosity is innate and drives learning, Oaks Rise encourages and harnesses this force in its learners, and that is rare. In my view, education is not just about transmitting knowledge; it's about igniting a passion for discovery and providing the tools for students to explore their interests deeply. At Oaks Rise, I see an opportunity to contribute to an educational approach that is not only innovative but also deeply respectful of each student's unique journey. My motivation stems from a belief that by valuing and understanding our differences, we can create a more inclusive, effective and adventurous learning environment. I am excited to bring my background in English, creative writing, special education, and mathematics to Oaks Rise, aiming to inspire, support, and empower our community to become lifelong learners and thinkers."

Josie Peach - Learning Assistant

She/Her

Josie began teaching whilst still at school herself! She offered music lessons to local children and discovered that she really enjoyed sharing something she loved and watching enthusiasm and interest grow in others. She realised early on that every learner she met approached things in a different way and that in order to teach and support effectively, she needed to be flexible, adaptable and ‘think outside the box’.

Josie studied jazz at music college in Leeds, then went on to do a PGCE and an MA in Music Therapy. Although a lot of her study was quite academic, she really enjoyed the more practical elements of developing a skill and is keen to find ways to weave different learning approaches into the way she works with young people.

Josie taught music in a secondary school for 7 years before working as a music therapist in a variety of educational and residential settings. As a music therapist, she specialised in working with young neurodivergent people and children with SPMLD. She also taught music in primary settings and has continued to offer music lessons to both adults and children.

Josie is passionate about adopting a different approach to education and is driven to find ways to enable everyone to access a way to foster a life-long love of learning.

She has been home-educating her autistic daughter for the past 7 years and is now very excited about having the opportunity to work at Oaks Rise, a place where learners are encouraged to follow their interests alongside core skills, and where learning is a journey that has many different routes.

In her spare time, Josie enjoys being outside – walking, cycling and being with horses. She also leads singing groups and is very involved in the community where she lives.

Lauren Daly - Director

She/Her

Lauren is a Horsham-based business owner, who has built two start-up companies from the ground up. She now runs a team of staff, working across West Sussex. Prior to this Lauren worked as a professional events organiser in both the UK and Dubai. Lauren is neurodivergent and is a mother of five energetic neurodivergent kids, who have varied experiences of the education system. Lauren brings amazing organisational skills, creativity, a relentless energy and unwavering commitment to neuro-affirming education to the Oaks Rise team.

In Lauren’s words “I set up Oaks Rise because I couldn’t find the right educational provision for my bright, sensitive, autistic, ADHD daughter who had been out of mainstream school for some years. Having looked at both mainstream and specialist settings none felt quite right. I knew that something different was needed for mine, and many other ND kids, who have so much to offer the world but need a bespoke approach. I am so excited to be starting up Oaks Rise and I’m looking forward to seeing our students grow and thrive over the coming years.”

Georgia Rowe - Director

She/Her

Georgia is a Brighton-based mother to two autistic and ADHD children who constantly challenge her to question traditional approaches to parenting and education and to think differently about what children need to thrive. Before starting up Oaks Rise, Georgia was an international development advisor who had worked in the civil service and in large non-profit organisations throughout her career. Before moving into policy development Georgia managed multi-million-pound development projects, managing large teams of staff and delivering basic services for some of the poorest communities across Africa and Asia.

In Georgia’s words “I set up Oaks Rise with Lauren after my bright, funny and creative  daughter was no longer able to cope in mainstream school and became very unwell. I knew that in the right environment she would flourish, that she wanted to be part of the world and had so much to offer. Having been involved in the autistic community in Brighton and beyond, and running an Autistic Girls Group for several years, I knew that there were so many other children in the same position. So Lauren and I decided to do something about it. I’m thrilled that we have found such an amazing team of staff and advisors who all share our passion, commitment and energy for neuro-affirming education.”