Having a child with Special Educational Needs has sometimes been described as being like riding a rollercoaster, lots of highs and lots of lows, and the lows can be very low. With a noticeable absence in parent and carer support, three parents from Tunbridge Wells decided to do something about it and so Special Educational Needs support Tunbridge Wells (SENs TW) was born.
Becky and Sarah have children with additional needs and have first hand experience of the roller coaster. They have navigated their way through a confusing system, fought to understand their children’s needs, battled through diagnosis, shed blood, sweat and tears over the EHCP process, filled in endless forms and don’t even get them started on the war that is getting an appropriate school place. Add to this the challenges of every day life, the stigma and the strain, fighting for support and being “That parent” and that’s all before breakfast!
Gemma is a local mum and friend who has witnessed the strain that having a child with SEN can place on the family, particularly when they are having to challenge the system to receive the correct support.
During the last few years, it has become clear that there is very little parent to parent support locally to allow for the sharing of information and to develop friendships with other parents going through similar experiences. SENs TW aims to be a safe forum for the exchange of advice and support from other parents, using personal perspectives and experiences. There will also be regular meet ups to help steer the direction of the group, to chat with new friends and vent. To steal the words of one of the group members “it will be so empowering just to not have to say ‘I’m fine’ ”.
Having only been created at the end of October and already with two meet ups having taken place in November and 145 members, SENs TW has already shown it is a force to be reckoned with. In the future they have plans to host talks with professionals on subjects such as understanding the EHCP and your rights, ADHD, ASD and Dyslexia, along with Mindfulness workshops for both parent and child to help with anxiety disorders, and hopefully some fun family events, just give them a little bit of time to get these sorted.
The group aims to build a local network to support, signpost, empower and listen to each other ….oh and not forgetting the cake, that definitely helps.
We don’t want anyone to feel alone on this rollercoaster!
If the group and/or meet ups are of interest please do get in touch with us at senstunbridgewells@gmail.com or by joining the Facebook Group HERE – we would love to hear from you.