Lucy

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 detailed review of the...

What it looks like before you have a diagnosis, and why trusting your instincts matters. Before we had words for it We finally met with Penelope’s neurologist last week. Our pre-Christmas appointment had been cancelled due to sickness and rescheduled for January. Even the snow tried to stop us attending, but we insisted on a face-to-face appointment. It felt important — not just clinically, but personally — to meet the doctor who would be responsible for our daughter’s care. From a parenting...

When Attendance Becomes More Important Than Access On 12 November 2025 , the Education Secretary announced a new “Roadmap to Improve Attendance Levels” — a sweeping national plan to drive up school attendance and “restore absence to pre-pandemic levels.” On paper, it sounds positive: getting children re-engaged with education, providing breakfast clubs, mentoring, and data-driven support.But for families like ours — parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) — the reality is...