About Me
Relational, strengths-based and neurodivergent-affirming training and consultancy.
I'm Justin Axon — a trainer, consultant and Senior Leader with twenty years' hands-on experience supporting children and young people with SEND and their families.
My career began in early years and out-of-school provision and has taken me through schools, post-16 settings and local authority teams, including Rochdale's Early Help and Children with Disabilities services. I combine frontline practice with senior leadership at Redwood School and independent consultancy through Justin Axon Training & Consultancy Ltd.
I also serve as a Trustee at YourTrust Rochdale, helping shape community services that promote wellbeing and opportunity.
Values & Ethos
Relational, strengths-based and neurodivergent-affirming. I prioritise emotional safety, collaboration and practical solutions that respect identity, autonomy and lived experience rather than box-ticking.
What Guides My Work
Wherever people interact — in classrooms, homes, workplaces, public spaces or high-pressure environments — I help teams build confidence, understanding and emotionally safe practice.
Strengths-based practice
Seeing the whole person, not the difficulty.
Neurodivergent-affirming approaches
Supporting identity, autonomy and communication.
Trauma-informed thinking
Prioritising emotional safety and connection.
Practical strategies
Tools your team can use immediately.
Inclusive communication
Accessible, clear and grounded in empathy.
Collaboration
Working alongside teams, families and multi-agency partners.
How I Work
Everything I deliver is tailored to your sector, your challenges and your people. Sessions are interactive and accessible, designed for mixed-experience groups and focused on practical approaches staff can use straight away.
Consultancy and leadership support help organisations embed long-term, sustainable change rather than offering one-off fixes.
My style is warm and collaborative: I listen first, build on strengths, and co-produce solutions with teams and families.
“I help teams feel confident so everyday interactions become safer, calmer and more meaningful.”
Full Bio
I started my career on the floor of early years settings and in community activity provision, learning how small changes in adult responses can transform a child's day. Over two decades I've worked in nurseries, schools, post-16 settings and within local authority teams, gaining a practical understanding of how systems, teams and families intersect.
As a Senior Leader at Redwood School I lead multi-site teams, develop inclusive practice and build community partnerships. Through my consultancy I bring that experience into schools, public services and organisations, delivering training and support that is realistic for busy professionals.
I value collaboration, accessibility and emotional safety, and I refuse to deliver one-size-fits-all solutions.