SEND Family Guidance

SEND Family Guidance Trusted support for parents and families of children with suspected neurodivergence or learning difficulties. Early intervention is key!

We offer assessments, guidance, help with forms such as DLA/PIP, SEND Tribunal support, post-diagnosis care & more.

26/04/2026

Many parents panic when they hear the word mediation.

But mediation is actually an opportunity to resolve disagreements with the Local Authority without needing to go to tribunal.

During mediation:

• You explain why you disagree with the Local Authority decision
• Evidence from professionals is discussed
• Possible solutions are explored
• The Local Authority may agree to make changes

With the right preparation and evidence, mediation can lead to positive outcomes for families.

I support parents by:

✔ Preparing the case and key arguments
✔ Organising the evidence
✔ Helping you feel confident going into the meeting
✔ Representing you during mediation if needed

Because walking into mediation alone can feel incredibly intimidating.

✨ If you’ve been offered mediation and don’t know what to do next, message me and we can discuss your options.

23/04/2026

Knowing your rights can change everything.

So many SEND parents feel stuck because they simply don’t know what options are available to them.

You might be told:

“Let’s wait and see.”
“We don’t have the resources.”
“That’s all the support we can offer.”

But the truth is that children with additional needs have legal rights to support and education that meets their needs.

You have the right to:

• request an EHCP assessment
• challenge decisions made by the Local Authority
• attend mediation
• appeal to tribunal
• ensure provision written in an EHCP is delivered

The SEND system can feel complicated and overwhelming, especially when you’re already supporting a child who needs you so much.

And many parents simply don’t know where to turn next.

That’s where I can help.

I support families by helping them understand their rights, navigate the SEND process, and take the right steps to secure the support their child deserves.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

📩 If you’re unsure what to do next, send me a message and we can talk through your situation.

17/04/2026

“You have the medical reports and you know what your child struggles with every single day, yet the Local Authority still denies your application. It’s crushing. Here’s what they’re actually looking for: proof that you’ve documented the graduated response.

This means showing evidence that you’ve tried specific interventions over time, measured what happened, tried again with adjustments, and proven those attempts weren’t enough. Without this paper trail showing what you’ve already tried, applications get rejected even when your child clearly needs help.

I know how crushing this feels. I have three neurodiverse children myself, and when I went through this process, I felt completely alone. I even thought I was failing as a parent. I just needed someone in my corner who understood the system.

We can build this paper trail together. I support you by:

Using direct home observation to watch and document how your child actually responds during mealtimes, transitions, sensory situations, and daily routines 🌟
Conducting a parent interview to write down every strategy you’ve already tried, like the bedtime routine you adjusted three times or the reward chart that stopped working after two weeks
Creating a written report that pulls all this evidence together to show exactly why your child needs an assessment now

✨ Early intervention is key. The right support makes all the difference.

DM SEND and I’ll send you information about consultancy services including Assessment of Needs, drafting, and tribunal support so you possess the documentation that transforms rejections into accepted assessments. 🌻

EducationHealthCarePlan SENDAdvocacy EHCPAssessment SENDConsultancy LocalAuthorityEHCP”

14/04/2026

What is Sensory Integration?

Sensory Integration is the process by which our brain receives information from our senses, organises it, and helps us respond appropriately to the world around us.

For many children this process happens automatically. But for some children, particularly those who are neurodivergent, the brain can find it harder to organise and respond to sensory information. This can affect how a child feels, behaves and participates in everyday life.

When we talk about senses, many people think of the five traditional senses:

• Sight
• Sound
• Taste
• Smell
• Touch

But our bodies actually have three additional sensory systems that are incredibly important for how we move, regulate and feel safe in our environment:

✨ Proprioception – our body awareness system. This tells us where our body is in space and how much force to use when moving, lifting or holding things.

✨ Vestibular – our balance and movement system, located in the inner ear. It helps us maintain balance, coordinate movements and understand where our body is in relation to gravity.

✨ Interoception – our internal body awareness. This helps us recognise signals from our body such as hunger, thirst, pain, temperature and the need for the toilet.

When sensory information is processed differently, children may become overwhelmed, anxious, constantly seeking movement, avoiding certain environments or struggling to regulate their emotions.

Understanding a child’s sensory profile can be incredibly powerful. When we adapt environments and provide the right sensory support, children often become calmer, more regulated and better able to participate in everyday life.

I am currently training at Masters level in Sensory Integration, which will allow me to support families even further in understanding their child’s sensory needs and how to meet them.

✨ If you would like to learn more about sensory needs or how to support your child, feel free to reach out.

12/04/2026

🚨 5 Signs Your Child’s EHCP May Not Be Strong Enough

Many parents assume that once their child has an EHCP, the support will automatically happen.

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.

Here are some warning signs that your child’s EHCP may not be strong enough:

1️⃣ The plan uses vague wording like
“access to support” or “regular opportunities”.

2️⃣ Support hours aren’t clearly specified.

3️⃣ Provision in the plan doesn’t match the professional reports.

4️⃣ School says they “don’t have the resources” to deliver the support.

5️⃣ Your child is still struggling despite having an EHCP.

An EHCP must be specific, quantified and legally enforceable.
If it isn’t written properly, schools and local authorities are not legally required to deliver meaningful support.

I offer critical EHCP reviews to ensure the wording protects your child and reflects their real needs.

✨ If you’re unsure whether your child’s EHCP is strong enough, send me a message and I can talk you through it.

11/04/2026

✨ Easter is nearly over… and school is coming back fast. ✨

If you’re feeling that knot in your stomach about your child returning… you’re not alone.

For so many children with SEND, going back after a break can feel overwhelming — new routines again, expectations creeping back in, and the same struggles that were never properly addressed before the holidays.

💭 Maybe you’ve been thinking:
• “School just doesn’t get my child…”
• “They’re still not making the right adjustments…”
• “I don’t even know where to start anymore…”

🚨 Now is the time to act — not after things go wrong again.

The period before children return is the perfect window to:
✔️ Push for the right support
✔️ Get needs properly recognised
✔️ Put clear, realistic adjustments in place
✔️ Start fresh with a plan that actually works

Because once they’re back in the system… it’s much harder to catch up.

💛 I can help you:
• Communicate with school clearly and confidently
• Make sure your child’s needs are fully understood
• Secure the right support and provisions
• Put strategies in place for a smoother, calmer transition back

You don’t have to wait for another bad term.
You don’t have to fight this alone.

📩 Get in touch now — let’s get things in place before they walk back through those school gates.

10/04/2026

“Every child is unique 💫 and when you say your child is “”doing better than other kids in their class,”” you’re actually hurting their application for support. When assessors read that you’re comparing your child to classmates who may also have difficulties, they can’t see what your child actually cannot do.

I have 3 neurodiverse children and I know how normal the daily struggles start to feel. But assessors don’t care if your child has improved since last year. They measure whether your child can do what a typical 7-year-old (or whatever their age) can do without help. During my own applications, I felt completely alone and thought I was a terrible parent for even applying. Without someone showing me what to write, I got it wrong.

You need to write down exactly what your child cannot do. Stop using vague comparisons and give concrete facts instead:
✔ Write “”my child cannot cross any road without me holding their hand”” instead of “”they are getting better at road safety””
✔ Write “”I sit with my child for 45 minutes at every meal to stop them from choking”” instead of “”mealtimes take longer than other children””

✨ Early intervention is key — the right support makes all the difference.

If someone had helped me back then, I would have had the courage to keep going. I want to be that person for you.

Tap the link in bio or visit www.northantssendfamilyguidance.co.uk to book a call so you stop losing points because you’re comparing your child to others. 🌻

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08/04/2026

Usually it’s because they feel completely overwhelmed.

They’ve tried speaking to the school.

They’ve had meetings.

They’ve sent emails.

But they still feel like their child’s needs aren’t being properly understood.

I support families by helping them navigate the EHCP process, mediation and appeals, and making sure their child’s needs are clearly evidenced and represented.

Think of it as the middle ground between doing everything yourself and paying solicitor fees.

If you need someone in your corner, message me and we can talk through how I can help.🌻

08/04/2026

“It breaks my heart when a report describes your child only by what they struggle with. I have 3 neurodiverse children myself, so I remember sitting alone, reading those reports filled with problems, terrified I was failing as a parent. I just needed someone on my team to show me my child’s full picture. 🤍

When reports only list problems, everyone working with your child only sees half the story. Yes, we document the meltdowns and the reading delays, but we completely miss that your child can memorize entire visual sequences after seeing them once, or spot patterns that adults overlook. 🌟

This also means we miss the exact tools that would help your child succeed. When we don’t write down that your child follows a picture checklist perfectly (even though they can’t process spoken instructions), we lose the roadmap for what actually works.

And here’s the practical problem: the people who approve funding and services need proof of your child’s strengths to say yes. Without a report that shows what your child is good at, they can’t justify giving you the support that builds on those abilities.

My goal is to give you the caring guidance I desperately needed back then.

✨ Early intervention is key. The right support, at the right time, makes all the difference. 🌻

Tap the link in bio or visit www.northantssendfamilyguidance.co.uk to book a call for comprehensive profiling.

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06/04/2026

Received your child’s draft EHCP? Time is critical.

When a draft EHCP is issued, parents usually have just 15 days to respond with any requested amendments before the plan is finalised.

This short window is incredibly important.

The wording in an EHCP determines the support your child is legally entitled to receive, so it must be:

✔ Specific
✔ Quantified
✔ Legally enforceable
✔ A true reflection of your child’s needs and the professional evidence

Unfortunately, many draft plans contain vague wording or missing provision, which can make it very difficult to ensure the right support is delivered.

I offer a Draft EHCP Critical Review, where I carefully review the plan alongside the professional reports and evidence.

You will receive a clear document containing suggested amendments that you can send directly to your Local Authority within your response window.

This helps ensure the final EHCP properly reflects your child’s needs and protects their support moving forward.

⏰ Because the deadline is only 15 days, it’s important to act quickly once you receive a draft.

📩 If you’ve just received a draft EHCP and would like support reviewing it, send me a message and I’ll be happy to help.

05/04/2026

Happy Easter 🐣💛

For many, today is full of joy, family time, chocolate eggs and special traditions… but for some children with SEND, days like today can feel overwhelming, unpredictable and just too much.

The change in routine, busy environments, noise, expectations, and sensory overload can turn what “should” be a fun day into something really challenging.

And that’s okay.

If today doesn’t look like picture-perfect Easter…
If plans change, things feel hard, or your child needs space…

You are not doing it wrong.

You are meeting your child where they are — and that is what matters most.

So whether your Easter is calm, chaotic, quiet, loud, or completely different to what you imagined…

You’re doing an incredible job 💛

Address

Kettering

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+447730414323

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