ADHD Norfolk

26/02/2026

22/02/2026

Most people have never heard of ARFID — and that’s exactly why this needs sharing.

Awareness creates understanding. Understanding creates support.
Share this to help someone feel seen.

18/02/2026

NEXT WEEK!

Join our free online workshop, all about supporting your neurodivergent teens!

No need to book for this friendly and informal session.

Date: Wednesday 25th February
Time: 10am-11am

Zoom joining details:
Meeting ID: 921 5224 2796
Passcode: 372987

15/02/2026

The ‘Why’ Of Calm Cats?

My son💛

I knew from early on that my son experienced the world differently. As a baby he didn’t sleep unless rocked, he was REALLY alert, early with milestones, and very creative in exploring the environment! He was a happy baby. As a toddler he was always on the go, didn’t stop, was wildly curious, super cheeky, didn’t play with toys in the way they were intended and was VERY easily frustrated. But he was happy. He thrived at nursery with the play based curriculum, he was inquisitive, curious, confident and extended his learning at home. He loved exploring and he LOVED learning. He was very impulsive. He was happy. When he moved up to school. BAM! He slowly began to change. He began to have regular emotional outbursts at home after school. He cried at bedtime and said he didn’t want to go. His ‘behaviour’ was being tracked in class and at playtime. He was no longer happy. He was struggling. With the structure, the sitting, the being still, the authoritarian teaching style, the ‘not getting it right’, the functions of reading and writing. The un nurturing support.

It was heartbreaking to see the change in him and especially the level of dysregulation he experienced and had no understanding of or control over. I knew he needed some kind of intervention or support to help him. To help him begin to understand himself. To learn some regulation strategies. To build his confidence and self esteem back up. But I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for.

So I created it. Calm Cats. A therapeutic activity curriculum to help children learn about their body and their mind; to develop a toolbox of regulation strategies and to nurture positive emotional health and wellbeing so they can be happy and confident in who they are no matter how they experience the world.

So thank you, for being my inspiration not just for Calm Cats but for also pushing me to be a better person and a better parent. The parent that you NEED.

12/02/2026

EHCP Route

A request for a needs assessment can be made in various ways such as by using the available online forms: EHC needs assessment requests - How to submit your request - Norfolk County Council and also here EHC needs assessment requests - EHC needs assessment forms - Norfolk County Council

By email to csehcp@norfolk.gov.uk. State clearly that they are requesting an EHC needs assessment. Attach any supporting information they feel is relevant

By telephone on 0333 313 7165

In writing, to: Send and Inclusion, Lower Ground Floor, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH

11/02/2026

SECTION 19 – EDUCATION ACT 1996 EBSA children
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
This is the law - (what the LA they MUST do)

📜 Section 19, Education Act 1996 states:

“Each local authority shall make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school or otherwise than at school for children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them.”

That’s the legal duty.

There are no conditions, or time limits written into the Act. No “let’s wait and see how they go” !

The “15 days” and where it actually comes from

The 15 day rule is NOT written into Section 19 of the Education Act 1996. It comes from Department for Education statutory guidance. Local Authorities are expected to follow statutory guidance and must have regard to it when carrying out their duties. However, the legal duty itself sits in the Act.

📘 Ensuring a good education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs (2023 guidance page 7)

It says:

“There is no absolute legal deadline… However, as soon as it is clear that a child will be away from school for 15 days or more because of their health needs, the local authority should arrange suitable alternative provision. The 15 days may be consecutive or over the course of a school year.”

It also says:

“When a local authority arranges alternative education, that education should begin as soon as it is possible, and at the latest by the sixth day of the child’s absence from school.”

And here’s the bit they don’t like talking about:

📘 Working Together to Improve School Attendance (2024 – page 21 also guidance)

It says:

“to facilitate timely collaborative working across partners, all schools are also legally required to share information from their registers with the local authority. As a minimum this includes:

the full name and address of all pupils of compulsory school age who have been recorded with code I (illness) and who the school has reasonable grounds to believe will miss 15 days consecutively or cumulatively because of sickness. This is to help the school and local authority to agree any provision needed to ensure continuity of education for pupils who cannot attend because of health needs…”

So let’s be clear:

The LA cannot say:
• “We didn’t know.”
• “Nobody referred.”
• “We’re waiting for medical evidence.”

Once a Local Authority is aware that a child is not receiving suitable education due to illness, they cannot ignore their Section 19 duty.

Bottom line

Section 19 creates the legal duty.
Health Needs Guidance explains when provision should start. Attendance Guidance confirms schools must inform the LA.

None of it allows a child to sit at home without education even though we all know it happens!. 😡

Make a formal Section 19 request to the LA send team….

✔ Reference Section 19 Education Act 1996
✔ Reference page 7 of Health Needs Guidance (2023)
✔ Reference page 21 of Working Together (2024)
✔ Use I.P.S.E.A Template Letter 22 to send to the LA send team

I know the system doesn’t always follow the law or guidance, I also know it’s bloody exhausting. It took us eight months to secure alternative provision via multiple complaints, and our tribunal was listed the week after they finally agreed. 🫣

But you cannot advocate for what you don’t know exists. I’m just giving you the law so you know what to push for 😊

Keep your voice heard and keep pushing!.

This post is general information and not individual legal advice. As always, the law and guidance im quoting is linked in the comments

Leigh x