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I read the TES article Are EHCPs really driving the SEND crisis? and it hit hard. Not just professionally, but personally. It brought back memories of a time before EHCPs, when the system — while far from perfect — felt easier to navigate, less adversarial, and less dependent on families having to fight or become quasi-lawyers to secure basic support. The comparison between the old Statements of SEN system and today’s EHCP landscape would be shocking if laid side by side. Not

(Especially for Phase Transfers – September 2026) For many families, EHCP annual review season is approaching fast  — and for others, it is already underway.This is particularly important if your child or young person is approaching a phase transfer , where strict legal deadlines apply  and decisions can have long-term consequences. Annual reviews are not just a formality. They are a statutory process , and when handled properly, they are one of the most important opportuniti

SEND Reform in England: What Parents Need to Know — Without the Spin Right now, families of children with SEND are being asked to trust a system that feels increasingly uncertain. With a Schools White Paper on SEND reform looming, many parents are asking the same questions: Will my child still be protected? Do EHCPs still matter? Why does it feel harder to get help, not easier? This blog is written plainly and honestly — not from a policy desk, but from lived experience along

Back to School: A Calm Checklist for SEND Parents This Term January can feel like a deep breath and a heavy sigh all at once. The school gates reopen, routines return, emails start landing — and for parents of children with SEND, that familiar knot in the stomach often comes back with it. So this blog is not about doing everything .It ’s about knowing what matters most this term , in a way that feels manageable, calm, and grounded. First — a gentle reminder Nothing has change

Hello lovely parents and carers, As the children head back to school this week, I wanted to check in with you. January can feel heavy — routines restarting, worries resurfacing, and that familiar feeling of “here we go again”  when you’re supporting a child with SEND. Please know this: you’re not alone , and you’re not behind. 📄 What’s happening with SEND right now? (In plain English) You may have heard talk about a SEND White Paper  or “big changes coming”. Here’s what you

Attendance Difficulties: What the Law Actually Says (and What Schools Must Do) School attendance has become one of the most misunderstood — and misapplied — areas of education law, particularly for children with SEND, mental health needs, trauma histories, or unmet provision. Parents are increasingly being threatened with fines, referrals, or safeguarding action when their child is unable to attend school — not unwilling. This blog sets out what the law and statutory guidance

My journey into the world of SEND advocacy did not begin in an office, through a training course, or by chance.It began as a parent  — a mother navigating a system that often felt impenetrable, inconsistent, and painfully slow. I learned the law because I had no choice.I became an advocate because no family should have to fight alone. Over the years, I have supported countless parents whose children have fallen out of education for reasons completely outside of their contro

Over the past few years, and especially in the current climate, families navigating the SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) system have faced increasing hurdles — delays in assessments, refusals to assess, shrinking budgets, emotionally exhausted school staff, and local authorities that often appear to work to restrict rather than enable support. Many parents are feeling defeated before the process even begins. But here’s the truth: parents and carers are becoming

If you’ve ever looked at your child’s EHCP and felt unsure what support they’re actually entitled to, you’re not alone. Many parents are shocked to learn that vague wording in Section F can completely undermine their child’s legal entitlement to provision. Section F isn’t just another box on a form — it’s the heart of the EHCP. It sets out exactly what special educational provision must be made for your child. And crucially, it is legally enforceable under Section 42 of the C

10 Essential Questions Every Parent Should Ask About Their Child’s School Interventions Whether your child has an EHCP or not — you deserve clarity. If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, you already know how confusing the world of “interventions,” “strategies,” and “programs” can feel. One teacher says they’re using a literacy intervention, another mentions a social-emotional program, the EHCP references something called targeted support… but no one tells you what any o

🌿 Calm & Connected Families The Hidden Burnout: What Parental Compassion Fatigue Looks Like Most parents of neurodivergent children carry a quiet kind of exhaustion — not from lack of love, but from loving so fiercely for so long. Day after day, you advocate, absorb emotions, plan ahead, and hold your family together through sensory storms, meltdowns, meetings, and uncertainty. You give comfort when your own reserves are running low. And one morning, you realise: you’re runn

Sometimes, even after all the effort it takes to secure an EHCP, things still don’t go as planned. Maybe your child’s needs have changed. Maybe the provision isn’t being delivered. Or maybe the placement is simply not working. Whatever the reason, you don’t have to wait until the next annual review. You have the right to request an emergency (or early) review when a plan is no longer fit for purpose. --- ⚠️ Signs an EHCP Isn’t Working You might start noticing things like: You

🌿 Calm & Connected Families Simple Grounding Techniques for Overwhelmed Kids (and Parents) Some mornings start with calm — others start with chaos. You know those days: when socks feel wrong, breakfast smells too strong, or the sound of the school bag zip sends everything into overload. When children (and parents) reach that “I can’t do this” moment, grounding is often the first step back toward safety and calm. It’s not about fixing the feeling — it’s about helping the body

Many parents I support find themselves heading into appeal after a long and exhausting journey — often even after mediation, where the Local Authority (LA) still fails to act lawfully. You are not alone in this. Sadly, this is a common experience, and it’s one that takes both emotional strength and practical preparation to face. 🕒 1. Know Your Appeal Rights and Timeframe The first step is understanding your right to appeal and the deadline for doing so. You usually have two

🌿 Calm & Connected Families Finding Steady Ground When Life Feels Unpredictable If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been holding a lot lately — juggling school meetings, appointments, home routines, and trying to keep everyone’s emotions steady (including your own). You’re not alone. Over the past two years, through my work supporting hundreds of families with EHCPs and education struggles, I’ve seen a common thread: families are exhausted, children are overwhelmed, a

Over the last two years, Independent SEND EHCP Advisory has supported hundreds of families through some of the most complex and emotionally demanding journeys — navigating assessments, drafting robust EHCPs, and standing firm in the face of local authority delays and system fatigue. Each week, I’ve written about law, compliance, and practical steps to strengthen your child’s plan. But recently, through conversations with families, one theme has come through again and again: t

Introduction As a parent advocate and SEND specialist, I am constantly engaging with families whose experiences echo those described by Chris Coghlan MP in his recent article: the systematic failure of local authorities to uphold statutory rights under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. Special Needs Jungle  The article lays bare how children with SEND are being let down — through lawbreaking, gaslighting and lies — and how the scale of this iss

For many neurodivergent children and young people, school isn’t a safe or predictable place — it’s a daily source of fear, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion. Families often describe mornings filled with distress, physical symptoms of anxiety, and heartbreaking pleas of “I can’t go.” This is not about defiance or laziness. It’s about school-based anxiety and trauma — a deeply misunderstood response to environments that simply don’t meet a child’s sensory, emotional, or devel

For many parents, one of the most frustrating parts of the SEND journey is navigating speech and language difficulties. It often feels like your child’s needs are misunderstood, ignored, or watered down in school. Reports arrive full of jargon, EHCPs can be vague, and parents are left wondering: Is my child really getting the right support? I want to share what I’ve learnt — both as a parent and through years of supporting other families — about what you should expect, what s

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