As 2022 draws to a close and I write my last blog of the year, I thought I’d reflect on the year.

cutely aware that working with me requires a certain level of investment, I decided I wanted to capture my knowledge and make it available to a wide audience so more families can get the right support for their children.

Reasonable adjustments are accommodations that schools, whether state-funded or independent, have a duty to make. These adjustments apply to disabled pupils, where the disability creates a long-term and substantial adverse effect on the pupil’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

There’s a feeling of excitement and frisson when you hear the LA will write an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) for your child. It might be they call you to let you know (that was my experience), or you might receive an email. Alternatively, the first you hear about it might even be when the draft plan drops through your letterbox.

Doing what I do, I get to support parents at mediations. I see it as a huge privilege to be invited to attend a mediation meeting, and I hope that I am able to provide not only moral support but an objective viewpoint.

When my son was first identified with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) we enrolled him in weekly occupational therapy sessions. I’ll admit at the time I was very uncomfortable with the idea…

SEN, SEND, Special educational needs. This terminology is used to describe a relatively complex concept, and yet, rarely is this acknowledged.

All too often I hear stories of how school staff or Local Authority (LA) staff have been unhelpful or provided incorrect information to parents. We are quick to rush to blame, when people we deem as ‘professionals’ give the wrong information, particularly where our children are concerned.

When it comes to the decision over which school is to be named on an EHC Plan, parental preference has power.

Somehow we have to find ways to support our children with their anxieties. Imagine waking up every day and having to face your worst nightmare. The long-term effects of this would be damaging beyond belief, both emotionally and physically.