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Supporting Trans Autistic Young People in Schools
Schools play a crucial role in shaping the identities and wellbeing of transgender and gender-diverse Autistic youth. Supportive environments promote self-esteem and mental health, while unsupportive settings lead to serious consequences. By fostering understanding, implementing inclusive practices, and prioritizing diverse education, schools can help these individuals thrive academically and socially.
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Navigating the Challenges of School Drop-Offs
Starting school has been an emotional and overwhelming experience for our family. Managing drop-offs, pick-ups, and navigating various apps for lunches and updates complicate routines. The chaotic environment during school runs, filled with crying children and crowded areas, adds to the stress. It feels exhausting, yet we’re grateful Little Man is excited to attend.
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Government Consultation on Relationship, Sex and Health Education in UK schoolsÂ
The UK Government is consulting on new guidance for Relationship, Sex and Health Education in schools, proposing a ban on the teaching of gender identity to prevent questioning of gender. Schools are urged to teach about protected characteristics, including gender reassignment, but not gender identity. The deadline for responses is 11th July. Shadow Education Secretary…
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School toilets under lock and key
‘Cages’ have been installed at Foxford Community School, Coventry, to stop students from going to the toilet. Pupils are now unable to use the toilet during lessons and can only make a bathroom trip if supervised. Children aged 10-16 years old have to ask permission to go to the bathroom and go supervised. We all…
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The truth about ‘challenging behaviour’
Cw: bullying, mention of abuse, mental health, substance use and death. Challenging behaviour refers to a range of intense and frequent behaviours that threaten the quality of life and / or the physical safety of the person and those around them, behaviours can include aggression, verbal abuse and bullying (Imray, 2017). Challenging behaviour is socially…
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Is UK sex and relationship education LGBTQIA+ appropriate?
Sex education, which teaches secondary aged children about sexual health and relationships, has arguably remained unchanged for the last fifteen years, despite the changing needs of children and young people (Arnett & Hughes, 2012). This in part is due to Section 28 which forbade the promotion of homosexuality within schools. Sexual minority youth may feel…
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Making “good choices”
In schools and educational settings across the UK, Neurodivergent children, including those with mental health conditions, are praised for “good choices” and punished for “bad choices.” This may seem effective on the surface but this idea puts the onus of ‘appropriate’ behaviours, reactionary and otherwise, on the child in question. This is harmful for several…
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Schools Bill MP letter / email template
I have created this template for people to use in whatever way you think will be helpful, including sharing with your local MP. Don’t know your MP? Find them here. Dear _____ I have some major concerns over the proposed Schools Bill, as the bill shall: 1. Make it more difficult for home educators to…
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The Schools Bill – making education harder for Disabled children