
Family Life With PDA
Life changes when you become a parent and even more so when you have a child with special needs. Learning to understand and adapt to
Life changes when you become a parent and even more so when you have a child with special needs. Learning to understand and adapt to
Falling out with brothers and sisters or school friends, learning how to manage relationships and emotions, and understanding how to negotiate conflicts is part of
‘Executive function’ or ‘executive functioning skills’ refers to a set of cognitive skills that enable us to make plans, organise information, follow instructions, maintain focus,
According to the British Association of Play Therapists’ website, ‘Play is children’s primary form of communication. Children tell us about their inner world through play
If someone’s autistic, it is likely to affect all aspects of their life from their relationships, education and employment to their health, hobbies and ability
In some ways, dyspraxia is the ‘poor relation’ of special needs. Not everyone has heard of it and those that have might be unsure about
World Mental Health Day (10th October) – was established in 1992 to promote understanding of mental and emotional health. But despite growing awareness of these
Empathy – the ability to sense what someone else is feeling and understand it from their point of view – is a vital part of
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to read, write and spell but it can also impact their ability to organise themselves, retain
When we think about someone with ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – many of us picture a small boy, hurtling around the classroom –
One of Jodie Greer’s earliest memories is being at school aged five or six. “I had a friend with a speech impediment,” she recalls. “The
Technology has completely revolutionised all aspects of modern life in just a few years. As an example, you can now see who’s at your front
An education and healthcare plan – known as an ‘EHCP’ – is a document drawn up by a local authority which sets out exactly what
You may or may not have come across the term ‘autistic burnout’. It’s a recent idea that is gradually making its way into mainstream awareness
We did it! We won the People’s Choice Tuition Business of the Year Award 2023 – and are officially the nation’s favourite tutoring business! Not
It goes without saying that we all experience the world through our senses. In fact, it’s how we learn anything – from riding a bike
Remember the thrill of getting pocket money as a child and splurging it on something completely frivolous such as three bags of jelly babies or
Going to school is as much about making friends – and falling out with them – as it is learning your times tables. But for
It’s often the case that people who work with children with special needs have some personal experience with SEN themselves. It may be that they
Getting the right help for your child – whether that’s an EHC Plan, a diagnosis or enough one-to-one support at school – is often down
Seeing King Charles III glide solemnly through Westminster Abbey in his velvet robes and regalia for his coronation, how many of us are secretly reminded
Many of us take our ability to speak for granted, only stopping to consider how useful this is when a sore throat or toothache makes
April is Diversity Awareness Month. Human beings, as we know, come in all shapes and sizes, hail from a variety of backgrounds and have hugely
A child with good verbal skills can often demonstrate excellent understanding when social situations or expectations are explained to them but as soon as they’re
Easter is a Christian festival but it also celebrates spring. Whether you’re religious or not, you can’t fail to feel more hopeful when the mornings
You might imagine that school drama lessons would give kids with SEN the perfect opportunity to improve their confidence and social skills along with boosting
Irlen syndrome – sometimes referred to as ‘visual stress’ or ‘perceptual processing disorder’ – is a neurological condition which affects a person’s vision. However, it
Yvonne Newbold knows only too well how difficult it can be bringing up a child with special needs. Her son Toby was born with profound
You can’t cure autism but there are lots of strategies and therapies out there that can help build a child’s confidence and social understanding to
Have you heard of ‘interoception’? Many of us have only recently become aware of the word as it’s a ‘hot topic’ in the field of
Not everyone has heard of dyspraxia – a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by problems with muscle coordination and poor organisational skills. Even less well-known, perhaps, is
‘Time to Talk Day’ was established in 2014 to encourage friends, family members and colleagues to share their mental and emotional struggles with each other.
Like many innovative ideas, Dan Clark’s enterprise started with a ‘What if…?’ Having worked in a school for many years teaching IT and music, he
Gender and special needs including ASD and PDA is an interesting topic and one that may not often be discussed. We therefore asked Klaudia Matasovska,
Much of what makes Christmas an exciting time of year is its sensory appeal – brightly-coloured wrapping paper, twinkling lights and scented candles, special food
Communication or social interaction is a common challenge for children with special needs, particularly if they’re autistic. Although these issues can’t be completely eradicated, with
Dyspraxia – also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) – is a condition that affects a person’s movement and coordination. It also affects someone’s ability
9th October is PANS/ PANDAS awareness day, but what is PANS/ PANDAS? WHAT IS PANS/PANDAS? Many parents of children with special needs have a niggling
If your child has recently received a diagnosis of ADHD, you’ve probably done what many other parents in your situation have done before you and
Autistic people are individuals with their own, unique profile of strengths and difficulties. Even so, in general terms, they will usually have problems with social
Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental condition that mainly affects a person’s ability to read and write though it can also impact their ability to process and
Obsessive-compulsive disorder – usually known as ‘OCD’ – is a common mental health condition characterised by persistent and unwanted, distressing thoughts. Though these intrusive thoughts
Society’s perception of special educational needs and disability, and how they affect a child’s education and social life is constantly evolving and advancing. However, one profile which remains less understood
The last few years have seen an upsurge in awareness of the differences in boys and girls with special needs. Neurodivergent males, the experts now
Recent years have seen a lot of speculation on the differences between boys and girls with special needs. But when it comes to educating young
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects approximately 600,000 people in the UK. Many of us associate it with what we’ve seen in films and
Discovering that your child has special needs – which could be anything from a physical disability such as hearing impairment or cerebral palsy to the
For most people, the teenage years are a time of great highs and soul-destroying lows. You get to experience some of the freedoms of adult
We often talk about being ‘stressed’ but what does it actually mean? Though the word can signify different things to different people, generally-speaking, it means
Autism is a lifelong, neurological disability which affects how a person interacts with other people and the world around them. Each person will have their
When the writer George Eliot said, ‘animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions; they pass no criticisms,’ she was onto something. Many of
Most of us know the pleasure that comes from singing along to a favourite song or dancing to a funky disco number. But according to
Perhaps the broadest category of special needs, ‘SEMH’ refers to people who have social, emotional or mental health difficulties. It’s a label that can be
We’ve all seen films and TV dramas where a corduroy-clad teacher strolls into a classroom, perches on the edge of their desk and nonchalantly delivers
Whatever you do for a living, your professional life brings you knowledge and understanding that people in other fields might not ‘get’. According to people
Many people don’t give much thought to autism – until, that is, they discover that one of their own children has ASD. After that, most
As most people who work in education will tell you, it’s important to grab ‘real life’ opportunities to consolidate what children learn in the classroom.
As in many areas of life, the last few years have seen people re-evaluate the way they talk about special needs. When it comes to
If your child has special needs and requires extra support at school or in the home, they may have an EHCP (Education and Healthcare Plan).
There is ever-increasing pressure on our young people in modern society: social media, mobile telephones, the world wide web, friendships, peer groups, norms and expectations
Ever drifted off in a meeting and been jerked back to the present moment by someone asking you a question you can’t answer because you
It’s ADHD Awareness Month – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to give it its full name. The NHS defines it as a neurological disorder characterised by
October is ‘Sensory Processing Disorder Awareness Month’ – which is something of a mouthful if you don’t have your dentures in! Tongue-twisters aside, the aim
Most of us have heard of dyslexia and have some understanding that it is a condition that affects a person’s ability to read, write and
Dyspraxia – also known as developmental coordination disorder – is a condition where a person finds it difficult to make their body perform simple, everyday
As many wise people have often said, ‘Fail to plan and plan to fail’. This is particularly true when it comes to working as a
Tutors often point out that boosting a student’s self-confidence is crucial if you want to help them make academic progress. This is especially true for
Have you heard of dysgraphia? Even if you are aware that it’s the formal term for difficulties with handwriting, perhaps you’ve never given it much
Remember the excitement of starting a new academic year every September? Even if you weren’t too fussed about school in general, it was usually thrilling
If you’ve ever winced at the sound of a fingernail scraping a blackboard or shuddered at the texture of a spoonful of rice pudding, you’ll
Growing up, in many ways, is a series of ‘firsts’ – your first day at school, for example, or learning to ride a bike, your
There’s no doubt that parenting is a tough job but being an adoptive parent comes with a host of extra challenges. All children need patience
Teachers often talk about learning ‘by stealth’ – in other words: ‘helping children to acquire new skills or improve their existing abilities without them realising
Many things can get in the way of a child or young person’s ability to learn. It could be that they have a condition such
When you have a child with special needs, you become an unwitting expert in all kinds of things you never thought you would need to
Most children kick up a fuss now and then about being told to eat their dinner, do their homework or go to bed. But for
Data published by Ofsted on May 7th, 2021 provides worrying indications concerning Special Needs provision in England. Figures gathered by the inspectorate in the five
According to the charity The National Deaf Children’s Society, there are approximately 50,000 children in the UK with a diagnosed hearing loss. Fifty percent of
As someone with a diagnosis of autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADHD, Sienna Castellon understands more than most what it is like to live with a
World Autism Awareness Day was set up by the United Nations in 2007. It takes place on April 2nd each year with the aim of
Positive Dyslexia According to the British Dyslexia Association, ‘Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading
You may have been told that your child has a problem with ‘executive functioning’. Although this might conjure up images of middle-aged men in suits
Schools have been back a week. Teachers are working hard to ease children back into their routines and do activities to address the fallout of
For some children, out of all the subjects covered at school, Maths may cause the most anxiety. For children with special needs, who may have
In our series of tutor tips, we’re sharing everyday insights provided by highly talented Special Educational Needs (SEN) tutors, which include practical tips, plus a few
By Specialist SEN Tutor – Gillian Working with families with children with SEN has put extra demand on teachers to be all-encompassing, as well as
By Specialist SEN Tutor – Gillian Families with children with special needs have put extra demand on teachers to be all-encompassing, as well as their
Bringing up kids with special needs brings loads of extra challenges. Most parents face these willingly because we love our children and want the best
In the second of a series of new articles, we’re sharing everyday insights provided by various Special Educational Needs (SEN) tutors, which include practical tips,
In ‘normal’ years (which 2020 is certainly not), there is usually a cause for celebration when midnight strikes and when we bring in the new
Christmas can be challenging for children with SEN and ASD (autism). Changes to their usual routines, bright lights, shiny wrapping paper and different food and
As if it wasn’t hard enough being a child or young adult. On top of all the usual pressures of school, social media, friendships and
Our tutors have a wealth of knowledge and are dedicated to using their extensive experience and teaching skills to bring out the full potential of
As a parent of a child or young adult with Special Educational Needs (SEN), whether that’s autism, dyslexia, ADHD or another SEN, it’s likely that he
Your Checklist: Questions to ask a SENCO when applying for your child’s secondary school Choosing the right secondary school can be difficult for any parent
What are the benefits (or not!) of ABA tutors? Are they worth it? What is the alternative if you need professional help? As specialists in
As long-established experts in providing specialist dyslexia tutoring to children and young adults, both online and face-to-face, we are well-placed to understand the vital role
Written by Joanna Gibbs, (PGCE, QTS, B.A. (Hons), M.Ed.) specialist qualified teacher and founder and director of SENsational Tutors As the world adapts to new
Written by Joanna Gibbs, (PGCE, QTS, B.A. (Hons), M.Ed.) specialist qualified teacher and founder and director of SENsational Tutors Coronavirus home learning: 60+ brilliant free
Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd. How to get through the corona virus with your child with SEN – how to help them develop a growth
Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd. Register as a parent here to receive information about our services for children with SEN. Three tips for developing better communication
Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd. Register as a parent here to receive information about our services for children with SEN. 10 top-tips to have an enjoyable
Written by Longina, a tutor working through SENsational Tutors Ltd. How to encourage your child with SEN to write For many children, not only those
Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd You can register for FREE on our website here Author: Sarah McCaan QTS, PGCE, BSc (Hons) How to encourage children with SEN to
Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd You can register for FREE on our website here How can doodle art boost creativity and relieve anxiety in children? Most of us
Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd You can register for FREE on our website here SEN-friendly Summer in London Our guide to activities this summer for kids with autism,
Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd You can register for FREE on our website here Some parents and carers who have children with SEN and additional needs (including ASD
Kindly written by Katie Tang, a Qualified Teacher (1st Class Hons in Primary Education) who works with children with SEN including autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. She says
The Benefit of Exercise for Cognitive Development: How to help your child improve their learning Kindly written by David Ashaolu, a qualified PE teacher in
4 Ways to Boost your Child’s Self Esteem Kindly written by Bhavita, a qualified primary years and secondary school teacher with 16+ years experience and
10 Creative and Fun Ideas to Support your child at home Kindly written by Suzanna, an excellent qualified SENco working for SENsational Tutors Ltd. Parents can register
How to help your child develop a love of Maths Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd. Parents can register for FREE here Numbers are intangible. You can see numbers
Baking cookies and learning Maths – a perfect recipe! How getting hands-on in the kitchen can help children with number work Written by Morwenna Lawson,
How to prepare your child for the return to school Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd. You can register for FREE here It’s the New Year! We’ve all eagerly
SEN-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas Written by Dana Latter, author of “Against the Odds” for SENsational Tutors Ltd. You can register for FREE with SENsational Tutors Ltd. here Buying
SEN Friendly Events this December Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd. You can register for FREE on our website here Christmas is just around the corner, and there
How to help children with special educational needs (SEN) prepare for Chanukah Written by SENsational Tutors Ltd. Chanukah is one of the most exciting Jewish
Supporting the Sensory Needs of Children – Hearing and Sensory Sensitivities Using Therapeutic Listening to help Children with SPD Hearing is arguably the most
Written in collaboration with SENsational Tutors Ltd, a company that provides specialist tutoring support for children with SEN including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, sensory needs and
We are celebrating Hug a Bear Day on Wednesday 7th November by celebrating children with SEN! Children with SEN have a learning difficulty or disability
Halloween can be a scary time of year for all children! Joanna Gibbs, Director of SENsational Tutors Ltd. has asked some parents of children with
Separation Anxiety and mental development When mothers ask me what happens when separation anxiety sets in I answer that it’s a very good sign of
Autism Hero Awards – Bringing Autism Awareness to London Last weekend I was fortunate to attend the Anna Kennedy Online Autism Hero Awards 2018 – one
School Admissions 2018 and School Open Days/ Evenings Autumn brings some lovely seasonal changes, as well as the start of school admissions 2018 process. Whether
How can parents inspire a love of learning STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths)? How can hobbies such as coding help? Today is
October half-term in London Hubble bubble toil and trouble… Just as we settle the kids back to school after a long summer, October half-term creeps
Does your child remember spellings for tests but then forgets them the next day? Is reading like forcing a horse to water? Dyslexia is the most
How to encourage positive behaviour at home Parenting doesn’t come with a manual and from time to time you may be questioning yourself, “am I
Our maths tutor in London gives her tips on how to motivate your child in maths Maths can be one of the subjects that children
Transitioning from nursery to reception If your children are transitioning from nursery to reception, it can be a nerve-wracking time. How will they cope in
As summer comes to an end, many of us may already be overwhelmed by the thought of the children going back to school. All the
Meditation and mindfulness In today’s fast paced society it’s even more important to take time out to relax. Never before have we been bombarded with
Special Educational Needs friendly summer kids activities For families with Autism or Special Educational Needs (SEN) there are plenty of exciting places to spend your summer
SUMMER DAYS OUT FOR THE KIDS IN LONDON There are many ways to entertain the children this summer, both indoors and outdoors. But if you
Studies suggest that children lose 30% of their learning over the summer holiday. This summer learning loss is especially evident in children aged 10 and
SENsational Tutors Ltd., London’s leading Special Needs tuition company, has received funding from Westminster City Council to provide approximately 20 children in Westminster with a
This summer why not use some free time with your child at home or outdoors to encourage Maths and English skills with fun activities. Here are five easy activities you can prepare and do with your child during any half term or summer holiday.
Reading is one activity that a child with autism may find particularly challenging. We consider three distinct learning styles, while putting a lesson plan together to help a child with autism with learning to read.
SENsational private tutors specialise in assisting children with Autism, ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia and other Special Education Needs (SEN).
Award winning. Winner of the UK’s People’s Choice, Tuition Agency of the Year 2023.