Other SEND needs

Isaac and Kevin are aiming to raise £5,000 for Wheels and Wheelchairs, an inclusive sports club that brings wheelchair users and roller skaters together.

Unauthorised Absence follows a single mother fighting to support her neurodivergent daughter. Instead of receiving the understanding and support her family needs, she finds herself fined, threatened and pushed to breaking point by an education system that continually mistakes their distress for defiance.

When a dog helps with regulation and confidence outside the home, it often has a knock‑on effect on other parts of life too, including learning.

For learners with complex profiles, this approach isn’t just beneficial; it’s often essential. Real‑world tasks provide sensory feedback, movement, structure and purpose, the ingredients that help students stay motivated, calm and connected.

If you’ve ever wished for an event where your child’s needs aren’t an afterthought, where you don’t have to apologise, explain, or brace yourself, Kaleidoscopic Minds is worth considering.

The years of teenagehood, travel, animals, home education, community‑building, and family change that shaped the decade that followed. It’s a chance to hear directly from the mother who lived it, in her own words.

Children and adults with disabilities rarely see themselves reflected accurately in stock imagery, advertising, or educational materials. Authentic representation impacts how children understand themselves and how their peers understand disability.

To understand what is really happening inside the independent‑school ecosystem and how these pressures are affecting families across the UK, we sat down with Michelle Daniells, founder of AFIS.

When society misunderstands neurodivergence, schools and families often inherit those misconceptions. When society learns to recognise strengths, value differences and design better systems, children benefit first.

In this Q&A, Natalie acknowledges the pressures schools face, the misconceptions circulating, and the real challenges ahead. But she also highlights the opportunities: stronger inclusion, earlier support, and a system designed around belonging rather than bureaucracy.

The EOTAS consultation is asking families, professionals, and young people to share their experiences, and if your child has ever struggled to attend school, your perspective is essential.

We don’t need to erase the concept of support needs. We just need to stop “keeping score”. Stop assuming visible behaviour tells the whole story.