Love2Learn Education

Finding the right support for your child shouldn't be one more thing you have to figure out on your own.

We've put together a directory of SEND support organisations, groups and services across Birmingham and the West Midlands, all in one place, so you're not stuck doing one Google search, one phone call, one recommendation at a time.

It's not everything that exists, but it's a genuine starting point. Have a look, and please do share with anyone who might find it useful. 💙

Bright Path Therapy One Nation Studios Spurgeons Barnardo's Mencap Trinity Specialist College SEND Socials Birmingham CIC The SEND Collaborative Autism West Midlands All Ways Learning

Find SEND Support Near You | Love2Learn Education Finding SEND support shouldn't be one more thing to figure out alone. Browse trusted organisations and services across the West Midlands.

We're growing our team at Love2Learn Education and have a few different roles open right now across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

We support children and young people with SEND through tutoring, alternative provision and EOTAS, and we're looking for people across teaching, coordination and operations, so there's a good mix depending on what you're looking for.

A few examples of what's currently open:

- A permanent, salaried Lead SEND Tutor role for someone with real depth of experience supporting autistic learners
- A part-time Business Manager to help run things behind the scenes
- Ongoing recruitment for SEND tutors and specialist educators, in-person across Birmingham and the West Midlands
- A couple of more specific placements too, including a Key Stage 1 job share and a role supporting a young person's preparation for adulthood

Have a look at our current vacancies here: https://www.love2learneducation.com/vacancies

Feel free to share with anyone you think might be a good fit. We'd love to hear from you.

Local authorities could be about to lose control of who arranges EOTAS support for your child.

Here's what's actually being proposed, and how to have your say.

The government has just launched a consultation that could change how EOTAS works for thousands of families. Right now, if your child has an EHCP and needs support outside school, the local authority arranges and oversees that. Under the new proposal, that job would move to a named school or college instead, who'd decide what gets delivered where and by whom.

Is that a good thing? Depends who you ask, and that's exactly why this consultation matters. Some will see it as decisions moving closer to the child. Others will worry it removes an independent layer of oversight when the relationship with a school has already broken down, which for a lot of our families is precisely why EOTAS was needed in the first place.

A few other things worth knowing:

If your child is secondary age or in post-16 and already on EOTAS, the proposal is that your existing arrangement stays protected until they leave the education system. Younger children would be reassessed at the end of primary school.

There's also a proposal for a family to only get an early EHCP review, rather than a full tribunal appeal, if a school wants to change or end an EOTAS arrangement. That's a meaningful shift in what redress looks like.

This isn't a done deal. It's a consultation, which means the government is actively asking for views before anything is decided. It closes on 18 September 2026.

If you've lived this, as a parent, a professional, or both, your experience is exactly what they say they want to hear. Search "SEND reform education otherwise than at school consultation" on GOV.UK to find the response form, or look for it under DfE consultations. It takes longer to read this post than it does to answer a few of the questions.

Have a read, talk it through with your child if that's appropriate, and put in a response.
Systems change when the people living inside them speak up.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-education-otherwise-than-at-school

SEND reform: education otherwise than at school We are seeking views on improving support, quality and oversight for children and young people who are educated outside of school.

🎉Do you know a child with Special Educational Needs that lives in the Telford Wrekin Area?

We have four funded spaces available on our 6 week, pony care course commencing Friday 24th July.
📧Email: [email protected] to register interest.

🐴 Supporting our local SEND community 🐴

We're so pleased to have been able to support SEND Socials Birmingham CIC with their recent visit to Happy Hooves, Happy Hearts.

Experiences like these provide so much more than a fun day out. Spending time with animals can help children and young people build confidence, develop communication skills, improve emotional wellbeing and simply enjoy being themselves in a calm, supportive environment.

We're delighted that our donation was able to help subsidise the session, making it more accessible for local families. Community organisations like SEND Socials Birmingham CIC do an incredible job creating opportunities for children and young people with SEND to connect, explore new experiences and make lasting memories.

A huge thank you to the team for everything you do, and to Happy Hooves Healing Hearts for hosting such a special day.

At Love2Learn Education, we're proud to support organisations that share our belief that every child deserves opportunities to learn, grow and thrive, both inside and outside the classroom. We look forward to seeing many more fantastic community projects in the future. 💙

This week we had a wonderful time meeting some beautiful Horses down at Happy Hooves, Happy Hearts

We groomed them, brushed them, plaited their manes, cleaned their hooves and spent time in stables.

We did end up experiencing the increased heat which for some of our young people was a challenge but also was for the horses, so we dampened them down to keep them cool and of course a few of us got wet too 🙋‍♀️

Thank you for hosting us, a very relaxed session with some wonderful moments for our groups. We will certainly be back

Thank you to our wonderful support Kirsty from Love2Learn Education who made a donation to us which we used to subsidise this session for our families. We are so grateful ❤️

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💛 Supporting our local SEND community 💛

This week, one of our wonderful Specialist Educators, Emma, had the pleasure of leading a Home Education session for children and young people supported by CitiSen 4 U.

Together they made homemade pizzas from scratch, enjoyed some sensory water play and finished with an indoor picnic. It was a simple activity, but one that encouraged independence, creativity, communication and, most importantly, plenty of smiles.

We're incredibly proud of Emma, who carefully planned and delivered a session that was engaging, inclusive and accessible for every learner.

The feedback from families speaks for itself. Hearing comments such as *"Emma was fab!"*, *"Simple, clear instructions"* and *"It was perfect"* means so much to us. Knowing that children felt able to engage and families felt welcomed is exactly what we hope to achieve.

A huge thank you to Citisen 4u for inviting us to be part of such a fantastic Home Education group. It was a privilege to support your community, and we hope this is the first of many opportunities to work together.

At Love2Learn Education, we believe that learning happens best when it is practical, relationship-based and built around each learner's strengths. We're always delighted to support charities and community organisations that share those values and help create opportunities for children and young people with SEND to learn, connect and thrive.

Thank you, Emma, for representing Love2Learn Education so brilliantly. 💙

Last night I was completely overwhelmed to receive the Positivity & Culture Champion Award 2025/26 at the Alternative Provision Awards.

I still don't quite know what to say except thank you.

This award is not really about me. It's about the culture we have all tried to build together at Love2Learn Education. A culture where families feel heard, where children and young people are met with curiosity and compassion rather than judgement, and where every child is given the chance to be seen for who they are.

That is what matters most to me. Not certificates or results on a page, but whether a child feels safe, understood and able to be themselves.

This award has my name on it, but it belongs just as much to our amazing team, and to every family who has trusted us with their child. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.

It was also really special to spend the evening with people who understand this work in a way that not everyone does. People who show up for children and young people every single day, often without any recognition at all.

Moments like this also remind me how much more we would love to do, and how many more children and families we hope to reach in the years ahead.

To every family we support and every child and young person we work with, thank you. You are the reason this all means something.
Kirsty

🌟 We’re looking forward to attending the SEND Socials Birmingham Meet the Educator event.

Kirsty and Anna will be there representing Love2Learn Education and would love to meet local families, schools and professionals from across Birmingham’s SEND community.

Finding the right educational support can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when a child or young person needs something a little different. Events like this create a welcoming space to ask questions, explore options and connect with others who understand the journey.

If you’re attending, please do come and say hello 👋

🌟 MEET THE EDUCATOR 🌟

Navigating education when your child has SEND can feel overwhelming, but families shouldn’t have to do it alone.

Our Meet the Educator event on Monday 29th June brings together a range of specialist and alternative education providers so parents and carers can:

• Ask honest questions
• Explore pathways
• Understand support options
• Hear directly from settings about their approach and cohort
• Get clarity on transitions, GCSEs, anxiety support and more

📍 Shenley Court Hall, B29 4ED
🕒 11:30–14:00 (with timed entry to keep the space calm and accessible)

If you know a parent or carer who’s trying to understand their child’s next steps, please share this with them. A conversation with the right educator can change everything ❤️

We're exploring some exciting opportunities to expand our community-based learning offer and are looking for suitable spaces to hire during the daytime.

Can anyone recommend any venues in Birmingham or the surrounding areas that might be a good fit?

We're particularly interested in places such as:

• Community centres
• Village halls
• Church halls
• Theatres and arts venues
• Universities and colleges
• Community hubs
• Parks with community rooms, classrooms or visitor centres
• Nature reserves or outdoor learning venues with indoor space
• Other flexible learning or meeting spaces

Ideally, we're looking for somewhere that offers a welcoming and calm environment, parking, toilet facilities and access to one larger room with additional breakout spaces if possible.

We're always keen to hear about local venues that may not be widely advertised, so recommendations and introductions would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help and please feel free to share.

I've been reflecting on this article today.

One thing I've learned through working with children and young people with SEND is that there is rarely a simple answer.

I've seen learners thrive in mainstream schools when the right support is in place. I've also seen learners flourish in specialist settings after years of struggling to cope.

For me, the conversation shouldn't be about mainstream versus specialist provision.

It should be about making sure every child has access to an environment where they feel safe, understood and able to learn.

The challenge is not that children are different.

The challenge is creating an education system flexible enough to meet those differences.

What do others think?

Labour doesn't seem to like Send schools for kids like mine – but here's what we'll lose if these precious places are forgotten | John Harris An autism school in Wiltshire exemplifies what’s so different about education in a tailored environment, and the outcomes for children speak for themselves, says Guardian columnist John Harris