What Year 6 SATs results really show — and what they may miss — as your child prepares for secondary school. At this time of year, many families are looking ahead to Year 6 SATs. Some children are preparing steadily, others are feeling the pressure, and many parents are quietly wondering what these tests will really show. Recently, a mum asked me, “What was the point of those SATs? They didn’t show the stress, the tears, or how hard it was.” It’s a powerful reflection — and a

SEND White Paper — focusing on connection and collaboration. SEND Changes: What the New White Paper Could Mean for Your Child I’ve always been a glass-half-full sort of person. For me, that doesn’t mean ignoring challenges. It means asking, what opportunities are here, and how can we make the most of them? That’s how I’ve been thinking about the recent SEND White Paper proposals. You may have seen headlines or heard that changes are being discussed. It’s completely understand

Learn how metacognition improves GCSE and A-level revision. Expert advice for students with dyslexia in Leeds, Wetherby, York and the wider Yorkshire area.

Recent news reports about SEND reforms have raised many questions for parents. This guide explains what is currently known, what may change, and what it could mean for children with SEND. In recent weeks, many parents have contacted me with questions following media reports about possible changes to the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system in England. Understandably, there is a great deal of uncertainty about what these proposed reforms might mean for chil

Parents often describe children who are struggling with spelling and working extremely hard —  it can leave both children and parents feeling confused, worried, or frustrated. This short explanation is based on those conversations. It aims to help parents understand one reason why spelling can be so challenging, and why difficulties are often linked to how sounds are processed, rather than effort, intelligence, or motivation.

Parents and adults often contact me because they are trying to make sense of a confusing picture. A child may be struggling to focus, finding reading and spelling difficult, becoming fatigued with schoolwork, or losing confidence in learning. It is very common to wonder whether these difficulties are linked to dyslexia, ADHD, or both...they are different neurodevelopmental conditions, and understanding how they are assessed — and why — is important in choosing the right next