I know families like ours whose children (of any age) have been housebound for years or have not been inside anywhere new for a long time. James’ story gives these families hope; hope that their child may be supported to make a breakthrough too, hope that there may be a mountain top for them to enjoy someday as well… maybe sooner than they think!
Most of the time, as parents of a child with additional needs, things work as they should. That doesn’t happen by accident, it takes a huge amount of planning and energy to ensure that everything goes smoothly, but to an unknowing onlooker everything looks under control, relatively calm, generally successful, like watching a grizzly bear … Continue reading Being An Additional Needs ‘Grizzly Bear’ Parent
The media is in meltdown reporting on the economic crisis that has hit the United Kingdom following the Governments mini-budget on Friday 23rd September. Economic experts are queueing up to explain why this is a disaster, and the financial markets are reacting with big drops in the London stock market and the value of the … Continue reading Why The Economic Crisis Is Terrible News For Disabled Children, And How To Help
As he walks through the front door, his parent asks him “Did you have a good day at school today, Jack?” and in doing so metaphorically pulls the ‘ring pull’ on the coke can that has been shaken all day… Boom! Jack erupts, and his parent wonders why this always happens at home and not at school…
As the return to the new school year gets closer for many of us, or has already started for some, it can be a time of great anxiety and stress for all children and young people, especially children and young people with additional needs. It can be a challenging and difficult time for parents and … Continue reading 10 Tops Tips For Back To School
This blog post is written by Mark Arnold’s daughter, Phoebe, who shares her experience of growing up as an additional needs sibling to her brother, James, as well as offering learnings for us all…Growing up I didn't often see a family unit similar to my own; from a young age I was a carer for … Continue reading Five Ways To Support Additional Needs Siblings, An Often Overlooked Group
It’s holiday season! That time when we either pack up our stuff and head somewhere for a week or two, or maybe have a ‘staycation’ and relax a bit locally. Either way, a popular item in our collection of things for the holidays is our reading list; some great books that will entertain, delight, scare … Continue reading Additional Needs Summer Holiday Reading
“Phew! Wot A Scorcher!” screams the newspaper headlines as the temperature rises to new record levels once again, but for families with children with additional needs, the screams are all too real as they and their children struggle to cope with the heat. So, here’s some links to places that families of children with additional … Continue reading How To Help Children With Additional Needs Cope In The Heat
Nothing says ‘summer’ more than ice cream. Just hearing the distinctive tones of the ice cream van evokes memories of sunny days, long holidays, relaxing in the garden, the park, or at the beach!We have an ice cream van that regularly visits our street, and a recent visit got me thinking about how our children … Continue reading How Children With Additional Needs Are Like Different Ice Creams!
Whether you are an overworked children’s, youth or families worker, or a frazzled, stressed out, parent or carer of a child or young person with additional needs, this story is for you. It’s a story about a bumble bee and a hare, a journey God took me on at a retreat, but it’s your story … Continue reading The Story Of The Bumble Bee And The Hare: Choosing Better
Teaching Resources, Sensory Stories and SEND Information
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