School based anxiety, attendance and school trauma
2026-09-23 19:00 - 20:30 (Europe/London)
Learn about EBSA, school trauma and practical ways to support your child while working with school and services.

Learn about Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and school trauma, how they can affect children and young people, and practical ways to support your child while working with school and other services. This session will help you understand the underlying causes and explore supportive next steps.
In this session you will:
• Understand EBSA and school trauma.• Learn practical ways to support your child.• Explore approaches to working with schools and accessing support.
Who is this session for?
Parent carers of children and young people experiencing anxiety around school, school avoidance or difficulties attending school.
About Bristol Parent CarersThis session is part of Bristol Parent Carers’ free programme of information sessions for parent carers of children and young people with SEND or emerging additional needs.
Places are free, but if you’re able to make a small donation to help us continue offering free sessions to as many families as possible, we’d be incredibly grateful.
Please note: to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.

A guide to support, services and speaking up for your child
2026-09-24 10:00 - 12:00 | The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, England, BS10 5PY, United Kingdom
Discover support, services and practical ways to access help and confidently advocate for your child.

Learn about the different support and services available for children and young people who may have SEND, how to access the right help, and practical ways to communicate your child’s needs.
This session will help you feel more confident navigating local systems and processes and advocating for your child to get them the support they need.
In this session, you will:• Understand the support and services available.• Learn how to access the right help.• Build confidence in speaking up for your child.
Who is this session for?Parent carers who are looking for information about SEND services, support options and navigating local systems.
About Bristol Parent CarersThis session is part of Bristol Parent Carers’ free programme of information sessions for parent carers of children and young people with SEND or emerging additional needs.
Places are free, but if you’re able to make a small donation to help us continue offering free sessions to as many families as possible, we’d be incredibly grateful.
Please note: to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.

Neurodiversity without a diagnosis
2026-09-28 19:00 - 20:30
Navigating supporting your neurodivergent child without a diagnosis

Welcome to Neurodiversity without a diagnosis. Join Bristol Parent Carers and Paul Ford on 28th September at 7pm. Many children experience differences in the way they think, communicate, learn and respond to the world around them, but not every child has a diagnosis. Some families may be waiting for an assessment, while others may simply recognise that their child experiences the world differently. This practical and supportive session is for parents and carers of children who may be autistic, have ADHD, or present with other neurodivergent differences, regardless of whether they have a diagnosis.
This session will be recorded so we can share it with other families afterwards, and so you can revisit it yourself at a later date. Recordings are securely stored and will be available for 60 days.In this session we will cover:

Learn why a diagnosis can be helpful, but why understanding your child’s needs is even more important
Understand common characteristics of autism, ADHD and other forms of neurodivergent needs, and how these may present differently from one child to another
Develop and understanding of sensory differences, communication styles and executive functioning which can influence behaviour, emotions and everyday life
Learn practical strategies to reduce stress, support emotional regulation and build on your child’s strengths
Find ways to work positively with schools and other professionals, even before a diagnosis is in place.

Whether your child is on a waiting list for assessment, has recently been referred, or you simply recognise traits of neurodivergence and are looking for a better understanding, this session aims to provide reassurance, practical ideas and greater confidence in supporting your child.There will also be plenty of opportunity to ask questions throughout the session, making it relevant to your own family’s experiences.
Places are free, but if you’re able to make a small donation to help us continue offering free sessions to as many families as possible, we’d be incredibly grateful.*Please note, to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.

Understanding Autism, ADHD and AuDHD
2026-10-06 19:30 - 21:30
Join us for a session specially designed for those trying to better understand the often missed, crossover between autism & ADHD.

Join us for a session specially designed for those trying to better understand the often missed, crossover between autism & ADHD. AuDHD isn’t just “a little of each”, it’s a totally different mind, with its own strengths, conflicts, differences and skills, and yet most support focuses on either Autism or ADHD, leaving many AuDHDers misunderstood and struggling. Learn about AuDHD and how it can affect children and young people, with practical ways to support your child in everyday life.
In this session, you will:

Pick apart clashing and complementary needs: understanding these interactions.
Discuss Masking: and all the ways we can reduce the need for AuDHDers to mask in their day to day lives.
Navigate sensory & executive functioning differences: Learn how we see sensory differences in both ADHD & Autism and how to manage how theses way work together and against each other.

Who is this session for?
Parent carers of children and young people. Suitable whether your child has a diagnosis, is waiting for assessment or you are just beginning to have questions.

About the trainer:
My name is Hats Darley, & I’m autistic & ADHD.
I deliver training on all things autism & neurodiversity, including training for NHS and social care staff on autism. As well as AuDHD, my interest areas are: executive functioning, neurodiversity in women and girls, and health co-occurring conditions.
AuDHD isn’t just “a little of each”, its a totally different mind, with its own strengths, conflicts, differences and skills, and yet most support focuses on either Autism or ADHD, leaving many AuDHDers misunderstood and struggling.

About Bristol Parent Carers:
This session is part of Bristol Parent Carers’ free programme of information sessions for parent carers of children and young people with SEND or emerging additional needs.
Places are free, but if you’re able to make a small donation to help us continue offering free sessions to as many families as possible, we’d be incredibly grateful.
To attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.
When you book, we’ll ask you 3–5 quick questions related to the session topic. For example, if you’re booking an EHCP session, the questions will be about EHCPs.
Your anonymous responses help Bristol Parent Carers and local partners understand families’ experiences, identify common challenges, and improve support and services.
*Please note*: to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.

Understanding Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Other Specific Learning Differences
2026-10-12 19:00 - 21:00
Discover SEND services, how to access support and practical ways to advocate for your child with confidence.

Learn about specific learning differences (SpLDs), including dyslexia and dyspraxia, how they can affect learning and everyday life, and practical ways to support your child at home and in education.
In this session, you will:

Understand what dyslexia is and how to recognise the signs.
Learn about related neurodevelopmental differences, including Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/dyspraxia), Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), dysgraphia and dyscalculia.
Explore the benefits of a diagnosis, what an assessment can tell you and what to do next.
Gain practical strategies for supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing and confidence.
Understand your child’s rights in school and how to work positively with education settings.
Discover practical ways to support reading, spelling, writing and maths at home.

Who is this session for?
This session is suitable for parent carers of children with dyslexia, those who are waiting for an assessment, or anyone who would like to better understand dyslexia and the support available
About Bristol Parent Carers

This session is part of Bristol Parent Carers’ free programme of information sessions for parent carers of children and young people with SEND or emerging additional needs.
Places are free, but if you’re able to make a small donation to help us continue offering free sessions to as many families as possible, we’d be incredibly grateful.
to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.
*Please note*: to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.

School Transitions with Confidence & Calm
2026-10-19 12:00 - 14:00
Learn how to support your neurodivergent child before diagnosis and access the help and strategies available.

School transitions can be stressful for the whole family. This session explores ways to support your child through change while also looking after your own wellbeing and building confidence for the journey ahead.
In this session, you will:

Understand why transitions can be challenging.
Learn strategies to support your child.
Explore ways to manage your own wellbeing.
Find out about available support.

Who is this session for?
Parent carers whose child is preparing for a school transition.
About Bristol Parent Carers

This session is part of Bristol Parent Carers’ free programme of information sessions for parent carers of children and young people with SEND or emerging additional needs.
Places are free, but if you’re able to make a small donation to help us continue offering free sessions to as many families as possible, we’d be incredibly grateful.
to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.
*Please note*: to attend this session for free you must live in Bristol (your bin will be collected by Bristol City Council), or your child must attend a school in the Bristol city area. You must also have a child with Special Educational Needs, but they do not need to have a diagnosis.
