A Space To Grow

A Space To Grow I’m Katherine! Tutor and mentor supporting neurodivergent children & families. Sharing a holistic approach to SEND, mental health & education.

With huge thanks to Write it Out and Clare for the beautiful writing session and reiki drum meditation, which completely...
24/08/2026

With huge thanks to Write it Out and Clare for the beautiful writing session and reiki drum meditation, which completely blew my mind. It was such a powerful meditation.

I remember the feelings of September as a teacher, as a school parent and on the first year of our ‘outside of school’ journey. It all hit hard for different reasons. It still does.

But there really ARE other ways.
Things really CAN get better.
And maybe…just maybe… the outlook is brighter when acceptance becomes possible.

For anyone struggling, my messages are always open. 💕 🌱

Also- thanks to Laura | Neurodivergent education, parenting, life for the technical support. Love this community! 🙏

One of my (many) thoughts this week…I think I’ve reached the point where I just know how things need to be. As a family ...
21/08/2026

One of my (many) thoughts this week…

I think I’ve reached the point where I just know how things need to be.

As a family we know what is necessary.

As an educator I can create space and adapt.

It’s working! We are doing it! We know what is needed!

So here we are, ticking away, doing our thing.

And then it hits again.

I am reminded how horribly out of sync the world is.

It is rather terrifying.

Does anyone else feel like this? Everything is fine until the outside world creeps in! 🙈

Onwards we go! 🙌🏻

If this resonates, feel free to follow and share. It’s lovely to have you here. 🌱 💕

AND I managed to somehow delete this post so reposting. 🙈So here we go again… Short one today. Feel the need to get stra...
19/08/2026

AND I managed to somehow delete this post so reposting. 🙈So here we go again…

Short one today. Feel the need to get straight to the point (for a change!)

This is what I am here for; for my kids, your kids, and the future of this country.

If you can relate then, welcome!

Please feel free to follow, I’d love to have you here! 🌱 💕

To anyone who needs to read it. Things can definitely get better. One step at a time. 🌱 ⛰️
10/08/2026

To anyone who needs to read it.

Things can definitely get better.

One step at a time. 🌱 ⛰️

A few years ago, I did a short course with the amazing Shelley Farnham | ADHD/Autism Coach & SSP Practitioner on connect...
08/08/2026

A few years ago, I did a short course with the amazing Shelley Farnham | ADHD/Autism Coach & SSP Practitioner on connected parenting when I first realised we needed to parent against the grain.

A while later we both completed training in retained reflexes together- another huge eye-opener! Anyway, Shelley has a wealth of wisdom, but three words have stayed with me ever since:

JUST
ONE
THING.

We can’t change everything at once. If we move too quickly, or with too much force, we risk damaging relationships.

Gentle conversations lead to small steps of progress. Quick fixes are rarely manageable in this house.

Then one day, you look back and realise just how far you’ve come.

If it’s not realistic or healthy to change everything, then maybe we need to focus on JUST ONE THING. And every little step creates a bigger picture! 🌱 💕

What do you think? Do you find this hard? I really do! 🥴

But I am learning to trust the process and now we are seeing results! 🙌🏻

I tried to post this the other day and accidentally deleted the whole thing. 🙈 I’ve tried multiple times since, but….lif...
08/08/2026

I tried to post this the other day and accidentally deleted the whole thing. 🙈 I’ve tried multiple times since, but….life!!!

But this week, I have had the overwhelming urge to reconnect with my little page. So here we go!💓

Nearly two years ago, I started this space to share my tutoring work and experiences of education as a former teacher, a parent navigating failing systems, and a tutor to neurodivergent children.

I’ve been quiet because life has just taken over. Appointments, tutoring, planning, educating, driving, paperwork, relentless admin, running a home, brain fog, survival mode… and a real need for privacy. You get the picture! Sharing has felt impossible.

But this space is important. It reminds us we’re not alone.

Parenting and educating outside of school, navigating broken support systems and doing life differently can be incredibly isolating. Having somewhere to connect feels like a life line .

Reading ‘Tender’ by Penny Wincer has reminded me that we don’t need all the answers, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. But we do need to keep the conversations going.

If something I’ve learnt through teaching, tutoring or parenting helps someone feel a little less alone, that’s reason enough to keep sharing. In Penny’s words…

“The truth is we are just ordinary people, doing our very best to support someone we love.”

So, with a fraction more headspace this summer, I’m going to ATTEMPT to share a little more.

There’s a lot bubbling away and it needs somewhere to go! 🫠🙈

Who knows?! We’ll see.

If any of this resonates, or you’d like to connect, my messages are always open. Thank you for being here and thank you to Penny Wincer | author and writing coach for the inspo! 💓

Just had a lovely catch up with a returning parent. Supporting the child on their journey does not just happen in sessio...
17/06/2026

Just had a lovely catch up with a returning parent. Supporting the child on their journey does not just happen in sessions.

My support is centred around the whole child and that support starts with the parents.

Parents are often struggling without appropriate support. Creating a space for them to feel heard, listening to the challenges they are faced with and understanding the child’s needs is the priority. This is how I personalise sessions.

This way we can all move forwards together.

The book I didn’t know I needed to read. THE PARENT CARER by As it’s I wanted to write a proper post about what it mea...
09/06/2026

The book I didn’t know I needed to read.

THE PARENT CARER by

As it’s I wanted to write a proper post about what it means to me to be a parent carer. It is a term I have really struggled to use for myself. It’s certainly not a role I ever expected. But it is a role I give my everything to, and will continue to do, as long as needed. There are so many important things to say, I don’t know where to start!

And then… oh yes…. aside from that, I’m currently drowning in an insurmountable load of administrative tasks, in a state of utter exhaustion, whilst caring for and educating both my children at home. So I’ll leave it there for now.

But onwards we go, and with this book under my belt, I feel heard and a lot less alone!

If you are a parent carer or you know a parent carer who is in need of validation and recognition for the complex, exhausting and undervalued role that is parent caring, then I strongly urge you to read this book. Thank you Natalie!!! 🙏❤️

Here is Harvey, our adolescent dog and the backbone of our family. He makes us all laugh daily, he notices our tears, he...
05/06/2026

Here is Harvey, our adolescent dog and the backbone of our family. He makes us all laugh daily, he notices our tears, he drives us around the bend, but he gives the best cuddles and we love him like he is one of us. He is also highly sensitive and requires a LOT of support and training, so fits right in! 😂

I’m no expert, but we’ve worked with dog trainers and done a lot of research online and much of what applies to Harvey is how I work with children. It all comes back to the nervous system.

I only move at Harvey’s pace. Pushing through just causes stress. If I can see his body signals showing overwhelm, we take a step back, we give him space, we let him sniff, we cut training short, we give him a rest. He loves calm music and he often just needs a really good run!

It’s the same with children. If I can see they are stressed or overwhelmed, we take a pause, I give them space, I support them to regulate. We don’t push through at all costs. We look at how we can lighten the load. And maybe they also just need a really good run! Movement is key.

For both dogs and children learning can’t happen without nervous system safety.

If we know that dogs need to regulate their nervous systems to be calm enough to learn, and we know that forcing them into busy, stressful environments without appropriate support can do more harm than good. Surely we can do this for our children?! 🤔

As SATS and the exam period descends, I thought I’d share a little poem I wrote a while back. My two would be taking the...
09/05/2026

As SATS and the exam period descends, I thought I’d share a little poem I wrote a while back.

My two would be taking their SATs this year, and today, I am extremely grateful that their brains and bodies had other ideas for education.

I’m thinking of my nephew, their friends, children I work with and the many other children subjected to these pointless assessments. I hope their creativity survives and that their wonder and ability to dream are kept alive.

Sending love to all the families and school staff navigating the challenges this week may bring. ❤️🌱

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Whitley Bay

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