Turning understanding into confident, ethical advocacy
Once you understand what neurodivergence is, and have begun to build a clear picture of a neurodivergent learner’s needs, the next challenge is often working with systems.
This module is about helping you turn what you already know about a child into clear, structured, needs-led advocacy, without conflict, overwhelm, or feeling like you have to “fight” for support.
Working Together in the Best Interests of the Neurodivergent Learner supports parents and educators to work collaboratively, confidently, and ethically, even when systems feel complex or intimidating. It focuses on how to communicate clearly, understand responsibilities, and keep the child’s wellbeing and participation at the centre of decision-making, whether or not there is a diagnosis or an EHCP in place.
In this module, you will:
learn how to translate a learner profile into practical advocacy tools
understand key SEND processes, language, and legal responsibilities in plain terms
clarify the roles of parents, educational settings, and local authorities
prepare confidently for EHCP, IEP, APDR, and review meetings
use a best-practice framework to structure conversations and create accountability
practise writing CARE statements that are child-centred, accurate, relevant, and evidence-informed
This module is designed to reduce the emotional labour that often comes with advocacy. It acknowledges that many families and professionals avoid advocacy not because they don’t care, but because it can feel risky, exhausting, or overwhelming. The approach here is grounded in clarity, collaboration, and respect, not confrontation.
Importantly, this module reinforces the core principle of needs before labels, helping you understand how support is legally and ethically based on a child’s needs and outcomes, not on diagnosis alone.
By the end of this module, you will have practical tools you can return to again and again , tools that support shared understanding, clearer communication, and more consistent follow-through.
This module leads directly into the final part of the series, Putting It All Together: Supporting Your Neurodivergent Learner in Everyday Life, where everything is brought into daily routines, environments, regulation, and sustainable support over time.
