Richmond and Kingston SENDIASS

09/10/2026

**Sharing on behalf of ADHD Embrace. Supporting families, carers & professionals ***

In honour of ADHD Awareness month this October ADHD Embrace are holding a Community event

When
13th October, 2026 from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Where
Heatham House, Whitton Road, Twickenham, TW1 1BH

You can register in advance to guarantee your place. This is a free event, but they would welcome donations to support their charitable work.

For more information and to book, use this link: https://bit.ly/4wWqTHy

The theme this year is A Community Of Support

The evening will be an opportunity to come together with other parents, charity supporters and professionals, and connect. The evening includes a panel discussion on Parent and Community views on ADHD, followed by a Q&A and drinks.

What to expect
The panel will explore how societal views of ADHD have changed over the last two decades from being relatively unknown to greater awareness of the condition, increased diagnoses and impact of social media.

We will consider the persistent stigma around diagnosis and misinformation and explore the views and feelings of parents on child diagnosis and what a diagnosis can mean for a young person and their family.

The panellists include two of our Ambassadors, Dr Bozhena Zoritch, a Paediatrician and Diagnosing Consultant for the NHS and Dr Jo Steer, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who heads up the Emotional Health Service at Achieving for Children (AfC). We are also delighted to welcome Ayesha Walker, a teacher and one of ADHD Embrace’s alumni, having been diagnosed as a teen. The session will be led by Annette Wilson, our Chair.

The panel will also welcome questions from attendees during the Q&A and then be followed by some time for networking, refreshments and informal conversations.
Who should attend?

This is a session for parents, carers or close relatives of children with ADHD, pre or post- diagnosis.

Login or register for ADHD Embrace member services, event bookings and community updates with the charity’s CiviCRM portal.

08/10/2026

Thinking about using AI for SEND advice?

🎥Come and watch our new video available to share our advice in relation to AI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj-EU4P44nk

Artificial Intelligence is becoming part of everyday life, but it's important to understand both its benefits and its limitations.

We've created a new Richmond and Kingston SENDIASS Statement on AI to outline our concerns about the use of AI, where it may not always be helpful, and how it can be used successfully to support children, young people, parents, and carers.

Our aim is to help people make informed decisions when using AI and ensure that professional advice and individual circumstances remain at the heart of SEND support.

📄 If you prefer to read the full statement click here: https://www.rksendiass.co.uk/about-us

07/10/2026

✨ Feeling overwhelmed by education acronyms? You’re not alone.
EOTISC, Education Other Than in School or College, Alternative Provision (AP), Home Education, Off‑roll, EOTAS…

When your young person isn’t thriving in their current educational setting, it can feel like a whole new language is being thrown your way.

At RK SENDIASS, we know how stressful and confusing this journey can be. That’s why we work hard to keep information simple, clear, and supportive—so you can feel confident when talking with education settings or the local authority.

🌟 We’ve just updated our website section on Education Other Than in School/College to help you navigate these terms and understand your options without feeling overwhelmed.

👉 Take a look: https://www.rksendiass.co.uk/education-other-than-in-school-college/

06/10/2026

New resources added to our Neurodiversity section!

We've expanded our information offer with some new resources designed to support young people with organisation, planning and study skills.

We've recently added:

🔹 A Class Planner
🔸 A link to student organisation and study tips, particularly helpful for young people with ADHD

While these resources may be especially useful for some neurodivergent learners, many of the strategies can benefit all young people, and perhaps even a few of us adults too! 😊

If planning, prioritising tasks, keeping track of deadlines, or staying organised feels challenging, these tools may help you find approaches that work for you.

🔗 Explore our Neurodiversity section here: https://www.rksendiass.co.uk/neurodiversity/

05/10/2026

***Sharing from ***

💙 Parent carers, how are YOU?

When your child is seriously ill or disabled, so much of life can become focused on them. Appointments, assessments, phone calls, paperwork, worries, decisions... and somewhere in amongst all of that, your own wellbeing can get pushed to the bottom of the list.

At Harry’s Pals, we’re here for you.

We provide free, bespoke counselling and therapy for parents of seriously ill and disabled children, giving you a safe, confidential space to talk to someone who understands the pressures that come with being a parent carer.
You don’t have to wait until you’re at breaking point. You don’t need to feel guilty for asking for help. Your wellbeing matters too.

If you’re a parent carer who could benefit from support, please get in touch. Taking that first step can feel difficult, but we’ll make the process as simple and supportive as we can. 💙

🌐 Apply for support: https://harryspals.co.uk/contact/
📧 Or email [email protected] if you’d prefer to have a chat first.

Please share this post. You never know which parent in your family, friendship group, school community, SEND group or wider network might really need to see it today.

01/10/2026

ooking for support, connection and opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent children, young people, adults and their families?

Express CIC offers a wide range of services designed to help neurodivergent people thrive, build confidence and feel understood. From creative therapy, play therapy and occupational therapy to social clubs, drama, film production, Dungeons & Dragons groups and parent support networks, there really is something for everyone.

They don't just support individuals. They also provide specialist services, counselling, life coaching, family support groups, outreach services and training for schools to help create more inclusive environments.

At the heart of everything they do is a commitment to creating safe, welcoming spaces where autistic and neurodivergent people can be themselves, make connections and access the support they need.

👉 Find out more about the amazing work they do: https://www.expresscic.org.uk/what-we-do

30/09/2026

📢 Free Online SEND Workshops This October

Are you navigating the SEND journey and looking for impartial advice and support? RK SENDIASS is offering a range of free online workshops designed to help parents, carers, and young people understand their options and next steps.

🔸Free impartial SEND advice for ages 0-25
🔸Confidential sessions that are not recorded
🔸Opportunity to connect with others on a similar journey
🔸Dedicated support from experienced SEND advisers

Topics include:

🔹Considering an EHCP
🔹Responding to a Draft EHCP
🔹SEND Tribunal Appeals
🔹SEN Support and Ordinarily Available Provision
🔹Alternative Provision

👉 To book, simply visit our workshops page and click "Join Here" on the session you'd like to attend:
🌐 https://www.rksendiass.co.uk/workshops/

💻 Concerned about using Microsoft Teams? Don't worry. You'll find our helpful online guide to using Teams on the same page.

30/09/2026

Sharing a useful resource and organisation

There’s so much discussion about autism and ADHD in the media right now. If someone you care about feels their reality isn’t reflected by something they’ve seen, listening and taking their concerns seriously can make a real difference.

Through our Autism Central programme, funded by NHS England Workforce, Training and Education, we offer free resources, videos, podcasts, one-to-one coaching and group learning to help families and support networks find trustworthy information and feel more confident in supporting their autistic and AuDHD loved ones.

We’ve just published a new blog on how to spot reliable information and support the people you care about: https://orlo.uk/anKCE

28/09/2026

We're resharing this recommendation for anyone supporting a child or young person with additional needs.

Sometimes the books that seem the most daunting at first can offer some of the most valuable insights. While not every suggestion will resonate with everyone, hearing real experiences from parents and carers can help us discover resources that we may not otherwise have come across.

If you're looking to deepen your understanding, gain a different perspective, or simply feel less alone in your journey, this book may be worth exploring.

Take a look at the review below and see if it could be a helpful addition to your reading list. 💙👇

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1471200374821615&id=100057949994522&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=DnATBnuq1YYTWsUX #