Breathing Space Honley

11/09/2025

How fantastic!

10/09/2025

Great suggestions. Asking about their day can be stressful for some children.

The way we greet children after school sets the tone for the whole afternoon

After holding it together all day, they need calm connection, not a flood of questions.

Here are some simple do’s and don’ts to make pick-up smoother for everyone.

OUR TOPIC for 14 days is AFTER SCHOOL RESTRAINT COLLAPSE
NOW AVAILABLE - only £3.25 until 15 September 2025.
Introducing the After School Restraint Collapse Toolkit for Parents & Educators - link in comments.

03/09/2025

Some helpful tips to get through these early days back at school

Evenings set the tone for the next day

Simple, consistent routines help children wind down, feel secure, and get the rest they need for a smoother school morning.

Here are 6 tips to make evenings calmer and more predictable.

02/09/2025

If your child can hold it together in school but then has a meltdown at home, you might need this:

😮 “They’re just being naughty.”
🤔 “They’re doing it for attention.”
🙅 “They should know better by now.”

When a child comes home from school and falls apart, it’s easy for these myths to creep in. But the reality? After-school restraint collapse is a release of everything they’ve been holding inside all day.

It’s not misbehaviour — it’s communication.

NOW AVAILABLE - only £3.25 until 15 September 2025.
Introducing the After School Restraint Collapse Toolkit for Parents & Educators
Electronic download available at https://thecontentedchild.co.uk/product/after-school-restraint-collapse-the-toolkit-for-parents-educators/

02/09/2025

For those who find school impossible, we see you! 🤗

For the bravest children that you will never meet in the playground….

While everyone celebrates their kids heading back to school, sharing pictures of their first week (which is lovely to see), this week I’m holding space for the THOUSANDS of children and teens who can’t walk through those doors.

Let’s hold space this week for…

•The child who can’t attend because anxiety twists their stomach and makes them feel sick, manifesting physically and mentally through panic attacks, insomnia, and sheer dread of school.

•The child overwhelmed by sensory overload, the every bell, shout, crowded corridor, and bright light sending their body into fight or flight

•The child screaming at the school gate, arms clinging to their parent, terrified and desperate to stay home

•The child stuck in limbo with an inappropriate school in their EHCP, waiting over a year while appeals drag on.

•The child desperate to be in school but kept home by unknown SEN/EBSA, longing to be with friends

•The child permanently excluded for behaviours that were really signs of unmet need, punished for being themselves.

•The child waiting years for an assessment before school will acknowledge their needs (unlawful).

•The child masking all day, only to collapse into meltdowns when they get home.

•To the teens longing for connection and learning, blocked by invisible barriers they can’t quiteexplain.

•To the teens left without any school, simply because no setting can support them properly.

•To the Teens with severely low attendance due to poor mental health, navigating pain no one can see.

•To the parents/ carers who have lost jobs, giving everything to support their children through this

•To the parents and carers who turned to home education, feeling it was the only way to protect their child and prevent them from being penalised.

•To the Parents accused of “mollycoddling” for protecting the one they love.

• To the kids who are unable to attend school due to major health issues

These persistently absent children and teens are also incredibly brave and they are deserving of everything! I’ve witnessed this both professionally, and with my own child.

Bridget Phillipson, regarding your attendance comments, perhaps try sitting with the parents living this reality before you dare to pass judgment!

Leigh
X

02/09/2025

An amusing take on supporting your little ones starting school (and as a former Early Years professional I'd agree with pretty much all of it!) Good luck! ❤

In previous Septembers, I've had a kid starting Reception. So here's a bit of advice for new school parents letting go of their kids for the first time this week:

1. If they look like Oliver Twist with a hangover when you pick them up, that's pretty standard.

2. If there's a naughty, undesirable kid in the class whose parents look capable of causing Grievous Bodily Harm to someone at the drop of a hat, it's inevitable your child will become their best friend.

3. Any future homework will become available on an app that's almost as impossible to navigate as it is to log into.

4. Label EVERYTHING.

5. Phonics will briefly take over your life.

6. Don't pack them too nice a snack in their bag early doors. Trust me - you're only f**king over your future self.

7. You'll go to a lot of 5th Birthday parties. They'll start off pretty tame, softplay etc. But they'll slowly become more lavish as the academic year progresses as parents subconsciously seek to eclipse the previous ones. By July, you'll probably be sipping on a Mojito, watching your kid riding a rollercoaster in someone's back garden, whilst Andy from CBeebies serenades the parents wearing nothing but a guitar.

8. Despite your over eager questioning, they tell you somewhere between jacks**t and f**k all about their day.

9. The school day is wayyyy shorter than you imagine. Sometimes, on a day off, all you'd have accomplished is an episode of Homes Under the Hammer, some lunch and a decent s**t before it's time to pick them up.

10. Don't be too concerned their naughty side might reveal itself in school. They inexplicably become little angels when they walk through those gates. They save their proper bellend stuff for when they get home 👍

11. After this first drop-off and pick-up, there's only 2,658 more to go until you're done... 😖

12. Kids names are different nowadays. They won't become best mates with any Petes or Lauras. No, no. Their new little class will be full of Spixmoons, Ada-Pinkys and Æ7Ļž//% ...

13. Don't feel guilty about putting them is some wrap-around care. They love that s**t. Mine often whinge when I pick them up early!

14. Mrs SecretDadLad insists on drawing a little heart on their hand on their first day so, if they get a bit sad, they can look at it to remind them we love them . ❤

15. No matter how anxious/worried you are about watching them trott into school for the first time, believe me, they'll be fine. They're being cared for by experienced, nurturing professionals. Despite some reservations, our two absolutely thrived when they went to school - and yours will too.

They're ready, even if you're not.

And lets be honest, all they basically do in Reception is colour in, ask to go to the toilet a million times and dick about with their mates all day - it sounds f**king gloroius...

🏫 👨‍🎓😥👌

01/09/2025

If your child is anxious about going back to school, here are some things you can do to support them and encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling.

27/08/2025

Institute of Child Psychology have some great tips for helping your child back to school:
Check out their video on https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/anxietybacktoschool/?mc_cid=269837dfdc&mc_eid=932291b2da
Top tips:
1. Re-establish Routines

Sleep Schedule: Start adjusting bedtime and wake-up time gradually to match the school schedule. Consistent sleep is key to ensuring they're well-rested.

Morning Routine: Practice morning routines a week before school starts, including breakfast, getting dressed, and packing up.

2. Get Organized

Involve your child in picking out school supplies. This helps them feel excited and prepared.

3. Address Anxiety

Talk About School: Discuss what your child is excited or nervous about regarding school. Address any fears and reassure them.

Visit the School: If possible, visit the school or classroom beforehand, especially if it's a new environment. Meeting the teacher or walking through the school can alleviate some of the unknowns.

5. Involve Your Child

Set Goals: Encourage your child to set personal goals for the school year, whether academic, social, or extracurricular.

Choice Involvement: Let them choose their outfits, lunch options, or after-school activities. Feeling a sense of control can reduce anxiety.

6. Plan for Socialization

Reconnect with Friends: Arrange playdates with school friends or encourage your child to reach out to classmates before school starts.

Role-Playing: If your child is anxious about social interactions, role-play common school scenarios, such as introducing themselves or joining a group.

8. Optimistic Attitude

Build Positive Anticipation: Show enthusiasm about the upcoming school year. Your attitude can influence how your child feels.

Celebrate Milestones: Make the first day of school special with a celebratory breakfast or a little note in their lunchbox.

21/08/2025

21/08/2025

Congratulations to all those getting GCSE results today - you have survived the trickiest 5 years of education ever!

Advice for navigating :

It’s normal to feel nervous. Remember to take a breath, lean on friends and family, and give yourself time to think before making decisions.

Your results don’t define you; there are always options and people ready to support you.

More tips and advice 👉 https://www.bps.org.uk/news/getting-your-gcse-results-thursday-here-are-your-top-tips-get-you-through-day-according-bps

18/08/2025

Interesting, what do you think? is there anything else you would add?

Some things are too heavy for kids to carry — and they shouldn’t have to.
Your child needs security, not stress. Safety, not secrets.

Let them have the gift of being a kid.

✨ What we don’t share with our kids can shape them just as much as what we do. ✨

18/08/2025

Really interesting study, please read especially if you have an anxious child. ❤