SEND Advocacy Blog

Educational Psychologists play a central role in shaping how SEND provision is designed and delivered in schools. From influencing national policy to supporting individual children through early intervention, their work sits at the heart of inclusive education. This post explores why their contribution matters and how it affects the children and families navigating the SEND system.

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a profile on the autism spectrum where a child experiences extreme anxiety when faced with everyday demands and expectations. Unlike typical demand avoidance, PDA-driven behaviour is rooted in anxiety rather than defiance. Understanding PDA can make a significant difference to how parents and schools support a child effectively.

Adopted children are disproportionately represented in SEND statistics, and many adoptive parents find themselves navigating a system they were not prepared for. Understanding how adoption intersects with special educational needs is an important first step in getting the right support in place for your child.

Not every child with special educational needs has an Education, Health and Care Plan, but that does not mean school choice is straightforward. Understanding what rights you have, what schools must provide, and how to advocate effectively for your child can make a significant difference to the outcome.

Flow is the state of being completely absorbed in an activity, where time seems to disappear and effort feels effortless. For neurodivergent children, accessing flow can be both more intense and more difficult than for their neurotypical peers. Understanding what triggers flow, and what blocks it, can help parents and educators create the right conditions for learning and wellbeing.

Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behaviour, refers to repetitive movements or sounds that many children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions use to regulate their sensory experience or emotions. Rather than something to be stopped, stimming often serves an important purpose. This post explains what it is and how parents can respond in a supportive, informed way.

A Request for Change is a formal mechanism used within the SEND Tribunal process that allows either party to amend the issues under appeal. Understanding when and how to use one can be important for parents who find that the scope of their appeal needs to shift after proceedings have begun. This post explains the process clearly and what to expect.

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, or RSD, describes an intense and often overwhelming emotional response to perceived criticism, failure or rejection. It is strongly associated with ADHD and can have a significant impact on a child's self-esteem, relationships and school experience. Understanding RSD helps parents and educators respond with empathy rather than frustration.

If you are pursuing an EHC Plan content appeal at the SEND Tribunal, you will quickly become familiar with the working document. It is a live, editable version of your child's EHC Plan that both you and the local authority use to identify areas of agreement and disagreement throughout the appeal process. Getting to grips with how it works is essential for anyone navigating this stage.

Masking refers to the conscious or unconscious process by which neurodivergent individuals hide or suppress their natural traits in order to appear more neurotypical. While it can help a child manage social situations in the short term, long-term masking is exhausting and can be harmful to mental health. This post helps parents recognise masking and understand its real impact.

An invisible disability is a condition that has a substantial effect on a person's daily life but is not outwardly visible to others. For children with SEND, this often means their needs are misunderstood, minimised or overlooked entirely. This post helps parents understand the term, why recognition matters and how to advocate for a child whose needs are not always easy for others to see.

Misophonia is a condition where specific sounds trigger intense emotional or physical reactions, often including anger, anxiety or disgust. For children with SEND, it can make everyday environments like classrooms or dining halls extremely difficult to manage. This post helps parents understand what misophonia is, how it presents and what reasonable adjustments can help.