Celebrating 6 Years of Sunshine Support: Empowering Families and Advocating for Special Educational Needs
What began as a passionate endeavour to support, educate, and advocate for parents and professionals in the field of special educational needs has blossomed into a remarkable journey filled with achievements, resilience, and hope
Seclusion and Isolation: Is it Breaking Fundamental Human Rights Laws?
We hear, too often, about children being locked in rooms and told they ‘must stay’ in buildings as a form of control or punishment, many schools are now securing each door with magnetic locks so children can’t freely leave. But, we ask, how lawful is this practice?
Embracing Visual Learning to Improve Inclusivity
Imagine a classroom where every student’s unique way of understanding is not only acknowledged, but celebrated. Visual communication methods are a brilliant way to achieve just that. From printed visuals to sign language and Makaton, these methods offer a spectrum of possibilities that benefit not only those with communication differences or special educational needs but every single child in your class.
Toileting and Continence Development Challenges: A Compassionate Guide for Parents
As parents, we embark on a remarkable journey filled with countless highs and lows no matter the needs of our child. Each milestone our child achieves brings joy and pride, but it’s the moments of struggle that truly make us doubt ourselves as parents. One such challenge that many parents face is supporting their child through toileting and continence development difficulties. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please know that you’re not alone. There is support available, and we hope to give you some hope in this article…
PDA & FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness)
As I glance at pictures of my beautiful daughter in her younger years I fantasise about what could have been… What should have been. We had a glorious relationship; “you and me against the world” we would say.
Selective Mutism & Demand Avoidance
I am absolutely convinced that H’s Selective Mutism is related to stress and demand avoidance. I think that the most important thing we have learned is that none of the difficulties are due to a conscious choice, they are all stress/anxiety based and all of that stress/anxiety is caused by a lack of support in school settings, misunderstanding of autism, the way H processes the world and their perception of when they need to be anxious.
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, […]
