CB Neurodivergent Affirming Tutoring & Mentoring

03/04/2023

The sun is shining and I'm stuck inside finishing work for a uni deadline (midnight tonight!)

How's half term going?

I have some ideas to share with you once I've got through this next 12 hours of study!

This (below) is exactly the battle I have with myself all the time! Anyone else?

02/04/2023

Happy Sunday everyone!

I have a day of studying ahead of me today! The joys of uni deadlines in half term with the kids home 🤦🏻‍♀️!

Anyone got any exciting plans today?

Please get in touch to discuss individual needs, I have loved chatting to you all 😊

01/04/2023

Easter holidays are upon us!

My boys struggled SO much when school was out at a younger age. We used to use a visual timetable to ease some of the anxiety and give the boys structure.

I would love to work with families who struggle to create a custom timetable that could be used for any school holiday.

Below is my basic template, alongside this an entirely custom set of icons can be produced to your specific needs as a family.

Icons and board can then be laminated and mounted onto the fridge or door or wherever is most prominent for use.

Please get in touch to discuss your individual needs.

31/03/2023

IITS FRIDAY!! 🎉

this is so relatable! Anyone else?! 😂

We are so close to the end of term, one more day! We got this!

30/03/2023

If there is one subject that young master W doesn't enjoy it has to be RE. His PDA goes into overdrive and there is no way he will sit and recap 4 Bible stories for an exam tomorrow.

Our work around is creating sequence boards, he can read them and use them for revision without the added pressure of having to re-tell them and write them.

It works for so many subjects as it takes out some of the steps that cause anxiety (recall, getting it in the wrong order, handwriting..)

29/03/2023

So I thought an introduction would be in order;
I'm Charlotte, a final year university student studying a primary education/law degree with the open university. I am also a teaching assistant and mum to 2 neurodivergent boys.
Between the 2 of them they have multiple formal diagnoses' including:

- autism
- anxiety
- higher executive functioning disorder
- dyspraxia
- irlens syndrome
- demand avoidance
- sensory processing disorder

And one is currently awaiting assessment for ADHD.

As a mum I have fought and secured 2 EHCPs.

My professional background includes 13 years working for the NHS, 6 of those in paediatrics working with a variety of children with multiple different needs. I then moved to working as a teaching assistant in various mainstream primary schools working mostly 1:1 with students with SEND but also as a class TA.

I have gained a huge amount of experience working with a very diverse section of our local community in multiple settings. I love working with children to gain the skills they need to be successful. I believe that the best way is different for each child and finding what works is the best feeling ever.

I am forever learning, forever advocating and forever striving to gain the skills and qualifications needed to support my children and other children who are also neurodivergent.

Thank you so much for your interest and support thus far. Please get in touch to discuss anything you may wish to gain support for, each circumstance is entirely unique and as will the plan be that we draw up together :)

28/03/2023

Good morning lovely people ☺️

The count down to half term is more definitely on in our house! We are quite literally crawling to Friday 🤣

What does half term look like for you? I used to dread it, the lack of routine, but as the boys have grown, we now very much embrace the rest!

27/03/2023

A week of awareness is but a drop in the ocean.
What we really need is acts of parliament that actually truly meet the needs of neurodivergent learners.
Schools that support academically able neurodivergent children to thrive, not just survive, in placements they can actually access, as well as more specialist settings catering to all levels of learning need.
We need professionals with the capacity and skills to fully understand neurodivergence and the funding to support early diagnosis and early support in a affirming manner.
Instead we have an education and healthcare system that is absolutely on it's knees and a whole community of tired, exhausted parents who have to fight daily to get their children's needs supported.

On autism acceptance week, I hear you, I see you, I am one of you. Keep fighting, keep advocating, keep striving for change.

26/03/2023

Homework -

Sunday is probably the most stressful day of the week in our house! The endless meltdowns because they don't understand what's being asked and the frayed nerves because they just won't listen to me! Why? Because I'm their mum!

Ever thought a change of face to help with the weekly homework battle? I may be able to help! An hour online or in person may make all the difference.

Every now and then the biggest boy produces an absolute gem like this. Entirely independent work. Know why? Because he was allowed to do it on a topic that interests him and plays to his strengths 👌🏻❤️

26/03/2023

The Therapist Parent I could not agree more

Kids are people too. We need to remember we all have triggers. Kids are still learning and developing so hopefully we manage our emotions differently, but often the triggers are the same