Breathing Space Honley

21/02/2026

I haven’t felt able to sketch for a long time.

But as the madness continues to unfold ..

And as the White Paper will inevitably drop on Monday ..

And as my MP decided to scrap a pre-arranged meeting next week (because they clearly knew the White Paper was coming and clearly *don’t want to talk about it*!!)

Well, it got me thinking about the Levers of Power.

The System may *think* it holds all the power.
The Govt may *think* it holds all the power ..
But it does not.

And I want every parent to remember that as we head into whatever uncharted territory next week’s White Paper brings.

Labour MPs - and especially those with a slim majority - are going to be running scared of every single one of us.

Because they know.

They KNOW that punching down at and and their families is WRONG.

They KNOW that even a suggestion of removing rights SEND kids already have under the law, is WRONG.

But Bridget and her team of sycophants are
STILL.
Not.
Seeing.
It.

Because they have, once again, looked where the light’s best, and only came up with one answer: “We must make this about money.”

Which is, and always has been, the WRONG answer.

So whatever this White Paper brings, we are ready.
As parents, as families, we hold our own power.
Never forget that.

💪❤️💪

** “We Are Not Seeing It: How & Why Mainstream Schools Break SEND Kids” by Luisa Gray / is on Amazon, Kindle & Audible: https://amzn.eu/d/09yYaFBv **



Original artwork (c) The Long Road/LongRoadSENDMum. All rights reserved.

21/02/2026

Comment STAR 👇 to download 25 Magical Tricks to Make Your Child Feel Like a Star.
✅ Increase their confidence and self-esteem.
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Comment👇 STAR to download it

19/02/2026

Here’s what we don’t talk about enough…
What happens after the argument matters most.
Every conflict either builds distance — or emotional smarts.

If you’ve ever wondered,
“How do I fix this the right way?”
This is for you. 👇

Comment RYR 👇 to download our NEWEST parenting guide: How to repair your relationship with your child after a conflict

With this guide, you will:
👉 Learn exactly what to say (and what to avoid) after a tough moment.
👉 Model healthy conflict repair so your child learns how to apologize and reconnect.
👉 Strengthen your relationship in a way that builds long-term confidence and emotional smarts.

Comment RYR 👇 to get the printable now!

29/01/2026

*sigh🤬

🎉 Breaking News: Earlier Help for Children with Additional Needs!

(According to the graphic. Now for the small print.)

Alright. Let’s assume the leaks are real.
Let’s assume the SEND White Paper lands tomorrow morning.

Here’s what that would actually mean for SEND families across England. 👇

🧩 If your child already has an Education, Health and Care Plan
It would be “reviewed under the new framework”.

Which is policy-speak for:
support gently reduced, therapies rebranded as “strategies”, and legal rights politely shown the door.

Nothing taken away.
Just… optimised.

📉 If your child is mid-assessment or about to apply

You’d be told they no longer meet the new threshold.

Not because their needs changed.
Because the threshold found Jesus and ascended.

Plans become rare.
Hope becomes school-led.

🏫 If your child’s needs are neurodivergent, hidden or ‘moderate’

Autism. ADHD. Dyslexia. Mental health. Sensory needs.

Support will absolutely exist.

✨️Spiritually.✨️

Legally? Not so much.

💔 If you’ve spent years battling for provision

Good news! The battle is being streamlined.

🫠By removing the tools you used to win it.

📦 If you can afford private help
Congratulations, you now live in the functional SEND system.

📉 If you can’t. Welcome to resilience.

(Formerly known as unmet need.)

---

And the bit missing from the cheerful announcement:

This isn’t about improving support.
It’s about improving the balance sheet.

Fewer Education, Health and Care Plans.
Fewer appeals.
Less obligation.

Same children. Lower cost.

✨ Reform ✨

---

Families aren’t scared of change.
They’re scared because every “efficiency” in SEND history has meant:

• higher thresholds
• thinner support
• longer waits
• more children disappearing between systems

---

SEND reform should mean better help.

Not fewer rights with a press release.

Because when you remove legal protection from disabled children,
you don’t create flexibility.

You create abandonment.

14/01/2026

January self-care tips 🫶

This brilliant illustration by Positively Present is full of simple self-care ideas to try this month.

08/01/2026

21/12/2025

The brighter days are on their way.

14/12/2025

🎁 Looking for a meaningful gift for a child or teen?
Here are a few of my absolute favourites — books that truly support emotional wellbeing, confidence, and understanding 💛✨
📘 For children & teens:
The Big Life Journal (Alexandra Eidens) or You are Awesome (Matthew Syed)are both brilliant options. They encourage a growth mindset and the first one comes in several age-appropriate versions. They are fun, practical, and help young people build resilience in a really empowering way. 🌱💪
👨‍👩‍👧 For parents & carers:
Two books I recommend again and again:
💛 There’s Still No Such Thing as Naughty — Kate Silverton
💛 The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read — Philippa Perry
Both are compassionate, insightful, and genuinely transformative.
👧👦 For parents of tweens & teens:
13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do by Amy Morin offers great guidance for supporting young people through tricky stages with calm, clarity and confidence. 🌟
🌈 For families with children who have additional needs:
We Are Not Seeing It by Luisa Grey is quickly becoming essential reading. It’s validating, practical and incredibly helpful — whether your child has a diagnosis or you simply suspect they might need extra support.
I hope this gives you some inspiration for Christmas stockings, birthdays, or “just because” gifts. 🎄📚💫
If you’d like to chat about any of these or need personalised recommendations, please feel free to get in touch — I’m always happy to help 💬💖

11/12/2025

Happy Christmas Jumper day 2025, we are joining in and making a donation to Save the Children which does such amazing work all around the world.

10/12/2025

One of the tools we love using at Space is the Feelings Wheel 🎡💛
Helping children build a rich emotional vocabulary isn’t just a “nice to have” — research shows that young people who can name their feelings are better able to understand, express, and manage them. 🌈🧠
When kids have the words, they’re no longer overwhelmed by the “big blur” of emotions. Instead, they can say:
“I’m frustrated,” “I’m nervous,” “I’m excited,” or “I’m hurt”… and that’s where real emotional growth begins. 🌱✨
If you know a child or teen who might benefit from strengthening these skills, feel free to use the resource below — or reach out. We’re always here to support your young person’s emotional wellbeing. 💬💛

10/12/2025

Don't forget to look after yourself!

Important 👇💙

Teachers and education staff are caring and conscientious, so it can be easy to end up saying yes to every request.

Read our resource for tips on setting boundaries in schools: https://ow.ly/sGgw50XFBAV

📸 IG: BlessingManifesting