Spectrum SEN Services

23/02/2026

My views on the proposed SEND reforms

Today has been a busy day, not least because I’ve started wading through all 100+ pages of the white paper published today regarding SEND reforms.

I know many of you will have been following the media reports about the proposed changes, and they’ve understandably caused concern. I’ve already had conversations with worried parents. I've not digested every word as yet but here is a snapshot of my findings and thoughts thus far.

From what I’ve read so far, yes, there are quite a few changes ahead. However, some of the rumours circulating before publication, such as removing the entire right to tribunal, have not materialised, which is at least a little reassuring. However there appears to be a lot of focus on attendance and passing tests and little regarding the theraputic provision needed to help children thrive, feel accepted and prevent burnout etc.

Some of the proposals do feel like recycled ideas from pre - 2014 when we had School Action, School Action Plus and Statements and as is typical with reforms of any kind, the paper suggests these changes will improve the system, make it fairer, and provide earlier support that isn’t dependent on a postcode lottery.

My more sceptical side wonders whether this is also about cost-saving and shifting accountability and responsibility from local authorities to schools — schools that are already underfunded, short on space, and staffed by professionals who often lack sufficient time, resources, and training to provide what the children need even if they want to. This is not about schools or teacher bashing, but more about how can they be expected to provide the level of support and understanding needed for all diagnoses and wide ranging needs, whether they are deemed complex on paper on or not!.

The paper does propose the introduction of national SEND standards, which would set out a clearer baseline of support that should be available across the country. This should help reduce the opportunity for schools and LA's to interpret guidence in a way that suits them. However, the detail of what those standards will include, and how strongly they will be enforced isn’t yet clear. The lack of enforcement of laws and policy has after all always been an issue.

There is a lot about reviewing the need for an EHCP at phased transition points such as primary to secondary. This is worrying as we know that these big transitions are the most difficult and often children need more support not less!. That said, the EHCPs have always been reviewed every year and can at any stage be taken away, what we need to know is what the new decision making will be based on.

Billions of pounds are reportedly being allocated to schools for training and to create SEND inclusion hubs. On the surface, that sounds positive. However, many of the families I support have already found the current inclusion hubs insufficient in meeting their child’s complex needs so more detail is needed to see the suitability of these hubs in meeting their vastly different needs of SEND children.

The issue of 'complexity of needs' appears frequently throughout the paper. The proposal suggests that only children with the most complex needs will be entitled to an EHCP. Below that level, would be Individual Support Plans (ISPs), which on paper sound similar to current SEN Support plans, though, on a positive note, from what I understand, they are intended to carry statutory requirements such as with EHCP's. The issue is no specific complaints procedure for when they are not enforced has been discussed, meaning we could be left with the standard schools complaints procendure we have now and we all know how that tends to go!

There are also proposals to give schools greater access to professionals such as speech and language therapists and occupational therapists to help inform these plans. Again, this sounds promising, but anyone currently waiting for an EHCP, or asking schools to make referrals because their child is struggling, will know these services are already in very limited supply.

So what can be done right now?

● Don’t panic. I know that’s easier said than done. But this is only a consultation, not law. Nothing is changing imminently, so please stay focused on your current situation and what your child is entitled to right now.
Even if these proposals are approved, laws are not rewritten overnight. Any changes would be phased in over several years. There will also still be other legal protections in place for children and young people.

●The consultation period is 12 weeks. During this time, feedback can be sent to the Department for Education, I would also encourage writing to your local MP.

Yes there is a lot of uncertainty, laws may change, SEND language and acronyms may change but what won't change is the fight we have in us to do the best for those we support.

I know this is a lengthy post, but I wanted to share some initial thoughts from the report and offer some reassurance. I'm sure however I will be commenting further on this topic!

11/02/2026

A long but hopefully helpful post.

This week is Children’s Mental Health Week, so I wanted to share some thoughts and simple tips to support both your wellbeing and your child’s.

Good mental health doesn’t mean never feeling sad, angry, worried, stressed or low - these are all normal responses. However, when these feelings and emotions are experienced persistently and begin to affect daily functioning, that’s when they can become problematic.

Our mental health is more stable when we understand our emotions and can communicate and manage them effectively but this often doesn’t come naturally and it takes time to learn the skills and build an environment that supports our needs.

Long-term stress and its effect on our mental health can be compared to carrying a backpack. Every time a stressor comes along, whether physical, emotional or sensory, it’s like dropping a small pebble into the bag.

At first, you might not notice the extra weight so not recognise and address a growing problem. But pebble after pebble, the bag slowly becomes heavier, and if we don’t take a few pebbles out every now and then, it can eventually feel too heavy to carry, and recovery takes much longer.

Improving mental health requires an holistic approach, realistic expectations, and time. We can’t always remove the backpack, but we can take out pebbles one by one. Small, consistent changes over time can have a powerful impact.

Schools and parents often tell me they worry they can’t make the big changes they know would benefit a child - whether that’s 1:1 support in school, or more space and money. The ideal solution isn’t always possible, but there is always something that can be done to create positive change in every environment.

Simple steps such as:
●Create opportunities for success each day
●Actively listening without judgement or personal opinion
●Build in frequent, small breaks to prevent overwhelm (not just as a reactive measure)
●Provide sensory input that reflects a child’s individual sensory profile (proactively, not only when things escalate)
●Discuss difficult moments when in a more regulated state, and implement a plan should the situation reoccur.
●Keep records (ABC charts) of behaviours being seen to help identify triggers
●Adjust expectations understanding things may take more time, recovery, and scaffolding
●Celebrate effort and small wins
●Avoid measuring success purely by societal norms, standardised tests or external expectations
●Model emotional regulation, don’t just dictate it.
Saying 'don’t worry,' 'calm down,' or 'you’ll be okay' can feel dismissive and doesn’t teach skills.
Children learn more from what we show them than what we tell them. When we name our feelings, point out physical sensations, take a breath, use coping strategies, and repair after hard moments, we are teaching them how to do the same.

Children don’t need perfect environments. They need understanding, flexibility, time, and caregivers (in all settings) who notice the growing pile of pebbles, and help remove them until the child has learnt skills to help themselves.

I know it’s not as simple as it sounds, and having lived it, I don’t underestimate how hard caring for a child with SEND can be. But if we shift the focus from the end goal to each individual step, the journey can feel more manageable.

We are happier when our children are, and equally, children pick up on our stress. That’s why it’s just as important to ensure the expectations you place on yourself are realistic, that you build a support network around you, and that you remind yourself you are doing the best you can with everything being thrown at you.

11/02/2026

See below details of the next local offer roadshow.

There are many specialist support and local government professionals attending including the education access team who support children unable to access education, and Essex child and family wellbeing services.

https://send.essex.gov.uk/local-offer-roadshow-mid-essex?fbclid=IwdGRjcAP5nQZjbGNrA_mbyGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHj3f4Re0ians_RrIbjQK6XecRN0brWK4KBtU5U3veqPoqg-O2dUm_Ssxfd6L_aem_P_hqmYeOyYYLLqxmSfqtnQ

The next Local Offer roadshow in Mid Essex

31/01/2026

I was feeling creative so wrote this poem about ADHD. Inspiration was taken from conversations with my clients and also personal expererience. Whilst its about ADHD, we know many traists overlap with Autism and other diagnoses so hopefully even those without ADHD can still relate.

Here it is!

I want to tell you about ADHD,
That it’s more than hyperactivity or getting angry.

Reactions and intentions are often questioned,
Every moment replayed, each word over-mentioned.

People seem angry, but I don’t know why,
It doesn’t seem to matter how hard I try.

I hide away, worried, frustrated and tense
Why can’t I just do things that make sense?

Shame and guilt fuel my thoughts and actions,
I’m constantly alert for people’s reactions.

I put in so much effort just to be accepted,
It’s a constant battle to behave as expected.

Life can feel loud, busy, overwhelming,
Too much to process, so much incoming.

Filtering, prioritising, knowing what stays,
What needs attention, what safely waits.

Every sound, demand, thought, and request,
All arriving at once, my brain doesn’t rest.

Rejection hits hard, even when it’s perceived,
So I try my best to be well received.

I’ve been told I’m too much, too loud, too messy,
That I should control it, keep quiet, suppress me.

I rehearse every step and hide what I need,
My brain works overtime just to help me succeed.

‘It’s a superpower,’ they say, I guess that’s subjective,
Yes, sometimes my traits help me meet an objective.

I help others with ease and work well under pressure,
I hyperfocus, execute, hit every measure.

I can plan every step, every route, every mission,
But ADHD blurs time, order, memory, and transition.

ADHD controls how my brain functions,
My intentions are good, though my delivery malfunctions.

I try so hard to be the best I can be,
While navigating barriers no one else can see.

What helps is patience, not judgement or haste,
Clear words, clear timelines, a little more space.

Time to process what’s needed, co-regulation applied,
Gentle reminders, and to be the calm by my side.

26/01/2026

Shameless plug

I'm in full mum support mode and would like to use my fb page to promote my daughters new business to any of my local clients. She had to leave her job due to a health condition, and has been working hard to create a business that works for her and her needs and that makes use of her many years of experience with animals.

21/01/2026

Questions can be hard – whether they are about likes, dislikes, problems, or helping to unpick a situation.

Having something to do while answering can help with processing, anxiety reduction, and sensory regulation.

Today, categorising items really helped my client, along with me being mindful of how I asked the questions and mixing in some fun ones with trickier ones.

There is no one way that works, I am always client led and together we can achieve great things.

06/01/2026

TIME TO HAVE YOUR SAY

You may have have had details shared via your school but Ofsted and the CQC are undertaking a SEND inspection of the Essex Local area from 5th January to 23rd January 2026. If you are from this area, parent or practitioner here is a link here for the survey to complete and also a survey for young people / children to complete in case of interest:

02/01/2026

When you walk into your office and its bathed in rainbows, you can't help but smile. 🙂

02/01/2026

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, they often leave us feeling like we have failed. I believe in daily restarts.
Remember, each new day is a chance to do one small thing a little differently than yesterday.

✅ If you didn’t get fresh air, walk around the block
✅ If you drank one glass of water, try two
✅ If you spoke negatively to yourself, counter it with a positive
✅ If you spent too long scrolling, reduce it by 10 minutes
✅️If you felt unfocused today, try one small activity to give yourself a small win, tidy one drawer, do a puzzle, bake, or reply to messages.

Then, do one thing today that will benefit you tomorrow - small acts of kindness for your future self:

✅ Pre-pack your bag
✅ Make your lunch
✅ Change any daily visual timetables your child uses
✅ Write down important notes for an upcoming school meeting.
✅️Get your workout gear ready
✅️Arrange a meet up with a friend

Finally, do one thing that promotes positivity, grounds you and helps calm your nervous system:

✅ Think of one thing you are grateful for
✅ Look around you and notice something in nature you find beautiful
✅ Note one thing you have done well
✅ Put on your favorite song, sing, and dance.
✅ Sit or lie down, and for 1 minute focus only on your breathing and how your body feels
✅ Do 5 minutes of a regulating practice such as yoga, stretching, or Qigong

These are just ideas - think about what will work for you.
Speak to and support yourself like you would your best friend.

You won't often feel like doing these as self care and motivation are hard to come by in times of stress and overwhelm, BUT you deserve to look out for you. Small steps can add up to big things.
So, who is joining the 1% better than yesterday club x

20/12/2025

As the year comes to an end, I just want to say a huge thank you to all my amazing clients. Thank you for supporting my business, for every referral, and for trusting me to support your children ( and you) . It truly is a privilege to do what I do.

Remember, Christmas is still Christmas which ever way you celebrate it, so do what works for you and your family, not what tradition or society says you should. Here are a couple of quotes from one of my favourite books to help you through x

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas 🎄

05/12/2025

EOTAS secured for one family, a personal budget agreed for another, and a lovely review. Getting good news is always so encouraging to hear; a welcome bright light of hope in the often dark journey of fighting for support.
Its reminds me and hopefully those I support to keep fighting, and as the review says, sometimes you do need humour to get through situations , if you dont laugh at the bureaucratic, not fit for purpose system, you will cry!

28/11/2025

Hi everyone,

No real purpose to this post, but I wanted to check in as I’ve not posted for some time. My FB absence is mainly due to being extremely busy supporting others (including my own family) and trying to balance this with self-care and my own ADHD. After all, as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

I hope you are all managing to do the same in your busy and often stressful lives. I know however, that this is easier said than done. x

More posts to come soon but if you have suggestions for posts you would like to see , let me know