Interview questions Shabnum is ready to dig into. Copy them, tweak them, or bring your own.
1You’ve said support shouldn’t wait for a diagnosis—what does effective early intervention actually look like before labels or paperwork exist?
2Why do you believe early years is where the SEND crisis is either contained or escalated?
3You chose to cap Early Nurture at 30 children when many settings push for scale—how did that decision shape quality and sustainability?
4Private and voluntary early years settings are doing complex SEND work—why do you think they’re still missing from policy conversations?
5You’ve worked through the EHCP pathway before children even reach school—what breaks down when intervention starts too late?
6You didn’t start your career with titles or leadership plans—how did frontline experience shape the way you lead today?
7Recognition and visibility arrived quickly for you—what has it been like learning to lead in public while still doing the work on the ground?
8You’ve seen early years SEND practice outside the UK—what does the UK do well that it doesn’t recognise or protect enough?
9Parent partnership is often talked about but rarely structured—what actually changes when families are treated as part of the SEND infrastructure?
10If policymakers truly understood early years, what would they stop doing immediately—and what would they invest in instead?