Parents Voices in Wales CIC

31/10/2026

Services and professionals can educate schools on online grooming through the Dragon Shield resources.

https://project-dragon.co.uk/tools/dragon-shield/

This is Cai Davies. He very sadly died after he sent messages to a woman he believed had a romantic interest in him. In reality, the teen had been targeted in a calculated and cruel scam by a gang operating in Africa. They demanded money from him and said the intimate photos would be sent to his friends and posted on YouTube. Heartbreakingly, Cai died in hospital in June last year after he took his own life. He was just 18. Now, after hearing Cai's story, big changes have been promised to protect children and young people online. A powerful step forward to ensure Cai's memory helps protect others ❤️

30/10/2026

DO NOT COMMENT ON THIS POST TO REQUEST THE PACK.

LET’S TALK CHECKLISTS!

One of the most important parts of understanding school avoidance is identifying the barriers that may be making school difficult for a child.

My free Barriers to School Attendance resource pack includes three checklists designed to help parents and professionals gather information, recognise patterns and identify possible triggers.

SENSORY PROCESSING CHECKLIST

Explores how noise, lighting, movement, touch and other sensory experiences may contribute to a child’s discomfort, anxiety or overwhelm within the school environment.

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION CHECKLIST

Looks at difficulties with planning, organisation, working memory, impulse control and cognitive flexibility. These can all affect a child’s ability to manage the demands of the school day.

SOCIAL SKILLS AUDIT

Explores social communication, peer relationships, participation and emotional understanding, helping identify where a child may be experiencing difficulties or require additional support.

WHY ARE THESE IMPORTANT?

Sometimes the barriers to attendance are not immediately obvious, particularly when a child masks their difficulties at school.

These checklists can help build a clearer picture of the child’s experiences, highlight areas requiring support and provide useful evidence when discussing possible neurodivergence assessments.

They are not diagnostic tools, but the observations gathered may contribute valuable supporting information for an assessment or referral.

Most importantly, they help move the conversation away from simply getting a child into school and towards understanding what is making school difficult.

WANT A COPY OF THE FULL PACK?

Please visit my original FREE Barriers to School Attendance launch post (link in comments) and follow the instructions there to request your copy.

DO NOT REQUEST IT IN THE COMMENTS ON THIS POST.

Available until Friday midnight (UK time).

30/10/2026

The Senedd is going to debate the petition – “Allocate the full consequential funding to Additional Learning Needs (ALN)”.

Debate is scheduled for 4 November 2026. You can watch here https://www.senedd.tv/

https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246986

We are keen to see and hear the outcome for learners and their families.

We hope that the money can transform education to a more inclusive model upstream to prevent so the education system can align to other frameworks

We must invest in neurodiversity aware practices across whole school and make our classrooms inclusive if we really want to understand triggers of behaviors and emotional wellbeing of learners.

Welsh Government Education Wales NAHT Cymru Children's Commissioner for Wales Sparrows Aln Group Tîm Niwrowahaniaeth Cymru / Wales Neurodivergence Team Andy Burnham Lynne Neagle MS

We call on the Welsh Government to allocate and ring-fence the £500m in consequential funding from English SEND spending directly to local authorities and schools for Additional Learning Needs (ALN). While not legally bound to the same portfolio, this funding exists because of systemic education pr...

29/10/2026

Did you know FASD could be THIS common? Because we were surprised too.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is still something many people know very little about.
And yet international research estimates FASD affects around 1 in 130 children and young people globally, with prevalence substantially higher in some populations.

Closer to home, a UK study of mainstream primary-school children found 1.8% met criteria for FASD, rising to 3.6% when possible FASD was included.

And here's the bit that really stopped us... None of the children identified with FASD in that study had previously been diagnosed with a developmental disorder.

None.

Then look at children in care.

A recent international review estimates that around 18.8%, almost 1 in 5, of infants and children in foster care may have FASD.

Imagine how many children are struggling with memory, learning, executive functioning, emotional regulation, communication or sensory processing without the adults around them understanding WHY.

And this is exactly why we need to be able to talk about FASD without shame.
💛 This isn't about blaming birth mothers.
💛 It isn't about judging someone's pregnancy.
💛 It IS about recognising children who may need understanding, assessment and appropriate support.

If shame makes people afraid to disclose prenatal alcohol exposure, the person who can ultimately lose out is the child.

We need better awareness. Better identification. Better conversations. And MUCH better understanding.

That's why we're bringing a brand-new FASD webinar to Sunshine Support this November.
📅 10th November 2026 | 7pm
🎟️ Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fasd-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-tickets-1996994276639

Let's remove the judgement and start understanding the children who have been hiding in plain sight. 💛

29/10/2026

📣 BRIDGEND PARENT CARERS — HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP!

Are you a parent carer of a neurodivergent child or young person? Whether you need practical advice, support with everyday challenges or simply a chance to connect with people who understand, **we’re here for you!**

Our free Behaviour Support Hub Peer Support Sessions are continuing across Bridgend, offering a welcoming space to share experiences, ask questions, get advice from our team and meet other parent carers.

📍 COMMUNITY CENTRE
Ogmore Terrace, CF32 9YZ
📅 Wednesday 11th November 2026
📅 Wednesday 10th February 2027

📍 BRYNTIRION COMMUNITY CENTRE
Mount Pleasant, CF31 4EF
📅 Wednesday 9th December 2026

📍 PORTHCAWL YMCA – THE Y CENTRE
25 John Street, CF36 3AP
📅 Wednesday 13th January 2027

⏰ All sessions run from 10am–12 noon.

What can you expect?

💬 Practical advice and support from our team
🤝 Connection with other parent carers who understand
☕ A friendly space to talk, listen and take a breather

And the best part?

✅ Free to attend
✅ No diagnosis required
✅ No referral needed
✅ No booking required

You don’t need to have all the answers or know what to ask. Just come along as you are.

Know a parent carer in Bridgend who might benefit? Please share this post so they know support is available in their community.

We look forward to welcoming you!

29/10/2026

🥄💜 The Spoon Theory – Why everyday tasks can feel exhausting.

Have you ever wondered why some days even the smallest tasks feel overwhelming?

The Spoon Theory is a simple way of explaining how much physical, mental and emotional energy we have available each day.

🥄 Every spoon represents a little bit of energy.

For some people, getting out of bed, having a shower, preparing a meal or leaving the house can use up a significant amount of that energy.

Those living with mental health difficulties, chronic illnesses, disabilities or ongoing fatigue may find they have fewer spoons to begin with, or that everyday activities use more than expected.

💜 And that's okay.

Not everyone starts their day with the same amount of energy, and not everyone uses their energy in the same way.

🌸 Remember:
- Resting is not being lazy.
- It's okay to cancel plans when you're overwhelmed.
- You don't have to achieve everything in one day.
- Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
- Your best will look different from day to day.

At SAP;UK, we understand that sometimes just getting through the day can feel like an achievement.

If you're struggling, feeling overwhelmed or simply need someone to listen, our online listening service is available from 6am to 11pm, 365 days a year.

You don't have to face everything alone. 💜

💬 We'd love to know – how many spoons do you feel you have today? 🥄

Credit: Social Workers Toolbox.

https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/

29/10/2026

🍁 Day 21 of Dyslexia Awareness Month! 🍁

Did you know that dyslexia and dysgraphia can occur together?

While dyslexia primarily affects word reading and spelling, dysgraphia involves difficulties with handwriting. Some children experience challenges in both areas, but they are two distinct conditions.

📚 Understanding the differences can help parents and educators recognize when additional assessment and targeted support may be needed.

💙 Embracing Literacy

29/10/2026