About Me.

I’m Elsa Torres, and I’ve spent over 25 years driving change for learners with additional learning needs and neurodivergent profiles. From classroom teaching and senior leadership to national consultancy, I’ve always been driven by one goal: to break down the barriers that prevent children and young people from thriving.

I founded Family Pathway because I believe in a person-centred system – one that puts the learner’s voice, rights, and needs at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s working with schools, local authorities, or families, I’m passionate about challenging systems that don’t work and finding solutions that do.
Right now, I’m a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Wales, where I teach all things inclusion – from the leadership and management of ALN/SEND to practical strategies that make a real difference in classrooms. I bring everything I’ve learned from practice into my teaching because it’s essential we equip future leaders with the skills and knowledge to build inclusive education systems.
I’m also a DfE expert in SEND, which means I contribute to shaping national strategies and ensuring that inclusion isn’t just talked about – it’s done properly. Over the years, I’ve worked on projects like behaviour partnerships, In-Year Fair Access panels, and person-centred coaching frameworks to shift mindsets and practices, making education work for every learner.

I hold an NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) and a Master’s in Childhood and Youth, and I’m a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. I was also awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship, where I travelled to Finland, Germany, and Brazil to deepen my understanding of diverse needs and how to build truly inclusive education systems. I later visited New York to explore and develop community cohesion models, with a focus on how joined-up working across education, health, and social care can maximise outcomes for young people.
Right now, I’m working on my Doctorate in Education, where I’m exploring how to create revenue-neutral, high-impact models of support for learners with complex needs.

Through Family Pathway, I’m here to keep pushing boundaries, to keep advocating, and to keep working towards a future where every learner’s potential is seen, valued, and celebrated.