SENDS Support CIC - consultancy and advocacy for schools and parents

04/06/2025

What has our education system come to when this is the provision in an EHCP?;

"### will have unconditional opportunities for fun, laughter and mutual enjoyment
on a daily basis in education"

According to the law regarding EHCPs, provision should be above and beyond what is generally available to all students. How sad that we have to ensure a child experiences fun, laughter and enjoyment during their school day by putting it into a legal document. My heart breaks for the state of our system.

18/02/2025

If anyone has used our services and would like to leave a review on this page please. I've seen quite a few groups utilising it when looking for an advocate. You can also look through the companies alphabetically and see their reviews if you're looking for support.

Thank you muchly

https://padlet.com/r54282678/rate-my-send-advocate-7ybznsrm8hu1v9kl?fbclid=IwY2xjawIGM7VleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWJhvNf0MgG6gaabD11tc4_xVml5bq2UgF6UxwqcnJ5xIxSE52qR32-SYw_aem_1slgvUFl48hCluUFtxYfD

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18/12/2024

Absolutely this. I'm guilty of this too, it's hard to acknowledge you are doing your best when there are so many battles to fight.

14/11/2024

I love this. Everyone always told my daughter she should be happy, sad or excited but that's their experience not hers. Don't presume to know how someone should feel - let them live their own experience.

What we’re learning from interoception science is that there is no single footprint of emotion. For example, the way anxiety feels in your body is likely different from how it feels in mine. Similarly, hunger, exhaustion, thirst, safety and so on likely feel different in your body compared to mine. We are all correct and valid in our own unique experience. Teaching the way an emotion ‘should’ feel can lead to a lot of inner confusion!!

Read more on the blog: https://www.kelly-mahler.com/resources/blog/from-body-signals-to-emotions-3-ways-interoception-helps-us-understand-alexithymia/

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Image Description: a purple colored tile that reads “there is no single footprint of emotion. We are all correct and valid in our own unique experience. Teaching the way an emotion 'should' feel can lead to a lot of inner confusion!”

14/11/2024

When your daughters school ring cos she's not at registration... and wish her happy birthday and celebrate the fact that she's going shopping and to the cinema instead. You know leaving mainstream was exactly the right decision!!!

13/11/2024

My amazing and unique daughter is 16 tomorrow! Here's the cake she has designed herself, and refuses to share as she's done every year. She has one cake for the house and one (much less extravagant) cake to share. Many thanks to our amazing cake maker The Wee Cake Shop who listens to her very exact descriptions and makes her ideas come alive.

03/10/2024

I'm doing some market research. Does anyone work in a setting that subscribes to a careers app? Needing an idea of annual cost please

29/07/2024

Looking for someone to teach our young lads to build a go-kart or maintain dirt/motocross bikes. Does anyone have any recommendations? Picture of what they may end up with if me and Nik are left to it!!!

11/07/2024

We need your help at Phoenix@Darley Dale!

We are currently fundraising for a new kitchen in our Darley Dale base. Our students enjoy learning independent skills and cook their lunch each day. We also hope we have the next Mary Berry in our midst and need a new kitchen to support their learning.

Please let us know if you can support us. 💗🧑‍🍳🍽️🎛️

18/06/2024

Phoenix ND Education are having an open day to showcase the new Derbyshire alternative provision in the beautiful grounds of The Whitworth, Darley Dale.

16/05/2024

I arrived late to a meeting due to traffic today. I joined the meeting of two parents with three senior members of staff as the Head was answering a question in a loud and aggressive manner. My first spoken words in the meeting were to ask her to lower her tone and stop shouting.
I am a teacher of 20+ years so I'm not teacher bashing, however if you can shout that way at parents how do you expect them to have the faith that your school will respect and nurture their child?
Parents should not need an advocate, should not face a battle to ask for help for their child, or made to feel hysterical when describing their child's needs.

Teachers - be the person who listens, who takes notes and provides suggestions. Think outside the box and most of all - think "what would I do if this was my child"?

We are all in this rediculous maze of SEND together, so let's work together to get through it.

(It was a very productive outcome once we had reset the tone 😉)

05/03/2024

I have worked with Simon many times and he is a sincere advocate for autistic pupils. Well worth an hour of your time if you're local.