Parents and Professionals: Listening to Each Other

You've rung three times and the parent never picks up. They think school only calls when something has gone wrong. By the time you meet, both sides are braced for a fight, and the child is the one who loses out.

This course looks at what gets in the way between parents and professionals, especially in SEND. Parents bring baggage from their own school days, and many parents of neurodivergent children are neurodivergent themselves. Small changes help. Ask each family how they want to hear from you, because some parents can't take in a phone call or a chat at the school gate but will read every email. Cut the jargon and the abbreviations. Get to know your local parent carer group, and let parents share what they've found out.

It's taught by an autistic advocate and trainer who has worked in schools and colleges and is a parent too.