Sendac - Cumbria Parent Carer Forum

21/10/2025

02/10/2025

‘The world sees grades, smiles, and success
but the cost is hidden, and the pain is endless.
Fight for ordinary, fight for care,
So children like me can finally be there’

01/10/2025

24/09/2025

A feeling that parents of children with SEND are all too familiar with 💙😩

The hardest part isn’t getting them into school.

It’s knowing if you even should.

𝐄𝐁𝐒𝐀 (𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞) isn’t about a child being “defiant” or “choosing” not to attend. It’s about a nervous system overwhelmed by fear, anxiety, sensory overload or trauma. For many, the school environment itself becomes unsafe.

And here lies the moral dilemma so many parents face:
➡️ We’re told to push harder
➡️ We’re threatened with fines or prosecutions
➡️ Services sometimes step in with interventions that feel like pressure rather than support
➡️ In the most extreme cases, families are even threatened with child protection involvement

All of this while our gut tells us: 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝.

So we’re stuck.

Forced to choose between following orders from a system that doesn’t see the reality - or protecting our child from further harm.

That conflict eats away at parents.

It’s not neglect.
It’s not permissiveness.
It’s survival parenting, in a system that too often refuses to bend.

💭 Have you faced this dilemma? How did you navigate the moment when school no longer felt like the right place?

I have a free guide on EBSA on my website, as well as a new book coming out next year, just drop the word 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 to sign up for the guide and to find out more.

22/09/2025

REMINDER- HAPPENING TOMORROW❗️
still time to sign up! ⏰ ⭐

22/09/2025

🍎🥯🥞🧃🍽️🪁🛼🎨⌛️💊➡️🔠

Visuals are amazing for so many things!

Remembering things, for understanding, for processing, for communicating, to help break down steps, to reduce demand, to help transitions 🧠

This morning, while we were in the kitchen, my non verbal son went straight to the fridge where I had just put up the new food pictures. 🥰 He carefully looked at each one, then pointed right at the yogurt picture. I asked, “Do you want yogurt?” and he gave me the biggest smile and clapped his hands with excitement! 💛 Moments like these remind me how powerful visuals can be, and how they give him a beautiful way to share what he wants. My heart is so full.

16/09/2025

Shouting this from the rooftops 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

15/09/2025

09/09/2025

🌍 Awareness of FASD is growing… but still not nearly enough.

❌ A common myth is that only heavy drinking during pregnancy causes FASD.

✅ The truth is: NHS and the UK Chief Medical Officers are clear —

“The safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all while you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.”

This advice exists because there is no proven safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy. 🍷🚫🤰

Early identification of FASD is vital so children and young people can get the right support. Sadly, too often, professionals such as practitioners, teachers, and school staff are unaware of the key signs and symptoms.

🔎 Misdiagnosis or very late recognition is common. Studies show that many people who eventually receive an FASD diagnosis were first given alternative neurodevelopmental diagnoses.

👉 Raising awareness, challenging myths, and promoting early understanding is key to changing outcomes for children, families, and communities. 💙

06/09/2025

“Your children can explore a range of sensory play activities as well as you having the opportunity to speak to our experienced SEND workers who can offer arrange of support and advice.”

For children 0-5 years with additional needs and their families.

Find a session near you 🌍

◾Harraby Community Centre (Whale of a Time Soft Play)- Starting 9 September 11.00am- 12.00pm

◾Family Hub on the Harbour- Starting 10 September 1.30-2.30pm

◾Wigton Family Hub- Starting 18 September 1.30-2.30pm

🥰Time Together🥰

Time together is a FREE support group for children with additional needs and their families. Your children can explore a range of sensory play activities as well as you having the opportunity to speak to our experienced SEND workers who can offer arrange of support and advice.
For children 0-5 years with additional needs and their families. (Term time only)

Find a session near you 📍
◾Harraby Community Centre (Whale of a Time Soft Play)- Starting 9 September 11.00am- 12.00pm
◾Family Hub on the Harbour- Starting 10 September 1.30-2.30pm
◾Wigton Family Hub- Starting 18 September 1.30-2.30pm

24/06/2025

Cumberland OFSTED SEND Inspection!!!! PARENT CARER SURVEY OUT NOW! for all parents who have a child/ young person with additional needs age 0-25 living in Cumberland.

❗️DEADLINE to complete the survey: 1st July at 9:00 am! ❗️

SURVEY LINK: https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/p/AreaSend/10364961

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be visiting Cumberland between the 7th to 11th July 2025 to inspect ALL services available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

🕵🏼The inspectors want to hear from parents, carers, and young people about whether local services are meeting the needs of children with special educational needs/ disabilities and their families in the area. as well as, their overall experiences of services—whether positive or negative. for example:

✅ Education – How well schools and settings support children with SEND, the EHCP process, the system as a whole etc.

✅ Health Services – Access to therapies, sensory processing support, CAMHS, speech and language, diagnosis processes and other health provisions

✅ Social Care Support – Short breaks, respite care, direct payments and family support

✅ Post-16 Support – Transition to adulthood and options available to your child.

This is an important opportunity to share your views, as responses will contribute to the inspection findings.

The more surveys responses the better! The LA and NHS get to have multiple meetings to let them know how things are going from their point of view. However, parents don't get as much of a say and the survey is one of the main ways you can do that!

SENDAC will also be submitting all evidence provided by parents, including insights from the annual SEND survey completed in November.📊

SENDAC will be part of the SEND inspection and will be meeting with inspectors also, giving parent carer feedback we have received, including results from our ANNUAL SEND survey! 🫱🏼‍🫲🏻📝

Why should you take part?

The more parents that respond, the clearer the picture inspectors will have of the support available in the area. If too few people share their experiences, valuable feedback may not be fully considered.

👉 Fill out the survey now to ensure your voice is heard! https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/p/AreaSend/10364961