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Help from mummy and Ruby, London (2026)

05/06/2026

🍽️ FREE SCHOOL MEALS ARE CHANGING

💛💡 From September 2026, the rules around Free School Meals are changing.

The biggest change?

👉 All children living in households receiving Universal Credit will become eligible for Free School Meals.

This means many more children will qualify than they do currently.

For lots of families this is fantastic news.

At the moment, some parents receive Universal Credit but don't qualify for Free School Meals because of the current earnings threshold.

From September 2026, that threshold is being removed.

⚠️ However, there is another change that many people aren't aware of.

The transitional protections that have been in place since 2018 are ending.

What does that mean?

Since 2018, many children who qualified for Free School Meals kept that entitlement even if family circumstances later changed.

This protected families from suddenly losing support.

From September 2026, this protection will end.

So whilst many more children are expected to become eligible, some families who currently receive Free School Meals may need to be reassessed under the new rules.

💛 My advice?

✔ Make sure your school has your up-to-date information.

✔ If you're receiving Universal Credit but don't currently qualify, keep an eye on announcements from your school and local authority.

✔ Don't assume your entitlement will automatically stay exactly the same after September 2026.

I know many families are struggling with the cost of living, so hopefully this information helps a few people plan ahead.

👇 Do your children currently receive Free School Meals?

And did you already know these changes were coming?

Please share this post as I think a lot of parents are still unaware.

04/06/2026

✨ NEW MINI SERIES COMING SOON ✨

Access Cards.

I've had a few request to cover Access card, so let do it.

Some parents have been awarded every symbol they applied for.

Others have been awarded some but refused others.

And some have been completely confused by the decision they received.

One thing I've noticed?

A lot of people don't fully understand:

👉 what the symbols actually mean

👉 what evidence should be submitted

👉 how applications are assessed

👉 why symbols are refused

👉 or that decisions can be challenged

I've seen families with:

✔ DLA awards

✔ EHCPs

✔ significant support needs

✔ substantial disability-related difficulties

still be refused certain symbols.

Not necessarily because they don't have a disability...

But because the evidence didn't match what the assessor was looking for.

So before I start this new mini series, I'd love to hear from you.

💬 Have you applied for an Access Card?

Were you:

✅ awarded everything requested?

🤔 awarded some symbols but not others?

❌ refused?

If you were refused:

👉 which symbol was refused?

👉 what reason were you given?

👉 did you challenge the decision?

If you were successful:

👉 which symbols were awarded?

👉 what evidence helped?

👉 any tips for other families?

Over the next few days I'll be covering:

📌 What the symbols actually mean

📌 Common reasons applications are refused

📌 The +1 symbol and why so many families struggle with it

📌 What evidence works best

📌 How to answer the application questions

📌 Reviews and appeals

📌 Common mistakes people make

📌 Real-life examples of successful and unsuccessful applications

👇 I'd really love as many comments as possible on this one.

Whether your experience was positive, negative or somewhere in between.

Your experience could help another family avoid the same mistakes.

Please feel free to share this post too so we can gather as many experiences as possible before the series begins 💛

03/06/2026

✨ HRM under SMI – FINAL PART

What I want parents to take away from this series

When I started this series, my goal wasn't to convince parents their child qualifies for SMI.

My goal was:

👉 to help parents understand what the criteria actually says

Because SMI is probably one of the most misunderstood areas of DLA.

💡 If there is one thing I want you to remember...

It is this:

👉 diagnosis alone is never enough.

Not autism.

Not ADHD.

Not a learning disability.

Not PDA.

Not even multiple diagnoses.

SMI is based on:

👉 the severity of the child's difficulties

and whether EVERY part of the criteria is met.

⚠️ SMI is one of the STRICTEST DLA criteria.

To qualify, a child must meet ALL parts of the test.

Not some.

Not most.

ALL.

Which is why so many claims fail when parents focus only on:

👉 danger awareness

👉 absconding

👉 supervision

without evidencing the other criteria.

🧠 Throughout this series we've covered:

✔ High Rate Care

✔ Severe impairment of intelligence

✔ Severe impairment of social functioning

✔ Severe behavioural problems

✔ Physical restraint and intervention

✔ Being present and watching over whenever awake

✔ Splinter skills

✔ Useful intelligence

✔ Case law

✔ The Decision Makers Guide

✔ Evidence gathering

📝 We also talked about something really important.

Evidence.

Because genuinely meeting the criteria and proving it are often two very different things.

Strong SMI claims are rarely built on:

❌ one report

❌ one diagnosis

❌ one professional letter

They are usually built from:

🏫 school

👩‍⚕️ professionals

🧾 risk assessments

📝 parent diaries

🚌 transport

🤝 social care

🌍 community settings

All showing the same picture.

💛 And finally...

Please don't compare your child to somebody else's.

I know social media is full of:

👉 "My child got HRM under SMI"

But every child is different.

Every evidence bundle is different.

Every case is different.

The only question that matters is:

👉 does YOUR child meet the criteria?

💥 If your child genuinely meets the criteria and you have evidenced every point properly...

Please don't give up after a refusal.

Many successful SMI awards are made at:

👉 Mandatory Reconsideration

👉 Tribunal

👉 and sometimes even beyond

because this area of law is complex and often misunderstood.

💛 Thank you to everyone who has followed, commented, shared and messaged throughout this series.

I hope it has helped parents better understand one of the most difficult areas of DLA.

And most importantly...

I hope it has helped families feel more confident in understanding their child's rights.

👇 I'd love to know...

What was the biggest thing you learned from this series?

And what topic would you like me to cover next?

Whether it's:

📌 DLA
📌 PIP
📌 EHCPs
📌 School attendance
📌 EOTAS
📌 Blue Badges
📌 Tribunals
📌 Housing
📌 Disability grants

or anything else SEND related...

Leave your suggestions below and I'll see what I can cover next 💛

02/06/2026

✨ MAY RESULTS ROUND-UP ✨

As we move into June, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of the amazing results achieved by the families I have supported over the last month 💛

Every one of these outcomes represents a parent who refused to give up fighting for what their child was entitled to.

And that deserves celebrating.

🌟 DLA SUCCESS STORIES

✅ Change of Circumstances
Middle Rate Care ➡️ High Rate Care

✅ Mandatory Reconsideration
Middle Rate Care ➡️ High Rate Care

✅ Previously Refused New Claim
Awarded Middle Rate Care

✅ New Claims
High Rate Care & Low Rate Mobility x2

✅ New Claim
High Rate Care x1

✅ Upper Tribunal Appeal Accepted
The fight continues, but this family have cleared a huge hurdle and their case will now move forward.

🌟 EHCP SUCCESS STORIES

✅ Specialist School Appeal
Local Authority agreed to parent preference placement

✅ EHC Needs Assessment
3 children successfully granted assessments

✅ Tribunal Appeal
Local Authority conceded and agreed to an Independent Specialist Placement

🌟 SCHOOL SUCCESS

✅ Holiday Fine
Significantly reduced following challenge

💛 Every family's journey looks different.

Some needed support with a new DLA claim.

Some were fighting for a school placement.

Some were trying to secure an EHC Needs Assessment.

Others were preparing for appeal.

Whatever stage families are at, the goal is always the same:

👉 making sure children receive the support they are entitled to.

Behind every one of these outcomes is a parent who:

💛 kept going when they wanted to give up
💛 gathered evidence when they were exhausted
💛 challenged decisions that didn't feel right
💛 continued fighting despite being told "no"

And I think that's really important to remember.

Because whilst I love celebrating these successes, I also know there are families reading this who are:

👉 waiting for decisions

👉 preparing appeals

👉 facing refusals

👉 feeling disheartened

👉 wondering if it's worth carrying on

Please remember:

A refusal is not always the end.

Many of the successes above started with a refusal.

Many started with parents being told their child didn't qualify.

Many involved appeals, challenges and persistence. 💪💪

Of course, there have been disappointments too.

The system is not always fair, consistent or predictable.

But where there is a genuine case, I will always continue supporting families in any way I can.

💛 To every parent currently fighting for their child...

Please don't underestimate how much strength that takes.

I'm incredibly proud of every family I work with.

👇 I'd love this post to encourage other parents.

Please leave your own success stories in the comments, no matter how big or small.

Let's remind families that progress is possible.

And if you've found my page helpful, please share this post or tag another parent who might need a little encouragement today.

Together we are stronger 💛

01/06/2026

✨ Message Me Monday ✨

I won't lie...

This half term has felt LONG 😅

The hot weather and change in routine have been a lot for Ruby.

She really struggles to regulate her body temperature and not wanting to wear clothes or even a pull up has resulted in more than a few accidents and lots of cleaning up this week 🙈

Sleep has also been incredibly difficult and she has pretty much been attached to me like glue the entire holiday.

But amongst the chaos there have been some lovely moments too 💛

✨ Ruby has handed me her pull up a few times to let me know she needs a wee.
✨ We had a lovely day at the outdoor pool.
✨ We've spent lots of time in the garden enjoying the sunshine.

Sometimes with SEND parenting the wins might seem small to other people, but they can feel absolutely huge.

So whilst I've loved making memories, I am definitely looking forward to school today and getting back into some routine.

As always, if you need support, my inbox is open.

I can help with:

📌 DLA claims, renewals, MRs and Tribunals
📌 PIP
📌 Blue Badges
📌 EHCPs and Annual Reviews
📌 EHC Needs Assessments
📌 School issues, exclusions and attendance
📌 Disability grants and support applications
📌 Housing and adaptation support
📌 SEND Tribunal support

⚠️ I now only have TWO June support slots remaining.

Once these are gone, I will be booking into July.

If you've been thinking about getting support, please don't leave it until the last minute.

💛 And keep an eye on the page later today...

I've got some lovely positive results to share and I can't wait to celebrate some amazing families.

If you've found my page helpful, please give this post a share. It really does help small businesses like mine reach the families who need us most.

Have a lovely Monday everyone 💛

28/05/2026

✨ HRM under SMI – Day 20

Using the Decision Makers Guide (DMG) to support your SMI claim

A lot of parents don’t realise:

👉 DWP decision makers use guidance called the DMG when looking at claims.

DMG stands for:

👉 Decision Makers Guide

And it explains:

👉 how DWP should interpret and apply the law.

💡 Why does this matter?

Because sometimes refusal decisions:

❌ misunderstand the criteria
❌ oversimplify needs
❌ focus too heavily on isolated strengths
❌ ignore risk and supervision evidence

Quoting relevant parts of the DMG can help:

👉 support your arguments
👉 explain misunderstandings
👉 show why evidence meets the legal criteria

Especially at:

📝 Mandatory Reconsideration
⚖️ Tribunal stage

🧠 For example, the DMG explains:

👉 severe impairment of intelligence is not based purely on IQ

Instead, decision makers should look at:

👉 “useful intelligence”
👉 understanding
👉 real life functioning

This can be really important for children with:

✔ splinter skills
✔ hyperlexia
✔ isolated academic strengths

👀 The DMG also explains:

👉 continual supervision does NOT mean staring at a child every second.

The important part is:

👉 ongoing supervision
👉 danger awareness
👉 readiness to intervene

This can really help where families feel supervision has been minimised.

💥 Another important area

The DMG discusses:

👉 impulsive
👉 unpredictable
👉 dangerous behaviour

And explains that:

👉 restraint and intervention may be needed to prevent injury, danger or damage.

This is why:

👉 detailed real-life examples matter so much.

⚠️ But this is important

Quoting the DMG alone will NOT win a claim.

You still need:

✔ strong evidence
✔ examples across environments
✔ professional support
✔ evidence matching each criteria point

The DMG simply helps explain:

👉 how the rules should actually be interpreted.

💛 Final takeaway

Sometimes parents know their child meets the criteria…

but struggle to explain it in the “language” DWP use.

The DMG can help bridge that gap.

💬 Had you heard of the Decision Makers Guide before this series?

👉 Next: Final thoughts & biggest lessons from this SMI series

26/05/2026

✨ HRM under SMI – Day 19

More useful case law

A lot of important SMI guidance has been shaped through case law over the years.

Here are some more REAL examples parents may find useful 👇

🧠 1. MP v SSWP [2014] UKUT 426 (AAC)

This case reinforced that:

👉 autism CAN amount to “arrested or incomplete development of the brain”

And confirmed tribunals must look at:

👉 overall functioning
👉 useful intelligence
👉 real life understanding

—not just isolated strengths or diagnosis labels.

💥 2. EC v SSWP [2017] UKUT 391 (AAC)

This is a REALLY important SMI case.

The tribunal criticised evidence being looked at in:

❌ separate compartments

and confirmed all evidence must be considered:

👉 holistically

The case also discussed:

👉 restraint
👉 absconding risk
👉 physical intervention
👉 buggy/harness use
👉 social functioning

Importantly, the judge questioned whether:

👉 a specialist buggy could amount to restraint/intervention.

👀 3. CDLA/2955/2006

This case focused heavily on:

👉 supervision
👉 dangerous behaviour
👉 CCTV monitoring
👉 ongoing behavioural risk

The tribunal accepted evidence showing:

👉 extensive home supervision measures
👉 environmental safety adaptations
👉 constant monitoring for risk

This can be really relevant for families using:

• CCTV
• locks
• alarms
• enclosed sleeping spaces
• extensive safety measures at home.

✋ 4. CDLA/1545/2004

This case summarised important principles around:

👉 severe mental impairment
👉 severe behavioural problems
👉 intelligence impairment

It reinforced how HIGH the SMI threshold actually is and discussed:

👉 severe impairment of intelligence
👉 behavioural severity
👉 social functioning difficulties

This is one reason why:

👉 diagnosis alone is never enough for SMI.

⚠️ Important reminder

Case law can help support:

👉 arguments
👉 interpretation of the rules
👉 appeals and tribunal submissions

But:

👉 case law alone will not win an appeal.

It must still match:

✔ your child’s needs
✔ the legal criteria
✔ and the evidence provided.

💛 Final takeaway

The strongest SMI appeals usually combine:

👉 strong real-life evidence
👉 multiple environments
👉 professional support
👉 and relevant legal principles together.

💬 Have you ever felt your child’s risks or supervision needs were oversimplified in reports?

👉 Next: The DMG explained

25/05/2026

✨ HRM under SMI – Day 18

Useful examples of case law in SMI claims

Last time I explained what case law actually is.

Today I want to share a few REAL examples that have helped shape how SMI claims are understood.

Not to turn parents into lawyers 😅

But to help explain why some refusals are successfully challenged at MR and tribunal.

🧠 1. “Useful intelligence” matters more than isolated skills

One of the most important SMI principles comes from:

👉 R(DLA) 1/00

This case made clear that:

👉 severe impairment of intelligence is NOT based purely on IQ or isolated abilities.

Instead, tribunals should look at:

👉 “useful intelligence”
👉 real life functioning
👉 understanding and applying skills practically

This is really important for children who may:

✔ count
✔ read words
✔ use tablets
✔ repeat language

…but still have very severe overall impairments in understanding and functioning.

👀 2. Continual supervision does NOT mean staring every second

Case law has also clarified that:

👉 “continual supervision” is LESS than continuous observation.

R(A)1/73 confirmed this.

The important part is:

👉 ongoing supervision
👉 danger awareness
👉 readiness to intervene quickly if needed

—not physically staring at a child every second of the day.

✋ 3. Supervision can still count even with short breaks

Another useful principle comes from:

👉 CDLA/468/2006

This recognised that:

👉 a child may still require continual supervision even if left briefly at times.

Because the key issue is whether:

👉 an adult remains attuned and ready to respond to danger quickly.

💥 4. The real issue is risk and unpredictability

Case law has repeatedly reinforced that tribunals should focus on:

👉 impulsivity
👉 unpredictability
👉 real risk of harm
👉 level of intervention needed

—not just whether behaviour “looks severe” to someone observing briefly.

⚠️ Important reminder

Case law can help support arguments.

But:

👉 case law alone will NOT win an appeal.

It must:

✔ apply to your child’s circumstances
✔ match the evidence
✔ support the legal criteria properly

💛 Final takeaway

A lot of SMI appeals are won because tribunals look:

👉 deeper than isolated skills
👉 deeper than diagnosis
👉 deeper than short observations

And instead focus on:

👉 overall functioning in real life.

💬 Have you had a refusal that focused heavily on one isolated skill while ignoring everything else?

👉 Next: More useful case law examples around restraint, supervision and behavioural risk

21/05/2026

✨ HRM under SMI – Day 17

Case law — what is it and why does it matter?

A lot of parents hear the words:

👉 “case law”

and think:

❌ solicitors
❌ complicated legal language
❌ not relevant to them

But actually?

Case law can be incredibly useful in DLA appeals and tribunals.

💡 What is case law?

Case law is:

👉 a previous legal decision made by a judge or tribunal

Usually where the law needed:

👉 clarification
👉 interpretation
👉 or correcting after a wrong decision

⚖️ Why does this matter for DLA?

Because many parts of DLA law are:

👉 not clearly defined

For example:

🧠 what counts as “severe impairment of intelligence”?
👀 what does “watching over whenever awake” actually mean?
✋ what counts as restraint or intervention?
💥 what are “severe behavioural problems”?

This is where case law becomes important.

Because judges have already considered these questions in previous appeals.

💡 So how can case law help your claim?

Case law can help:

👉 explain the law properly
👉 challenge incorrect DWP assumptions
👉 support arguments at MR or tribunal
👉 strengthen professional evidence
👉 show how criteria should actually be interpreted

⚠️ This is important

Case law does NOT automatically mean:

👉 your child will be awarded

And not every case law will apply to every child.

But it CAN help support:

👉 specific arguments within your claim.

💥 For example

Some case laws have clarified things like:

👉 isolated “splinter skills” do not always reflect overall functioning
👉 supervision does not mean staring every second
👉 restraint can look different depending on age and needs
👉 overall useful intelligence matters more than isolated abilities

📝 Case law is often most useful at:

👉 Mandatory Reconsideration
👉 Tribunal stage
👉 responding to refusal reasons

Especially where DWP have:

❌ focused on isolated strengths
❌ misunderstood autism or learning disability
❌ minimised supervision needs
❌ ignored risk and unpredictability

💛 Final takeaway

Case law helps explain:

👉 how the law should actually be understood in real life.

And sometimes…

it can be the thing that shifts an appeal from:

❌ refused
to
✔ awarded

💬 Had you heard of case law before this series?

👉 Next: Day 18 Useful examples of case law in SMI claims

20/05/2026

✨ HRM under SMI – Day 16
Why many SMI claims are refused

Honestly?

A lot of SMI claims fail before they even begin.

Not always because the child doesn’t meet the criteria…

But because parents are not told how STRICT and evidence-heavy these claims actually are.

⚠️ SMI is NOT awarded because a child:

❌ has autism
❌ has ADHD
❌ has no danger awareness
❌ absconds
❌ needs supervision

That alone is NOT enough.

The child must meet:

👉 EVERY single part of the criteria together.

And every point usually needs:

👉 significant evidence
👉 across multiple environments
👉 from multiple professionals

💥 One of the biggest mistakes?

Parents do not follow the flowchart.

Instead they focus heavily on:

👉 supervision
👉 danger
👉 behaviour

Without fully evidencing:

❌ severe impairment of intelligence
❌ severe impairment of social functioning
❌ severe behavioural problems
❌ physical intervention/restraint
❌ continual supervision whenever awake

If ONE part is weak:

👉 the claim will fail completely.

🧠 Another huge issue?

Parents often underestimate how much evidence is actually needed.

SMI claims are not won with:

❌ one diagnosis letter old
❌ one parent statement
❌ “my child is unsafe”

Strong SMI claims are built from:

🏫 school evidence
📝 detailed diaries
🧾 risk assessments
👩‍⚕️ professional reports
🚌 transport evidence
🤝 social care
🌍 community evidence

All showing:

👉 the same severe needs everywhere.

⚠️ Splinter skills are another major reason claims fail

Things like:

👉 counting
👉 reading words
👉 using a tablet
👉 scripting language
👉 choosing between items

can be heavily focused on by DWP if they are not properly explained.

Especially if parents do not explain:

👉 whether those skills are functional
👉 whether understanding is actually present
👉 how much support is still needed

🏫 Positive wording on reports can weaken claims too

This is something many parents completely miss.

Words like:

👉 “making progress”
👉 “happy”
👉 “engages well”
👉 “good communication”
👉 “follows routine”

can seriously damage an SMI claim IF the context is not explained properly.

Because often the report does NOT explain:

👉 developmental level
👉 supervision required
👉 support behind the scenes
👉 risk
👉 unpredictability

💡 Another hard truth?

Parents normalise things.

What feels “normal” to you now…

may actually be:

👉 extreme supervision
👉 continual intervention
👉 severe developmental delay

Because you have lived it every day for years.

💛 Final reminder

If your child genuinely meets ALL parts of the SMI criteria and this has been significantly evidenced properly…

👉 please do not give up after a refusal.

Many genuine SMI cases are only awarded after:

👉 Mandatory Reconsideration
👉 Tribunal
👉 or significant additional evidence

Because this is one of the hardest DLA criteria to prove.

❤️Do you know a family who would benefit from this series please share

💬 Has this series changed your understanding of how strict SMI actually is?

👉 Next: Case laws that may support your SMI claim

Help from mummy and Ruby

05/06/2026

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

02/06/2026

01/06/2026

28/05/2026

26/05/2026

25/05/2026

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

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