Masking is not manipulation. It is not “choosing good behaviour”. It is a survival strategy. This guide helps parents recognise masking, respond safely, and evidence it clearly so that school support becomes unavoidable.
What do we do, how do we do it and how can it benefit you? 5 min Read with hyperlinks.
A saveable guide to support your request for Section 19 - by SEN Parent Support Group™
Early Help is usually the first tier of support offered when a child or family is struggling. It isn’t a safeguarding measure; it’s a voluntary, preventative service designed to identify needs early and bring professionals together.
The goal isn’t to turn you into a lawyer it’s to give you enough structure, visibility, and control that the Tribunal process stops feeling like something happening to you and starts feeling like something you’re actively steering.
Families need to be aware that the SEND Tribunal has quietly launched a new “One Touch” Case Management Pilot” and it only applies to Section I appeals (placement disputes) registered on or after 17 August 2026. This changes the process in ways that will affect planning, evidence, and timelines.
When a parent is seeking EOTAS, the tribunal is not interested in opinions, preferences or “EOTAS would be nice”. It is interested in evidence of need, evidence of why school cannot meet those needs, and evidence of what provision is required instead. The Working Document is where this becomes visible. Every line must link via need...
When a case goes to tribunal, one of the most confusing and anxiety provoking parts for parents is the Local Authority’s consultation process with schools. It often feels opaque, rushed, or strategically timed, and families are left wondering what is happening behind the scenes. In reality, the consultation process is one of the most important pieces...
Absence is rising again and the government’s own data makes one thing painfully clear: children with SEND are still being failed. Not because families don’t value education, not because parents aren’t “prioritising attendance”, but because the system designed to support their children simply isn’t functioning and hasn't for a long time!
Social stories are one of the most widely used tools in SEND practice, yet most parents only encounter them when a transition is already going wrong. At their core, social stories are short, personalised visual narratives that explain a situation in calm, concrete language. They give a child a preview of what will happen, who will...
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