Making Space Play and Creative Arts Therapy

13/04/2026

Finland delays formal schooling until age 7, yet its students consistently perform at high levels globally. Early years focus on play, social skills, and emotional development instead of academic pressure. This supports brain growth in areas linked to creativity, problem solving, and self regulation. By the time formal learning begins, children are more ready to focus and absorb information effectively.

Research shows reduced early stress improves long term learning outcomes. Shorter school days, less homework, and highly trained teachers also contribute to stronger engagement and better results. Kids are not rushed, they are prepared.

Focus on readiness, not speed. Giving children time to develop emotionally and socially can lead to stronger learning, confidence, and long term success.

30/03/2026

https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/

Find and participate in consultations run by the Department for Education

08/03/2026

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neurodivergence-task-and-finish-group-report

The conclusions and recommendations of the independent review into ways to support neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education settings.

10/01/2026

1. Shame is a psychic defense system; a strategy the psyche builds when something essential cannot be protected any other way.

2. In comments.

09/12/2025

31/10/2025

20/10/2025

Today, we are releasing the results of our Parent/Carer Survey:

‘’Assessing the impact on families following the April 2025 changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund ‘’.

It’s stark reading. With five key findings.

All of them show the extent of the harm, to children and families, caused by the cuts to the ASGSF. You’ll also see why the cuts MUST be reversed.

We will highlight one key finding, each day this week.

Please read, share and give us your thoughts.

Follow the link to see both the summary and full results. And follow us here and on socials.

https://asgsfprotest.com/pcsurveyapril2025/

https://asgsfprotest.com/pcsurveyapril2025summary/

01/10/2025

The number of children educated at home in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire has increased by 87% in three years. Read more: https://bbc.in/3Wcme4m

23/07/2025

PLEASE SHARE

We echo the calls in this joint letter from across the sector.

https://www.adoptionuk.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=dee4f2b8-810c-410c-840d-9725325c23f5

We thank them for collaborating Adoption UK Kinship Coram Family Rights Group CVAA UK Barnardo's

Our families cannot afford for the government to ignore this letter.

We are proud that evidence from our campaign is referenced in this letter and is being used to make the case for an urgent review of the changes to the ASGSF.

Both our evidence and that of the sector shows just how damaging the impact of the cuts to the ASGSF have been.

We want to collect more evidence, please complete and share our parent/carer survey:

https://forms.gle/sSKwqjeDEmVXQksv9

We echo the sectors call for a full and proper consultation, and the call to conduct this consultation before any future reform.

Current options for the future being put forward by the likes of Adoption England have a very weak evidence base and do not recognise the needs of our children nearly enough.

For now let us say this. Our campaign matters, not because of us but because of you. Because you add your voices to it. Because we have all come together to fight these cuts and fight for the needs of our children. It is our collective passion and advocacy skills that make a difference.

We said back on May the 3rd at our protest march that the fight was only just beginning. We know it is tiring, we know you have had to fight so much already but we must keep going. That isn’t fair but it is the reality.

Together we are having an impact. Those organisations writing this letter are listening to our collective voice and they care about what we are saying. That’s huge.

The government can only continue to ignore us for so long. Our campaign will continue to hold the government to account for what they are doing.

Our campaign is all about our collective voice, the power in unity and fighting this together.

We ask that you keep going, with us, if you can. Keep sharing our message, keep sharing the work we are doing. Keep collaborating with us.

It is slow and it is hard but it is meaningful.

For now it’s a big thank you, from us to you for your support. We take the responsibility of this campaign and representing your voices very seriously. It is an honour.

23/07/2025

20/06/2025

I'm getting increasingly concerned by the "dabbling" in children's mental health that is being encouraged by the Labour government! Not only did they strip back the ASGSF to unworkable amounts (I'm now constantly thinking do we refuse that meeting or do it for free & risk bankruptcy?)😪 Trying to remain ethical without the funding to do so is bad enough. But they've also stated "mental health provision in schools", which basically means giving a staff member a brief course to dabble. We're getting enquiries to train people to work in this way. It won't be encouraged by eQuiPT. It's downright dangerous in a bid to look like the government are doing good for children. If they actually want to benefit mental health I ask this: 1.Fund actually qualified therapists in schools. 2. Reinstate the ASGSF funding to workable levels so that we can do the job we love doing and properly. 3. Add money to the pot so that Kinship carers can access support too. At the moment the government are creating a very dangerous environment. Families please question what's being offered. Is the "therapist" qualified? Are they registered? Therapists are trained to post graduate level! Please always ask. Somone who doesn't know what they're doing can actively make things worse. The Provider's List and Ofsted was created for a very good reason. Accountability for Provider's. Action against ASGSF changes

29/04/2025