Welcome

I’m Sylvia Edwards, Author, Educator and Storyteller, Lancashire‑born and now based in Salford. I began my teaching career at thirty‑two after earlier roles including work in the Civil Service. Starting later in life gave me a deep appreciation for the privilege of working with children, young people, colleagues and families. From the beginning, I felt a strong pull towards improving the educational experiences of learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). That passion shaped my entire professional life.

My Career in SEND and Education

Over several decades, I worked as a teacher, deputy head and specialist leader in SEND. I supported children with learning difficulties and disabilities and collaborated closely with parents and practitioners. During this time, I became an established educational author, publishing twenty‑four books on SEND, literacy and inclusion. My writing has always aimed to strengthen the partnership between home and school and to help children who learn differently achieve the success they deserve.

My five‑book series, Parents: Help Your Child Succeed, encourages families to play an active role in their child’s learning — from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stages 3 and 4. I have always believed that parents are the missing link. When schools and families work together, children thrive.

As part of the research for the latest edition of The SENCO Survival Guide (2022), I spent time observing and supporting pupils and staff across primary, secondary and college settings in Greater Manchester.

More recently, I have enjoyed volunteering with a secondary school’s reading development programme. My most recent educational publication, *A Simple View of Reading*, has already been introduced in several Lancashire schools, and an expanded version is now available. — ##

My Work as a Historical Fiction Author

Now retired from my SEND work, I have turned my creative energy toward a lifelong passion: writing fiction that explores the emotional undercurrents of the past. I am the author of A Lie Never Dies (Shortlisted for the Catherine Cookson Fiction Prize) and Love, Lies… and Loss, the first two novels in my Legacy of Deceit series.

These stories are set against the shifting social landscapes of Edwardian England and the turmoil of the First World War. They weave together secrets, adversity and the quiet strength of women navigating worlds that often underestimated them.

Drawing on my instinct for empathy and my fascination with human motivation, I create characters whose struggles and triumphs feel both intimate and universal. I am currently completing the third novel in the Legacy of Deceit trilogy, continuing the journey through love, betrayal and the legacies families leave behind.

When I am not writing, I enjoy the quieter rhythms of retirement, though my imagination rarely rests. I am always searching for the next thread of history waiting to be unravelled.

Welcome to My Work

Whether you are here for educational insight or historical fiction, I hope you will explore both sides of my writing life. You will find educational books and resources for teachers, parents and SEND practitioners, as well as novels for readers who enjoy rich characters, emotional depth and compelling storytelling. Thank you for visiting and for joining in my passion for reading, learning, experiences and the stories that shape us all.

Kind regards, Sylvia

 

 

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