Support for SEND

14/04/2026

12/04/2026

WHEN proposed SEND reforms would begin to take place.
HOW proposed SEND reforms would change what is currently in place.

Credit to SEND Rights Alliance - Rachel Filmer for creating the SENDRA visual and for sharing DfE documents for parent carer benefit.

10/04/2026

Ah! So Brandolini's Law explains why so many SEND parents and carers are particuarly knackered, at present - because The Education Secretary (SEND proposals in hand) is 'Steve'!

10/04/2026

I complain about having no down time, but the second I sit down and have a little FB scroll, I can't leave naive comments like this without composing a (polite - always polite) reply...

- TA on a post about negative changes in children's behaviour in schools...

A blanket statement of, "The behaviour starts at home."

- My (I can't leave this) reply...

"There's always somebody really quick to parent blame.

Yes, there will be some poor parents out there (who need support to help raise their children); however, to state that all parents are to blame is incredibly naive, as this attitude ignores the multitude of factors that play a part in changes to children's behaviour, over time.

Austerity (for years) plays a huge part (increased poverty, funding cuts to children and families' services, funding cuts to early years and schools, funding cuts to mental health services, etc.)

An outdated and narrow curriculum (with massively high expectations for both children and staff) plays a huge part.

Lack of understanding and provision for children with SEND plays a huge part.

And, general societal changes (ie parents working more, no 'village' to bring up children anymore and increased use/reliance on technology) play a huge part."

I could have continued; however, for about the fifth time this week, my strong sense of social justice had already caused my tea to go cold and for me to be 'needed' before even having 'a break' 🫣.

09/04/2026

I'm not particularly a fan of arcades but today I sucked that up to spend some quality time with one of my children in their favourite places - the arcade, in Scarborough.

And we talked more on the car ride - even broaching some of the differences that we have been butting heads over, lately (!!!) - than we probably have at home, in the last week! 💜

Yeah, my house still needs attention - today was supposed to be my cleaning day - and that teeny tiny, plastic, black and white panda may have cost me over £10, in 2ps - but today was much needed, and much enjoyed. 💛

07/04/2026

I have been called 'too soft' before - always by people who achieve compliance through 'force'.

Forced compliance - however - does not build understanding, connection and trust.

And forced compliance does not earn respect.

07/04/2026

I haven't deliberately meant to; however, I have been lax, of late, in sharing the Makaton sign of the week - which I will be getting back on top of - and, as a consequence, lax in sharing with new followers that I am also a fully qualified Makaton Tutor, licensed to provide all standardised Makaton Workshops!

If I can support your setting or work place to become more inclusive, please get in touch!

07/04/2026

05/04/2026

If you work in a toxic work environment and you and your colleagues continue to fill in the anonymous staff survey every time it is presented - in the desperate hope that honest feedback will promote positive change in your workplace - but it never does - and so you suspect your surveys are, either, always just binned or, worse, doctored, in some way - this will likely resonate with you, as well as boil your blood, in a similar manner...

The government recently conducted a national conversation regards how to fix the broken SEND system.
Attendees to conversation events - however - reported that the principles of the conversation were already set out by the government, and unrelated questions and comments were unwelcome.
So not really a 'converstaion', at all!

The government then produced SEND reform proposals based on the outcomes of the 'conversation', and they opened up a twelve week consultation period for the nation to have their say on the proposals.
What they didn't tell the nation, though, was that some of the reforms had already been decided on - so views and opinions on those reforms wouldn't even count.
So not really a proper 'consultation', at all!

And, finally, where members of society know they can contact their local MP with different issues and concerns; those contacting their MPs with concerns about the proposed SEND reforms have been told by certain MPs that the government have actually issued them with 'written suggestions' about what they would like to hear as feedback.
So talk about filtering!

And there's us thinking we live in a democracy with a freedom of speech!🤦🏼‍♀️

If you would like to find out more about how concerned voices are being 'edited', see Measure what Matters or follow the links to articles below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EauMJY1L3/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LefpzQ1u8/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14barqGqH8R/

03/04/2026

If, like myself, you have multiple autistic children who are so different from each other that when they interact they, typically, trigger each other - I'm sending love today! 💜

Parenting isn't easy. Parenting an autistic child/children certainly isn't easy. And parenting autistic children, whose needs are chalk and cheese, DEFINITELY isn't easy!💛

In the coming days, I'll share ways in which we try to navigate family life based around such differences; however, today, I'm just sending solidarity, if you, too, walk this tight rope!💜

31/03/2026

This morning, I bumped into the parent of two autistic pupils that I used to support, and the parent, very proudly, told me how well her, now, [very] adult, children were doing.💜

This was really wonderful to hear and our conversation certainly made me look back on some very, very fond memories.💛

In fact, supporting these particular children - when I was much younger - is when my passion for supporting individuals with SEND, first developed.💜

The only negative part of the morning was when my own children calculated just how many years ago I had worked with these children and the answer was nearly 20! 🫣