SEND Education For All is sponsoring the 2026 PDA Space Summit!
You can register to watch the Summit and get your backpocket pass HERE.

"Your child has an EHCP." For many families, those six words are not reassuring. Instead, they mark the beginning of a battle. A battle to secure an assessment. A battle to obtain a plan. A battle to get the provision written into that plan delivered. Then, somehow, a battle to enforce the very document that was supposed to bring the fighting to an end. Welcome to the reality of the SEND system in 2026. The uncomfortable truth is that the system is not struggling because ther

Do you ever wonder when families like ours will stop having to fight for the most basic support our children need? For us, it feels like a battle that has lasted a lifetime. Our son, W, will be 13 this year, and for as long as we can remember, we've been advocating, chasing answers, attending appointments, completing forms, and explaining the same things over and over again. The exhausting part isn't just the fight itself. It's what that fight has done to him. After years of

As the new school year approaches, social media feeds begin to fill with photos of shiny new uniforms, packed lunch ideas, and excited countdowns to the first day back. For many children and families, returning to school brings anticipation and excitement. But for others, the thought of going back can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and anxiety-provoking long before the school gates even open. It's important to remember that not every child experiences the school holidays in t

We're thrilled to announce that Harvey the Hedgehog: Why Don't I Feel Safe? by Lyndsay Critchlow is officially out now!. This beautifully written children's story provides a gentle introduction to the experiences of children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a profile within the autism spectrum characterised by an anxiety-driven need to avoid everyday demands and expectations. Harvey the Hedgehog likes knowing exactly what will happen next. So when a new path, a new

Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, reach their potential, and feel valued within their community. Yet achieving this goal is not the responsibility of one individual, one service, or one organisation alone. It requires all of us families, educators, health professionals, social care teams, community groups, and leaders to work together with a shared commitment to placing children at the heart of everything we do. Children grow and develop in different ways, and t

I’m going to be honest, because sugar-coating this doesn’t help anyone anymore. The damage in the SEN world is already being done. This isn’t something that might happen in the future it is happening right now, to families, to children, and to young people who are already fighting just to be understood. And if you are in this world, you feel it. You don’t need statistics or reports. You live it every single day. The appeal process was never easy. It was always draining, stre

I wanted to write this blog today as I am myself struggling a lot with my Neurodivergent traits, which often make everyday life quite challenging. The experience of navigating daily tasks can sometimes feel overwhelming, and I find myself grappling with various aspects of my neurodivergence that complicate even the simplest activities. In all honesty, the avoidance is real. There are days when the thought of engaging with the world outside feels insurmountable, and I often fi

EHCPs aim to identify specific needs for each autistic child, enabling tailored support. However, the diversity among children makes this approach challenging and potentially ineffective. Although schools receive increased funding for resources such as occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and educational psychologists, a nationwide shortage of these professionals persists. Merely boosting funding does not address the core issue of workforce shortages, high

I am feeling an overwhelming sense of frustration and exhaustion this morning as I grapple with the relentless fight for Special Educational Needs (SEN) support. It is a battle that seems to drain every ounce of energy I possess. Often, I find myself reaching these critical points where I feel as though I have poured all my resources, both emotional and physical, into advocating for those with SEN.

I have recently come across some rather shocking statements made regarding pathological demand avoidance (PDA), a term that is often...