SEND Advocacy Blog

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.

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.

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.

Special Educational Needs is the term used in England to describe a learning difficulty or disability that requires additional or different educational support compared to children of the same age. Knowing exactly what SEN means, and what it does not mean, helps parents understand their child's rights and navigate the system with more confidence.

Autistic burnout is a state of physical and mental exhaustion that occurs when an autistic person has been masking, coping or trying to meet neurotypical expectations for an extended period. It is different from ordinary tiredness and can have a serious impact on a child's ability to function at school and at home. This post helps parents recognise the signs and understand what their child might need to recover.

Friendships can be one of the most complex and rewarding areas of life for children with SEND. Social interaction requires skills that many neurodivergent children find genuinely difficult, and that difficulty is often misunderstood by schools and peers alike. This post looks at how parents can support their child to build and maintain meaningful friendships.

Exam season can be a particularly stressful time for students with SEND, and the support available to them is not always as visible or straightforward as it should be. Whether it is extra time, rest breaks or a separate room, knowing what to ask for and how to ask for it can make a real difference to how a young person performs.

Judicial Alternative Dispute Resolution, known as JADR, is a process offered by the SEND Tribunal where a judge facilitates a structured discussion between parents and the local authority in an effort to reach agreement before a full hearing takes place. It is worth understanding what it involves, when it might be offered and whether it is right for your case.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterised by recurring seizures, caused by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. It affects people in very different ways, and for children with SEND it can add a significant layer of complexity to their educational and daily lives. This post helps parents understand the condition, its impact and what support schools should have in place.

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that affects a person's ability to understand and work with numbers. Often described as the maths equivalent of dyslexia, it is more than just struggling with arithmetic. For children with SEND, dyscalculia can affect everyday tasks, confidence and academic progress. This post helps parents understand what it looks like and what support is available.

Tourette's Syndrome is a neurological condition characterised by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalisations known as tics. It is often misunderstood and can be difficult for children to manage at school without the right awareness and support in place. This post helps parents understand what Tourette's Syndrome is, how it affects children and what schools should be doing to help.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control and activity levels. It presents differently in different children and is often misunderstood as naughtiness or lack of effort. For parents navigating the SEND system, understanding ADHD properly is a crucial first step towards getting the right diagnosis, support and provision in place.

A blog on Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ("ARFID") for parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilies

A blog post on Auditory Processing Disorder ("APD") for parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND").

A blog post on Kinship Carers, who they are, what they do and the support available to them and the children they look after.

A blog post on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ("CAMHS") for parents/carers of children and young people with SEND.

A blog post on parent carer trauma amongst parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND")

A blog post on disability discrimination law for parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND")

A blog post on disability discrimination law for parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND")

A blog post on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ("OCD") for parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND")