Neurodiversity at Home Blog

All Posts 116 posts
Mental Health 54 posts
Education 56 posts
Neurodiversity 82 posts
Resources 4 posts

Welcome to Neurodiversity at Home, a space created to support parents, carers, and educators of neurodiverse children. Here you’ll find lived experiences, practical advice, and resources on SEN support in the UK, reflections on neurodiversity in education, and questions like how to support an autistic child at school.

You can also explore my book, Neurodiversity in Education a neurodiversity book for parents and educators, where I share my personal journey, echoing the experiences of many families raising and teaching neurodiverse children.

All Posts 116 posts
Mental Health 54 posts
Education 56 posts
Neurodiversity 82 posts
Resources 4 posts

Education

We need to see sensory regulation in children as more than calmness. A child can look “too loud” in one moment, “too quiet” in the next, and deeply absorbed five minutes later. These shifts can confuse adults, especially when they understand regulation only as calm, still, and compliant.

Understanding Sensory Regulation in Children Beyond Calmness

We need to see sensory regulation in children as more than calmness. A child can look “too loud” in one moment, “too quiet” in the next, and deeply absorbed five minutes later. These shifts can confuse adults, especially when they understand regulation only as calm, still, and compliant.

Neurodiversity

Joanne Baldwin

1 day ago5 min read

Many children are asked to learn in ways that do not fit them. They sit still when they need to move. They answer in words when they think in pictures. Play-based learning can make education more inclusive.

How Play-Based Learning Can Make Education More Inclusive

Many children are asked to learn in ways that do not fit them. They sit still when they need to move. They answer in words when they think in pictures. Play-based learning can make education more inclusive.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

6 days ago10 min read

Children don’t separate play from learning. Adults do. That’s why play-based learning still matters. It’s not a soft option. It’s not “just playing”. It’s one of the most natural ways children explore.

Play Based Learning Why It Matters for Every Child

Children don’t separate play from learning. Adults do. That’s why play-based learning still matters. It’s not a soft option. It’s not “just playing”. It’s one of the most natural ways children explore.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Oct 57 min read

Sensory play can help children explore the world at their own pace.

Sensory Processing Awareness Month How to Support Children at Home and in the Classroom

October is Sensory Awareness Month, a helpful reminder that children take in information through their senses every minute of the day. For some children, this information feels manageable. For others, ordinary sounds, textures, lights, smells, movements, or body signals can feel too strong, too weak, or confusing.

Neurodiversity

Joanne Baldwin

Oct 29 min read

There has been a lot of discussion about the UK Government’s plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. For families, schools and professionals.

SEND Reform in England: Where Are We Now?

There has been a lot of discussion about the UK Government’s plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. For families, schools and professionals.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Sep 295 min read

Many parents, carers, nursery staff, and teachers are noticing more challenging behaviour in young children. Behaviour is communication, and many children are growing up in conditions that make calm, flexible behaviour harder to learn.

Understanding Challenging Behaviour in Young Children

Many parents, carers, nursery staff, and teachers are noticing more challenging behaviour in young children. Behaviour is communication, and many children are growing up in conditions that make calm, flexible behaviour harder to learn.

Neurodiversity

Joanne Baldwin

Sep 246 min read

Dysregulation in children with autism and ADHD means that, for a period of time, their nervous system is having difficulty managing their emotional, sensory, physical or behavioural state.

SEND: Dysregulation in Autism and ADHD

Dysregulation in children with autism and ADHD means that, for a period of time, their nervous system is having difficulty managing their emotional, sensory, physical or behavioural state.

Mental Health

Joanne Baldwin

Sep 213 min read

Inclusive education means creating a learning environment where every child, regardless of ability or difference, can thrive. It’s about belonging and participation.

Navigating Neurodiversity in Inclusive Education in UK

Inclusive education means creating a learning environment where every child, regardless of ability or difference, can thrive. It’s about belonging and participation.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Sep 154 min read

Essential Autism Parenting Tips for UK Families: autism family guidance uk

Navigating the world of autism parenting can feel overwhelming at times. When your child is diagnosed with autism, it’s natural to have a flood of questions and emotions.

Neurodiversity

Joanne Baldwin

Sep 84 min read

For a neurodivergent or SEND child, the start of a school year is often less about “preparing for school to learn” and more about making the environment predictable, accessible and emotionally safe enough for learning to happen.

SEND: Preparation for starting School

For a neurodivergent or SEND child, the start of a school year is often less about “preparing for school to learn” and more about making the environment predictable, accessible and emotionally safe enough for learning to happen.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Sep 24 min read

Traditional vs Progressive Education

Traditional vs Progressive education is a topic of conversation, especially regarding Neurodiversity and the different ways we learn. Progressive education is an approach to teaching that puts the learner at the centre of education.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Aug 244 min read

“Why do we need to move around to learn?” The brain may not have evolved to learn while sitting still. The short answer is: movement helps the brain learn.

SEN:Why Do We Need to Move to Learn

“Why do we need to move around to learn?” The brain may not have evolved to learn while sitting still. The short answer is: movement helps the brain learn.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Aug 114 min read

Heavy Work is like giving the nervous system a "reset" through purposeful muscle activity. In the context of dysregulation, heavy work for SEN children refers to activities that require the muscles.

SEN: Heavy work for SEN Children

Heavy Work is like giving the nervous system a "reset" through purposeful muscle activity. In the context of dysregulation, heavy work for SEN children refers to activities that require the muscles.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Aug 43 min read

I overheard a teacher describing a situation involving her pupils, social media, and bullying. Teachers play a big part in safeguarding children in their care.

Education: Social Media Bullying and Responsibility

I overheard a teacher describing a situation involving her pupils, social media, and bullying. Teachers play a big part in safeguarding children in their care. The parents of these children wanted the teacher to sort out the bullying. She said she talked to all the children concerned, but what else could she do? What should she do?

Mental Health

Joanne Baldwin

Jul 303 min read

The six-week summer holiday has a surprisingly tangled history. A common myth is that it exists so children could help bring in the harvest, but that's only part of the story.

Education: Why a six-week Summer Holiday

The six-week summer holiday has a surprisingly tangled history. A common myth is that it exists so children could help bring in the harvest, but that's only part of the story—and not the main reason for the modern six-week break.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Jul 273 min read

SEND lessons for England. There are many strengths in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system; however, many countries achieve better outcomes. England could adopt several successful practices.

International Best Practices: What England could learn about SEND

SEND lessons for England. There are many strengths in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system; however, many countries achieve better outcomes. England could adopt several successful practices.

Neurodiversity

Joanne Baldwin

Jul 213 min read

School refusal is usually due to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) or School Distress. These terms recognise that most children are not refusing school out of defiance

SEN: School Refusal is on the Increase

School refusal is usually due to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) or School Distress. These terms recognise that most children are not refusing school out of defiance

Mental Health

Joanne Baldwin

Jul 133 min read

Learning Support Assistants (LSAs), also called teaching assistants or classroom support assistants in some schools, play an important role in supporting pupils with additional needs. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to relying on them.

SEND: Do we Need Learning Support?

Learning Support Assistants (LSAs), also called teaching assistants or classroom support assistants in some schools, play an important role in supporting pupils with additional needs. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to relying on them.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Jul 62 min read

Finland is still widely respected for its education system, but it has slipped from the very top of many international rankings compared with the early 2000s.

Has Finland's Education system really failed?

Finland is still widely respected for its education system, but it has slipped from the very top of many international rankings compared with the early 2000s.

Education

Joanne Baldwin

Jun 292 min read