School Attendance Difficulties in a Post-COVID World
As we enter into a new year we are encouraged to reflect upon the past, both the good and the bad. If we should take anything from the last 3 years, it’s that we must be resilient when facing new challenges. For us as SEND Parents, this is second nature. School Attendance Difficulties are commonplace […]
Choosing a Provision for your Child with SEND
As an ex-Head of School of at a specialist SEND provision, I’ve been lucky enough to be a small part of the educational journey for hundreds of families seeking the right setting for their child or children. The weight of choosing a school for a child with special educational needs and disabilities cannot be underestimated. […]
Preparing your Child for the Return to School
The return to school often triggers big emotions… Not just in children but adults too; both caregivers and the teachers. How can we better prepare so it’s a more positive experience for our children? Step one: UNDERSTAND YOURSELF In order to help our children, we first need to look at ourselves; for an anxious adult […]
SEND Support at University – What’s available?
Every student deserves the right to accessible and fair higher education, but not all students receive it. However, most students with a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, or disability will qualify for funding which can support their studies. Gaining the right support can be a life changing experience for any young person wanting to […]
My Family Survived 3 Allegations of FII
It was recently brought to my attention that the first FII Awareness Week was launchingand I remember instantly feeling relieved that public awareness is being brought to this very serious, common and hidden issue. Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) is the term used for when a parent or caregiver of someone, most commonly a child, […]
FII CASES – My Personal Experience in the Family Courts
Despite the expectation that Family Court should be ‘inquisitorial’ – with an expert agreed by all parties and acting for the Court, the system is often experienced as adversarial, and for me that has meant presenting as an expert witness has been in some cases a truly unpleasant experience. When I am instructed in Family […]
Our Mission – FII AWARENESS WEEK 2022
During the first week in May we are holding the world’s first ever FII Awareness Week. FII is the abbreviated term for ‘Fabricated or Induced Illness’ which is a term given to parents by professionals when they believe that they are ‘making up’ or ‘exaggerating’ their child’s difficulties; often with no formal evidence. The term […]
Survivors of FII – Your Personal Experiences with Accusations of Fabricated or Induced Illness
The stories below have been submitted by families who have been accused of Fabricated or Induced Illness. They are not intended to scaremonger but to highlight the trauma these individuals and families have gone through. (All submissions are anonymous). Thank you to everybody who shared their story.. STORY ONE “I was recently told by a […]
What is a Specific Learning Difficulty?
There are so many terms used these days, it all gets a little bit confusing. I wouldn’t know where to begin with half of them but as a person with AD(H)D I know a fair amount about SpLDs (Specific Learning Difficulties as AD(H)D is classed as one. Having a SpLD may seem like just another […]
5 Positives of Dyslexia, that often go unsaid!
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty or disability, that is the clinical/diagnostic definition at least. The condition certainly comes with some learning challenges or differences, but there are positives that often go unappreciated… 1. A Deep Connection to Empathy There are two leading theories that explore why high levels of empathy are common in those with […]
