Dr Hazel Richards

Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy

Email:: Hazel.Richards@bcu.ac.uk

Hazel is a registered Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) who worked in NHS for over 20 years as a specialist SLT, with a focus on complex special needs including AAC (alternative and augmentative communication), dysphagia, CAMHS, and multi-disciplinary working.

She completed a Level 5 Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Certificate and delivered training for whole staff in special schools before leaving the NHS in 2011 to complete a Master’s in Special and Inclusive Education, achieving a distinction. She then moved into further education (FE) to teach students with acquired brain injury and commenced as an associate lecturer at the University of Worcester, developing and delivering a module for education studies and on the National Award for Special Education Co-ordination.

Her doctoral studies investigated SENCo perceptions of their involvement with EHCPs, during which time Hazel completed her PGCert in HE. After completing her doctorate in 2019 (for which she won the best dissertation prize from the university of Worcester), Hazel secured a maternity cover position as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Children and Families at Worcester, before moving to a Senior Lectureship in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion Studies at the University of Wolverhampton. She then moved to Birmingham City University in November 2022 to join the Speech and Language Therapy teaching team, again as a Senior Lecturer.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Publications

In-Press

Richards, H. and Lundie, V. (2025) Strengths and challenges of the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Degree Apprenticeship route: initial stakeholder perspectives. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. DOI:10.1111/1460-6984.70071

Forthcoming

Richards, H., Emmett, A. and Capener, N (eds) Developing Speech, Language and Communication Skills in Education: What Works and Why? Taylor Francis/Routledge. Expected publication Autumn 2025

Books

Knowler, H., Richards, H. and Brewster, S. (eds) (2023) Developing your expertise as a SENCO: Leading inclusive practice. Routledge. ISBN: 9781915080868

Richards, H. and Malomo, M. (eds) (2022) Developing your professional identity: a guide for working with children and families. Routledge. ISBN: 9781914171536

Contributed a case study and critical questions for a chapter entitled ‘The communicating and collaborating practitioner’ in Prowle, A. & Hodgkins, A. (2020) Making a Difference with Children and Families - Re-imagining the Role of the Practitioner, London: Palgrave Macmillan

Journal articles

Done, E., Knowler, H., Richards, H and Brewster, S. (2023) Advocacy leadership or the de-professionalising of the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator role? British Journal of Special Education, BJSE-2022-OA-066.R1

Richards, H. (2022) “It was tough making sure it happened”: SENCo experience of the reality and risk of education and health care implementation. Educational Review. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00131911.2022.2033703

Richards, H. (2021) EHCP Implementation in the Early Years: constrictions and possibilities. Support for Learning, 36(2), pp. 204-221. DOI:10.1111/1467-9604.12351

Richards, H. (2021) Influences on SENCo practice in early care and education (ECE) settings in England. International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 32(1), pp. 24-38, ISNN: 2537-7191.

Magazine Articles

Richards, H and Brewster, S. (2024) The new NPQ. Special Educational Needs, Issue 129, pp.57-58

Richards, H. (2020) Support for SENCos. Special Educational Needs, Issue 108, pp. 108-109.

Richards, H. (2020) Knowing them best. Early Years Educator, 22(3) pp. 31-33.

Conferences

Richards, H. and Lundie, V. (2024) Exploring the experience of stakeholders in BCU’s Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) degree apprenticeship route. C-Space, BCU, July 2024

Richards, H., Brewster, S., Knowler, H. and Done, E. (2023) Professional development for SENCos (Special Educational Needs Coordinators): the future of an accredited National Award. European Educational Research Association (EERA) Glasgow University, August 2023.

Richards, H. (2022) Student experiential learning of Talking Mats©: supporting authentic voice and participation. British Educational Research Conference (BERA) Liverpool University. September 2022.

Richards, H. and Knowler, H. (2022) Researching collaborative professional practice in special educational needs, inclusion studies and educational studies: tight spots and trade-offs. School of Education Research Conference, University of Wolverhampton, June 2022.

Richards, H. (2022) Supporting authentic voice and participation. School of Education Research Conference, University of Wolverhampton, June 2022.

Richards, H. (2019) English Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators – perceptions of practice and potential, one individual presentation and one P.E.D. talk, EECERA Conference, Thessaloniki, August 2019.

Richards, H. (2018) SENCo Perceptions of Education and Health Care Plan implementation: practice and potential. British Educational Research Conference (BERA) Newcastle University. September 2018.

Richards, H. (2017) EHCP implementation - SENCo experience of communication, collaboration and commitment. University of Worcester, Institute of Education Conference, October 2018.

Richards, H. (2016) Formative what? An investigation of student understanding of the purpose and meaning of the language used in formative feedback. Teaching and Learning Conference, University of Worcester, June 2016.

Prowle, A., Stobbs, N. and Richards, H. (2016) EPiC - Engaging parents in children's talk, British Educational Research Conference (BERA), University of Leeds, September 2016.

Prowle, A., Stobbs, N and Richards, H (2016) Smethwick language enrichment project. Partnership Research Conference, University of Worcester, June 2016.

Richards, H. (2013) Enhancing student placement experience and learning. Enhancing Learning through Research and Practice Conference, University of Worcester, June 2013.