Supporting parents of a SEND child

Supporting parents of a child with special needs and disabilities (SEND) can be terrifying or the single most rewarding experience ever. At our PlayWise headquarters in Sutton, London, every day is different – it’s like being on a magical mystery tour until we get to know the family.

We see families at their best (rocking it as a parent and teaching their child to be a superstar), at their most natural (rolling along on a day to day basis and nailing the 150 appointments they have to juggle each week and working full time and getting food on the table before all hell breaks loose).  We also get to see them at the worst (the emotional heartbreak and frustration at things not going well, services not playing ball, having to make difficult decisions or that moment you get out of the shower and answer the door with a towel wrapped round you and realise that you forgot your PlayWise Portage worker was coming to see you at that very moment!)

As Portage workers with years of experience we have the absolute privilege of getting to know families in their homes with their young child with additional needs.  It’s quite simply the best job ever – being part of a family’s journey, being part of a child’s progress and seeing a family thrive in difficult situations. 

Our message to our SEND parents is simple. We don’t see the knickers hanging out to dry, we don’t care that you haven’t had a chance to wash up, we don’t care that you haven’t hoovered this week or you’re still in your pyjamas when we arrive at the door.

We do care that you are ok. We care that your child is making progress. We care that you are getting an adult conversation and have someone to talk to.  We care that you have everything you need to continue being the amazing parent you already are – you just don’t necessarily know it yet.