Sunshine Support

22/03/2026

SEND can feel like a never-ending list of questions…
⚖️ Can I appeal this EHCP?
🏫 What do I do if school won’t help?
🧠 Is this behaviour linked to anxiety or something more?

If your brain’s buzzing with “what now?” questions, we’ve got you.
Our next SEND Advice Clinic is on Tuesday 23rd April at 7pm, and it’s your chance to chat face-to-face with our expert consultants – legal, educational and everything in between.

🌟 Last month was fully booked, so don’t wait.
🎟️ Secure your place now:
https://forms.office.com/e/EPgg41LpaK

Not a member of the Sunshine Academy yet?
Join now for just £10.99/month:
www.sunshine-support.org/academy

21/03/2026

Quick poll. No overthinking allowed.

👉 Which one has won your Saturday night?
🛌 Early night
📺 Background TV
📱 Scrolling
😴 Falling asleep mid-sentence

Comment your choice and find your people in the comments.

21/03/2026

Not every workplace feels like this… ☀️

A team that laughs together.
Supports each other.
Shows up - not just professionally, but as people.

That’s what we’ve built at Sunshine Support.

But let’s be really clear…

This work matters.

Behind every meeting, every event, every case - there’s a family who needs us to get it right. So yes, we care deeply about our team… and we’re looking for people who are just as serious about making a difference.

We’re currently recruiting for:
✨ Part-time Events Planner
✨ SEND Consultants

If you’re values-led, passionate, and ready to be part of something that genuinely changes lives - we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Head to: www.sunshine-support.org/recruitment

21/03/2026

Some days you don’t want advice.
You just want to feel less alone.

Cuppa&Chat is not a workshop.
It’s not a webinar.
It’s not another thing to prepare for.

It’s a relaxed, supportive space to meet others who understand SEND life. Come as you are. Cameras on or off. Talk or don’t talk. All of it is okay.

Free sessions, online and in person, across England and Wales.

Save your spot here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/cuppachat-sessions-3847953

21/03/2026

We love this graphic. Because it’s true.
ADHD brings creativity, empathy, energy, passion and brilliance 🌈

But let’s also be honest.

Alongside the positives, ADHD can come with real struggles.
Emotional regulation. Sleep. Anxiety. School stress. Burnout.
And when you’re parenting a child with ADHD, it can feel exhausting, confusing and lonely at times.

That’s exactly why we run our ADHD webinar.

Not to “fix” ADHD.
But to help you understand it, support your child properly, work with their nervous system, and reduce the daily battles that wear families down.

If you’re celebrating your child’s strengths but also quietly worrying about how hard things feel, this webinar is for you.

🎟 Book your place here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1952719790459

You don’t have to figure this out on your own.

20/03/2026

We are really proud to announce Vicky Burford from PANS PANDAS UK as our guest speaker for this vital webinar on 12th May at 8pm 💛

Some children change overnight.
Sudden anxiety. Obsessions. Rage. Regression. School 'refusal'.
And families are left being told it is behavioural, emotional, or just a phase.

Vicky brings expert knowledge and deep understanding to a topic that is so often missed or dismissed. In this webinar, she will clearly and compassionately unpack PANS and PANDAS, helping parents, carers and professionals recognise the signs, understand what is happening in the body and brain, and navigate the long and often difficult road to recognition and support.

This session will cover:
• What PANS and PANDAS are and how they differ
• Signs and symptoms families notice first
• Why these conditions occur
• Common myths and misunderstandings
• How to seek diagnosis and recognition
• Accessing health, education and SEND support
• What the future can look like for affected children

There will be space for questions, discussion and reassurance throughout.
All attendees receive the slides, references, CPD certificate and access to the recording for 30 days.

If you have ever felt something was seriously wrong but could not get answers, this webinar matters.

🎟 Book your place here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pans-pandas-identification-impact-and-approaches-tickets-1980367676029

You are not imagining it. You are not alone. And help starts with understanding.

20/03/2026

Struggling. Overwhelmed. Unable to cope.

But the Local Authority insisted he could return. They said the support in place was enough. They held the line.

Meanwhile, mum was exhausted. Endless emails. Formal complaints. Chasing. Explaining. Repeating herself over and over again.

She knew her child was not refusing. He simply could not access the environment.

That is when our fabulous Jess Douglas stepped in.

We issued a Pre Action Protocol letter, clearly outlining the Local Authority’s legal duty under Section 19 to provide education when a child cannot attend school.

This week, they agreed.

A substantial interim package of tuition and therapeutic support is now in place.

No more arguing about whether he can cope.
No more pretending the struggle is behavioural.
Just education that meets him where he is.

It should never take this much effort to secure what the law already promises.

But tonight, this family can breathe a little easier.

Wishing everyone a gentle weekend ahead. If you ever need any help, message us.

20/03/2026

Chrissa went live to close Week of SEND… and it was an emosh moment!

Reflecting on the week, the breakthroughs, the messages from parents and professionals finally feeling clear on EHCPs, appeals, tribunals and what to do next… it got emotional. Because this is real life. These are real families, real children, real outcomes.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or like you’re constantly trying to piece things together, this will resonate with you.

Week of SEND meets you where you are and gives you the clarity to move forward.

You can still access everything on demand.

👉 Sign up here:
https://sunshineacademy.sunshine-support.org/course/week-of-send-26

20/03/2026

Week of SEND may be drawing to a close, but the impact of this week is only just beginning.

Over the past few days we have tackled some of the biggest questions parents and professionals are facing right now. The Schools White Paper. The reality of EHCP law. Annual reviews. Appeals and tribunals. SPOAs and referrals. The processes that so many people are trying to navigate without clear guidance.

What has stood out most is the power of clarity.

So many parents and teachers have left these sessions saying the same thing.
“Now I know what to do next.”

That is exactly why we created Week of SEND.

Hundreds of you joined us live and the conversations, questions and engagement have been incredible. A huge thank you to our brilliant consultants and the entire Sunshine Support team who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this happen.

The good news is that you have not missed it.

Week of SEND is now available on demand, so you can watch every session at a time that suits you and at a pace that works for you.

If you want the same clarity, confidence and practical understanding that so many parents and professionals have gained this week, you can still join us.

Sign up here:
https://sunshineacademy.sunshine-support.org/course/week-of-send-26

If you’re on instagram, comment “SEND” to get the link sent to your inbox!

20/03/2026

🌟 We have a vacancy for a Temporary Events Planner! 🌟

* This is a part-time, temporary vacancy with some evening work required *

Love bringing people together? Thrive on organising, hosting, and making things run smoothly? This one’s for you.

We’re looking for an experienced Events Planner to coordinate and host our online and in‑person training and community events. If you’re IT savvy, confident on Zoom, and brilliant with people, you will fit right in!

What you’ll be doing:
✨ Planning and organising events from start to finish
✨ Hosting sessions online and in person
✨ Working with speakers, partners, and our lovely community
✨ Supporting promotion with our marketing team
✨ Making every event feel seamless, warm, and memorable

What you’ll need:
✔️ 2–3 years’ events experience
✔️ Strong Eventbrite + Zoom skills
✔️ Confident with Microsoft Office
✔️ A genuine passion for creating meaningful, inclusive experiences

Read more and apply here!
https://sunshine-support.org/about-us/recruitment/

20/03/2026

This is the bit most parents are never taught, yet it is one of the most important parts of the whole EHCP process.

An EHCP or IDP is not just paperwork. It is a legal agreement. And the difference between vague wording and clear, specific wording can mean the difference between support existing on paper… or actually happening day to day.

If you have ever read a plan and thought:
• Who is actually meant to do this?
• When will this support happen?
• How often?
• Where?
• And who checks it is working?

You are not being difficult. You are doing exactly what the law expects.

At our How to Write Your EHCP Application Workshop on 27th March, we take all of this apart with you. We explain the language that protects your child, why the application stage matters so much, and how to make sure support is clear, measurable and enforceable.

This is a full day, in person at our Derby hub, surrounded by parents who get it and an expert team who will sit with you and help you move from stuck to confident. There are just a few tickets remaining.

If you have been putting this off because it feels overwhelming, this is your sign. Come and do it with support.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1914184279709

19/03/2026

"school avoidance is not about a lack of interest in learning. Many children who cannot attend school are curious, capable learners. The challenge lies not in their willingness, but in the environment that doesn’t yet feel safe or accessible to them."

Read more in our blog about School Avoidance, we hope you find it useful and validating...

https://sunshineacademy.sunshine-support.org/blog/school-avoidance-isnt-always-permanent-but-it-can-take-time

School Avoidance Awareness Week showed us: fear is real, learning is possible, and our team’s passion makes change happen.