As parents, we’ve all had those moments, when our child has used those dreaded words, “I can’t”. Depending on your own upbringing, philosophy and perspective your reaction to those words, may range from “OK”, through, “you can’t yet,” to “of course you can!”

How do you convert a child who doesn’t want to read?

When you have a suspicion your child may have a specific difficulty, it can be difficult to know whether to go through the hoops to get a diagnosis and if you do, whether to share that diagnosis with your child.

We have a new gadget in the house. And whilst it’s a gadget it’s doing a really important job of helping my son to learn an important skill.

In some ways, our children who are struggling and withdraw in order to deal with it, are at most risk. Their behaviour is often overlooked, and withdrawing from the world prevents them from accessing learning.

I describe protesting as behaviour that is challenging at school and compliant at home. This behaviour is a warning.

Rebelling’ behaviour comes from a child where there is a fundamental unmet need, and the child is unable to communicate their need, other than through their behaviour.

Does your child explode when they get home from school, and yet at school they appear to be fine? It could be they are masking…

Kent has 70 working days from 29th March to provide Ofsted with a written statement of action detailing how it plans to address issues raised in 9 different areas.

Sadly, not all EHC plans are equal. If an EHCP is required, and that is not always the case, generally the child has needs and requires additional provision that is not already in place and is beyond the resources of a mainstream school.

I’ve been thinking about all the times I’ve sat in a meeting where I’ve been feeling emotionally charged, and have struggled to think straight and in some cases even remember everything that has been said or even correctly interpret what has been said.

Why might a Local Authority decide not to issue an EHCP after conducting a needs assessment?

I have to look after myself properly if I have any hope of being an advocate for my son.

Many parents, somehow manage to get their highly anxious children into school on a daily basis. Despite the refusal, the tears and whatever else is thrown at them, somehow they manage to talk their child into school.

February 15 is the key date for finalising EHCPs for transition. The plan must be reviewed and amended by this date in the child’s year of transition.

“I think I fall into a lot of cracks in terms of I'm too something. I'm too this, I'm too that. And my music has never really had a home. I've been this floating alternative. I'm too mainstream for an alternative. I'm too alternative for the mainstream. And I'm just kind of wandering.”

The best barometer of a child's happiness is the presence of a smile.

This week we had our first ever parent's evening at my son's new secondary school. If you've read my previous blog on feeling despondent you will have some understanding of where we were a few years ago.

In the absence of a clear diagnosis or history, both parents and school often engage in a bit of a guessing game, trying things out to see if they will work. It’s a bit like the saying that if you throw enough mud at a wall, some of it will stick.

Being the parent of a child with difficulties at school is tough. It’s tougher than tough, it’s plain hard at times. Being a teacher of a child with difficulties is equally tough, and in today’s economic and educational landscape it’s tougher than it has been for years.