Held SEN Support Space

14/06/2026

Living with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue 💜

I don’t often talk about my own health struggles, but today I felt it was important.

I live with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

Some days I can get up, go to work, smile, support children, parents and families, chair meetings, attend appointments and somehow keep going.

What people don’t always see is the price I pay afterwards.

They don’t see the pain that can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming.

They don’t see the exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix.

They don’t see the brain fog that makes me lose my train of thought halfway through a conversation.

They don’t see the days when getting dressed, making a meal or leaving the house feels like climbing a mountain.

Because these conditions are invisible, people often assume you’re fine.

I’ve even been told that because I look well, I must be managing.

The truth is that many of us become experts at masking how we really feel.

We carry on because we have children who need us, jobs to do, families to support and responsibilities that don’t disappear when we’re unwell.

Being refused support and having your difficulties questioned can be incredibly disheartening. Not because we want sympathy, but because we want understanding.

If you live with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, an invisible illness or a fluctuating condition, please know that I see you.

And if you feel comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear your experience.

What is one thing you wish other people understood about living with an invisible illness?

💜 You are not lazy.
💜 You are not weak.
💜 You are doing the best you can.

And that is enough.

14/06/2026

HELD – SEN Support Space

💜 Do You Have an Invisible Illness? I’d Love to Hear Your Experience. 💜

Today I was reading about calls for the benefits system to better recognise invisible and fluctuating conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, mental health difficulties and many other conditions that aren’t always obvious to others.

It got me thinking…

How many of us spend our days masking our struggles?

How many times have you heard:
✨ “But you look well.”
✨ “You managed yesterday.”
✨ “Everyone gets tired.”

When the reality is very different.

Many people are living with pain, exhaustion, anxiety, brain fog, sensory overwhelm, chronic illness, disability or caring responsibilities that others simply cannot see.

Whether you’re a parent, carer, grandparent, professional or someone living with an invisible condition yourself, your experience matters.

💭 Have you ever felt judged because you “look fine”?
💭 Have you had to fight to be believed?
💭 What do you wish people understood about your daily life?

This is a safe space to share your story if you’d like to.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is let someone know they are not alone.

Please be kind and respectful in the comments. Every person’s experience is valid, even if it looks different from our own.

💜 Because not all struggles are visible.
💜 Not all disabilities can be seen.
💜 And everyone deserves to be heard.

12/06/2026

Small Steps Matter

Sometimes progress doesn’t look like a giant leap forward.

Sometimes it’s a child who walks through the school gate when yesterday they couldn’t.

Sometimes it’s trying a new food, making eye contact, joining in for a few moments, or saying a single word like “pop” at bubble time.

To others, these moments may seem small.

To the child, their family, and those who truly understand the journey, they can be enormous.

Never underestimate the power of small steps. They are often the building blocks of confidence, trust, communication, and growth.

Today, celebrate the little wins.

Because small steps really do matter.

— HELD: SEN Support Space

12/06/2026

Photo Day!

The children were a little bit chaotic today…

The photographer arrived, routines changed, excitement levels were high, and for some of our SEN children it was all a bit much.

But then came bubble time.

One of our children, who finds communication difficult, looked up, watched the bubbles floating through the air and said:

“POP!”

Just one word.

But what a word.

In that moment, the busy morning, the noise, the chaos and the overwhelm didn’t matter.

Because progress isn’t always measured in big milestones.

Sometimes progress is a single word spoken at exactly the right moment.

Sometimes it arrives wrapped in bubbles.

And sometimes, amid all the chaos, that’s enough to remind you just how far a child has come. ❤️

12/06/2026

12/06/2026

If you like in Portsmouth Hampshire register your interest and come for a visit.

08/06/2026

💛 Why HELD Matters to Me 💛

People often ask why I spend so much time supporting SEN families.

The answer is simple.

I have been an Early Years Practitioner for 26 years and I am a passionate SENCO. Over those years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside hundreds of children and their families.

What I’ve learnt is that our journey together doesn’t end when a child leaves preschool.

My SEN parents stay in touch.
They come back for advice.
They message when they’re struggling.
They celebrate the wins with me.
They cry with me when things are hard.

Not because I have all the answers, but because they know I care.

I have sat with parents who feel unheard.
I’ve listened to worries that keep families awake at night.
I’ve celebrated first words, first school days, first friendships and yes… even first bites of carrot.

Because every step matters.

HELD was created because I want every SEN parent to feel that someone understands. Someone who sees the exhaustion, the determination, the advocacy, the heartbreak and the joy.

A place where you don’t have to explain why a carrot is a milestone.
A place where your worries won’t be dismissed.
A place where you’re reminded that you’re doing an incredible job.

I can’t fix everything, but I can listen, support, signpost, advocate and walk beside you.

Because no parent should feel alone on this journey.

You are seen.
You are heard.
You are HELD. 💛

08/06/2026

Sometimes, it starts with jelly.

Then a little bit of peach.

Then one day… a carrot. 🥕

And suddenly, a SEN mum is sitting there sobbing, because she knows this isn’t “just food.”

It’s trust.
It’s courage.
It’s sensory progress.
It’s a child feeling safe enough to try.

Behind that one bite are sensory trays at home, messy play, shaving foam, different textures, patience, hope, and a parent gently trying again and again.

Tiny steps are not tiny in SEN life.

They are milestones.
They are proof that progress is happening.
They are the moments that keep us going.

So today we celebrate the jelly, the peach, the carrot… and every parent who sees the magic in the little steps. 💛