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Neurodiversity at Home Blog
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.
Finding Your Way Through the Special Needs Support.
Special Needs Jungle is a particularly valuable resource for families navigating the often complicated world of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
How Special Needs Jungle Supports Neurodivergent Children and Their Families
Joanne Baldwin
16 hours ago8 min read
More Inclusion, Less Capacity? The Dilemma Facing Mainstream Schools
The government wants more children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to be educated in mainstream schools by increasing inclusion
Joanne Baldwin
Nov 35 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Oct 135 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Oct 910 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Oct 57 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Sep 295 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Sep 246 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Sep 213 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.
Joanne Baldwin
Sep 84 min read
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.
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Aug 244 min read
7-Day Happiness Hormones-Boosting Challenge
Ready to feel happier, more motivated, and emotionally balanced? This 7-day challenge is designed to help you naturally increase your brain’s happiness hormones.
Joanne Baldwin
Aug 204 min read
Brain’s happiness chemicals—serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin.
Our brains produce four key chemicals that play a massive role in our mood, motivation, and overall happiness: serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin.
Joanne Baldwin
Aug 173 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Aug 114 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Aug 43 min read
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.
Joanne Baldwin
Jul 273 min read
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