Parent Carer Compendium

Welcome to the Parent Carer Compendium – a carefully curated collection of resources designed to support families navigating the Special Educational Needs (SEN) system in the UK.

As both a specialist dyslexia teacher and a parent of children with additional needs, I understand firsthand how complex, overwhelming, and at times isolating this journey can be. This compendium brings together tools, guidance, and information that I’ve personally found helpful in my own parenting and professional practice, along with recommendations from trusted colleagues and fellow parent carers.

Whether you’re just beginning to seek support for your child, exploring the EHCP process, looking for trusted sources of advice, or simply needing reassurance that you’re not alone — this resource is here to empower, inform, and guide you. I hope it helps lighten the load and gives you the confidence to advocate for your child with clarity and courage.

If you’d like to recommend a resource, or you come across a broken link, please let me know.

Please note that some sections of the Compendium are still ‘under construction’.

The Informed Parent: Practical Tools and Lived Experience

This section is for the curious, committed, and (sometimes) overwhelmed parent or carer looking to feel more confident and capable in supporting a child with additional needs.

The Informed Parent brings together everything I’ve found helpful on my journey—as a professional, as a parent to neurodivergent children, and as someone with my own lived experience of neurodivergence. It’s part CPD, part community—a carefully curated mix of podcasts, social media voices, webinars, and online training that offer clear, compassionate insights into a wide range of diagnoses and learner profiles.

Many of these resources are created by people who get it—those who live it day to day—and I believe those voices are invaluable.

You’ll also find a link to My Musings (Teaching & Learning)—my blog where I share:

  • Practical strategies for learning at home (like multisensory spelling or phonics activities), and

  • Digestible research summaries, turning peer-reviewed studies into accessible reads for parents and busy educators.

Whether you're just starting out or you’ve been advocating for years, I hope this space helps you feel more informed, more supported, and more empowered to navigate the journey ahead.

Literacy Tools

Reading is at the heart of learning — and for many children with additional needs, it can also be one of the greatest challenges. This section is dedicated to supporting parents and carers with the nuts and bolts of helping a child learn to read, especially when the usual approaches aren’t quite working.

Here, you'll find a rich collection of resources covering phonics, decodable books, and materials specifically designed for dyslexic learners. I’ll look at what makes a reading scheme effective, how to match books to your child’s current stage, and why certain methods are more accessible to neurodivergent learners.

But it’s not just about mechanics. I also explore ways to foster a love of stories, books, and language, even in reluctant or struggling readers. Whether you’re searching for the right tools to get started or looking for fresh ideas to reignite a child’s passion for reading, this section is full of practical tips and thoughtful suggestions to help you along the way.

Reading is possible for every child—and with the right support, it can even become joyful.

The Nitty Gritty

This section dives into the practical details—the essential paperwork, processes, and legalities that often feel like a full-time job in themselves. Whether you're filling in forms for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), trying to make sense of diagnostic reports, or navigating access arrangements for exams, this is where you'll find the information to help you do it with more confidence and clarity.

We’ve gathered trusted resources and explanations to demystify common SEN documentation, assessments, and terminology. You'll also find links to legal advice and support services, guidance on interpreting professional reports, and insights into what various cognitive or educational assessments actually mean in real terms.

This is the behind-the-scenes stuff—the admin, the advocacy, and the fine print—that can make a big difference in securing the right support for your child. It might not be the most glamorous part of the journey, but it’s one of the most important—and we’re here to make it a little easier.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology can open doors for children with additional needs—offering practical, empowering ways to overcome barriers to learning and communication. Whether it’s tools that help with reading and writing, apps that support organisation and focus, or devices that offer alternative ways to access the curriculum, the right technology can make a world of difference. This section introduces a range of tools and software that have proven helpful for learners with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent profiles. Some are simple and free; others are more specialised—but all are included here because they have the potential to support independence, boost confidence, and help children thrive in their learning journey.

Study Skills

Strategies to Support Independent Learning

This section is all about helping learners develop the tools they need to work more confidently and independently—at home, in school, and beyond.

For neurodivergent students, traditional study advice often doesn’t quite fit. That’s why I’m gathering approaches that are flexible, inclusive, and rooted in how real learners actually think and process information. Whether it’s breaking down revision into manageable steps, using visual tools to organise ideas, or supporting working memory, this space is designed to grow into a practical bank of resources for learners who need to do things a little differently.

It’s early days here, but more is coming—including tips, tools, and reflections on what works (and what doesn’t) for a wide range of learners.

As always, I draw on my experience as a teacher, tutor, parent—and neurodivergent adult—so the strategies here are shaped by lived experience as well as evidence-based practice.

Supporting Cast: The Unsung Heroes

Raising a child with additional needs is a family journey. While the focus is often—rightly—on meeting the needs of the child, it’s equally important to recognise and support the people around them. Siblings, parents, carers, and extended family members can all be profoundly affected—emotionally, practically, and financially—by the demands of navigating the SEND system and everyday life.

This section of the compendium is dedicated to supporting the wider circle around a child with additional needs. Here you’ll find resources, signposts, and practical strategies for:

  • Parent carers – whether you're juggling paperwork, appointments, or your own wellbeing, you’ll find tools and advice to help manage the mental load and access the support you're entitled to.

  • Sibling carers and young carers – support networks, recognition schemes, and wellbeing resources tailored to children and teens who take on a caring role at home.

  • The paperwork and practicalities – from Carer’s Allowance and Parent Carer Needs Assessments to hospital passports and family-centred planning, this is where we help you stay one step ahead of the admin.

This isn’t just about surviving the system—it’s about helping your whole family feel seen, supported, and empowered.

In-Between Bits

Helpful Extras That Didn’t Quite Fit Anywhere Else

Some topics don’t sit neatly in one category—but they’re still important. This section is a home for all the helpful extras and one-off pieces that parents often search for and struggle to find.

Right now, you’ll find:

  • A growing list of Home Education resources and links

  • Reflections on the Year 6 to Year 7 transition, including strategies to support a smoother start to secondary

More will be added over time—whether it's guidance on navigating school meetings, thoughts on flexible schooling, or resources for parents in less typical situations. If it’s useful and not easily categorised, it lives here.