SEN Archives - Toucan Education

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

by Arran Smith | Mar 19, 2026 | SEN

Every day, we live our lives and interact with our surroundings. We listen, we learn, we understand, we decode, we process, we read and we attempt to make sense of the world around us. For 15% to 20% of people, this can be more difficult because they are...

The Quiet Cost of “Coping” for Neurodivergent Children

by Nicky Wall | Mar 12, 2026 | SEN

Over recent years, conversations around mental health and wellbeing have become more visible across schools, organisations and the wider media. Advice around self-care, mindfulness, healthy routines and seeking support is widely shared and has helped many people feel...

A New Direction for Inclusion? Reflections on the Schools White Paper

by Arran Smith | Feb 25, 2026 | SEN

At Toucan Education, whether through our Alternative Provision or our Flexi School, everything begins with understanding the child. We take time to understand their needs. We recognise their strengths. We explore their abilities. We respect...

Meeting children at their developmental level — not their age — is transformational

by D'arcy Hamilton | Feb 5, 2026 | Alternative Provision, SEN

In early years education, age is often the first thing we notice about a child. It determines which room they are in, the expectations placed upon them and the milestones we assume they should be reaching. However, age alone never tells the full story. Real...

Navigating SEND support in school

by Nicky Wall | Nov 20, 2025 | SEN

What Help Is Reasonable to Expect in School? When parents notice that their children are struggling, they’re suddenly thrust into a sea of terminology and jargon. It can be difficult to know what the best course of action is and what counts as a reasonable request or...

Sensory Circuits for Neurodiverse Children

by Darren Quinn | Nov 12, 2025 | Health & Wellbeing, SEN

At Toucan, we believe that education should be shaped around the child rather than expecting the child to bend themselves to fit the system. This philosophy underpins everything we do, and one of the most practical ways it comes to life is through sensory circuits....