The problem nobody talks about: parents are expected to remember everything. If you are raising a child with additional needs, you already know this feeling. You walk into an appointment and someone asks: How has sleep been? How many seizures? How often are meltdowns happening? Is school affecting behaviour? Is medication helping? And you want to answer properly, because your child’s care depends on it. But your head is full. You are tired. You are juggling work, siblings, sc

A weekend of reflection, and a wake-up call. This weekend has felt like a time for reflection and, in many ways, a wake-up call. I have reached a milestone birthday, and although it has been a lovely celebration with my children, it naturally makes you stop and look at your life more closely. It makes you think about what matters, what needs to change, and what simply cannot be ignored any longer. On Friday, after Lucy attended the Hear Her Voice event in London with Young Ep

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has been presented as a major reform to improve safeguarding, strengthen attendance, and enhance support for vulnerable pupils. However, for families of children with complex additional needs — including those with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, disabilities, chronic illnesses, or mental-health challenges — the Bill introduces provisions that could create significant new risks, barriers, and unintended harm. Based on a detail

When Words Don’t Come Easily I’ve wanted to write this for a long time. But as any parent knows, finding the time  and more importantly, the mental space  to unpack everything life throws at you can feel impossible. And as a man, writing about emotions — about fear, helplessness, love, and guilt — doesn’t come naturally. We're not raised to talk about what’s going on inside. We’re raised to handle it . To fix things, hold it together, and not let anyone see the cracks. But wh