Advocating for Neurodivergent, Care Experienced Children

When you live with a child, you know things nobody else in the meeting knows: what the evenings are like, what sets the day off well and what helps when it doesn’t. This session helps foster carers turn that knowledge into something an education meeting can use. It looks at what’s going on for children whose needs are shaped by both their neurology and their early experiences, then at the practical side. That means gathering clear examples, bringing the child’s voice in, knowing who’s in the room, asking for small changes that make a difference, and following up so that what’s agreed happens.

• Why a child might hold it together at school and fall apart at home
• How to describe what you see at home so it’s clear and useful
• How to bring the child’s views into a meeting, even when they don’t want to come
• What to ask for, including ideas that matter more for children in care
• How to stay steady and keep everyone on the same side when you see things differently
• What to do after the meeting so agreed changes happen