Sunshine Support

Sunshine Support An award winning Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) and ALN (Additional Learning Needs) Consultancy
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Please make an appointment before visiting our community hub as we all work in a hybrid fashion and also have scheduled events that use our space exclusively.

September is in full swing... and there's still so much to look forward to! 🍂☀️If you're looking for support, expert adv...
04/09/2026

September is in full swing... and there's still so much to look forward to! 🍂☀️

If you're looking for support, expert advice, or simply a community that understands, we'd love to see you at one (or more!) of our September events.

Here's what's still to come...

TODAY - Cuppa&Chat (In Person, Derby)
Join us for a relaxed morning with other SEND parents and carers.
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/cuppachat-sessions-3847953

8th September - FREE Livestream: When School Feels Too Hard
Join Chrissa Wadlow as she explores what to do when school attendance becomes a struggle.
📍 https://fb.me/e/6UM02Mt0E

9th September - Cuppa&Chat (Online)
Connect with other parents and carers from wherever you are.
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/cuppachat-sessions-3847953

17th September - Webinar: Selective Mutism in Children
Join Libby Hill for an insightful session on understanding selective mutism and how to support children both at home and in school.
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984288470230

18th September - Cuppa&Chat (In Person, Derby)
Another opportunity to meet, chat, and find support in a welcoming environment.
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/cuppachat-sessions-3847953

21st-25th September - School Avoidance Awareness Week 2026
Our biggest event of the year is back, with a full week of expert-led sessions dedicated to understanding school avoidance, reducing anxiety, and supporting children back into education.
🎟️ https://sunshineacademy.sunshine-support.org/course/school-avoidance-awareness-week-2026

22nd September - SEND Advice Clinic: School Avoidance Special
Book a one-to-one advice session with our experienced SEND consultants.
🎟️ https://forms.office.com/e/EPgg41LpaK

Whatever September looks like for your family, please remember you don't have to navigate it alone. We're here to support you every step of the way. 💛

03/09/2026

Think the EOTAS consultation doesn’t affect your family? You might want to look again. 👀

Tracy Wi******er certainly doesn’t hold back in this clip.

Her concern is that some of what’s being consulted on goes much wider than EOTAS, yet many parents may see the title, decide it isn’t relevant to their child and never respond.

And then there’s the timing…

In our latest A Sip of Sunshine episode Chrissa, Tracy and Natalie get into the detail of what’s changing in SEND, what’s worrying them and, importantly, why families need to be paying attention.

🎥 Watch the full conversation:
https://youtu.be/7nomBdkCQ8E?is=z9M9apIB7H7i1Exj

📱 On Instagram? Search **A Sip of Sunshine** on YouTube. You’ll find us!

If you've been thinking about applying for an EHCP but don't know where to start, you're certainly not alone.This month,...
03/09/2026

If you've been thinking about applying for an EHCP but don't know where to start, you're certainly not alone.

This month, our How to Apply for an EHCP course has become one of the most-watched courses on the Sunshine Academy.

Why?

Because so many parents want to understand the process before they begin.

We've loved seeing members watch the course, then head into our private community to ask thoughtful questions, refine their applications and grow in confidence.

That's exactly what the Academy is all about.

Not doing it for you...

Giving you the knowledge to do it yourself.
If an EHCP is on your horizon, this is a brilliant place to start.

💛 Join the Sunshine Academy today:
www.sunshine-support.org/academy

📱 Watching on Instagram? Comment EHCP and we'll send you everything you need to get started.

If you're starting the EHCP journey, or you're already in it and feeling overwhelmed, this day is for you. 💛There is so ...
03/09/2026

If you're starting the EHCP journey, or you're already in it and feeling overwhelmed, this day is for you. 💛

There is so much information online, and whilst that's helpful, it can also leave you with more questions than answers. You don't need to spend hours searching websites, second-guessing advice or wondering if you're doing the right thing.

Our EHCP Day brings everything together in one place.
☀️ Learn what an EHCP should actually include.

☀️ Ask your own questions and get answers from experts.

☀️ Understand your legal rights with confidence.

☀️ Save yourself hours of research.

☀️ Meet other parents who truly understand what you're going through.

You'll leave with practical knowledge, greater confidence and a much clearer idea of your next steps.

Whether you're considering an EHCP, waiting for an assessment, checking a draft or preparing for an annual review, this day will help you feel informed, empowered and far less alone.

📅 22nd October
🎟️ Book your place here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986313421915

Sometimes, one day of learning can save months of uncertainty.


Check out this design

02/09/2026

School avoidance is a huge special interest of mine, and I cannot WAIT to share what I know with you. ☀️

We’ll be talking about why school avoidance happens, school-based anxiety and trauma, and most importantly, how we can help children recover.

If school avoidance or school non-attendance is part of your family’s life, you are not alone. 💛

👉 Join me for School Avoidance Awareness Week: www.schoolavoidance.co.uk

For years, we've measured attendance as though it tells us everything we need to know.|But attendance is an outcome, not...
02/09/2026

For years, we've measured attendance as though it tells us everything we need to know.|

But attendance is an outcome, not a diagnosis.

When a child stops attending school, it's easy to focus on the percentage. The missed days. The letters home. The conversations about getting them back through the gate.

Yet attendance rarely tells us why a child is struggling.

Children attend when they feel safe. They engage when they feel they belong. They learn when their needs are understood and supported. They thrive when the adults around them take time to understand what's driving their behaviour, rather than simply reacting to it.

If we only focus on attendance, we risk missing the child completely.

This September, we're inviting parents, carers and professionals to look beyond the register and explore what really drives school avoidance.

School Avoidance Awareness Week brings together leading experts, practical strategies, legal guidance and a supportive community, all with one shared goal: helping children feel safe enough to access education in a way that works for them.

📅 21st–25th September 2026
💛 Parents & Carers: £10.99
💙 Professionals: £19.99

Both tickets include one month's access to the Academy, so the learning continues long after the week ends.

🎟️ Book your place today:
https://www.schoolavoidance.co.uk

Let's stop asking, "How do we improve attendance?"
Let's start asking, "What does this child need?"

This is one of the most powerful things we've heard this year.Schools that truly understand school avoidance know that a...
01/09/2026

This is one of the most powerful things we've heard this year.

Schools that truly understand school avoidance know that attendance isn't usually the starting point.

Belonging.

Psychological safety.

Connection.

Feeling understood.

These are the foundations that allow attendance to improve naturally over time.

This September, School Avoidance Awareness Week brings together leading experts to help families and professionals build those foundations together.

Because children thrive when they feel safe enough to learn.

👉 Book your place:
https://sunshineacademy.sunshine-support.org/course/school-avoidance-awareness-week-2026

Andy Burnham - our lovely Chrissa would like a chat, when you get a mo?!
01/09/2026

Andy Burnham - our lovely Chrissa would like a chat, when you get a mo?!

If your child chats away at home but becomes completely silent at school, around unfamiliar adults or in certain social ...
01/09/2026

If your child chats away at home but becomes completely silent at school, around unfamiliar adults or in certain social situations, it can be incredibly confusing.

You may have been told they're "just shy". That they'll grow out of it. Or that they simply need to build their confidence.

But deep down, you know there's more to it than that.

Watching your child desperately want to join in, answer a question or ask for help, yet feeling completely unable to speak, is heartbreaking. 💛

This could be selective mutism.

The good news is that, with the right understanding and support, children can make real progress. The first step is recognising what's really happening beneath the silence.

That's exactly what we'll be exploring in our Selective Mutism in Children webinar. We'll help you understand what selective mutism really is, why it happens, and, most importantly, what practical steps can help your child feel safer and more confident.

🎟️ Book your place here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984288470230

Spaces are limited to give everyone the opportunity to ask questions at the end, so don't leave it too late to book.

**** DEADLINE TONIGHT AT 11PM! *****Have your voice heard in our biggest piece of research to date. Over 1,000 people ha...
31/08/2026

**** DEADLINE TONIGHT AT 11PM! *****

Have your voice heard in our biggest piece of research to date. Over 1,000 people have submitted their experiences and we want to see the true impact behind those government statistics.

Submit your anonymous views here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Z1AgByJCYz

Tag someone who needs to have their voice heard, share with those who you think will be interested in this.

We will be publishing the outcome in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Address

Chapman House, The Derby Conference Centre Limited, London Road, Alvaston
Derby
DE248UX

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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