The Borden's story

The Borden family had faced several challenging years, with both sons needing neurodiversity (ND) support. Their youngest child attended a resourced department within a mainstream primary school, but his emotional needs were escalating. To keep him calm and regulated, his dad had to attend school with him more and more frequently. Eventually, due to his high anxiety, he had to be with him one on one, outside the classroom every day. As a result, he had to give up his job and the family reached crisis point. Professionals were unable to access the home due to the severe emotional distress displayed by their 10 year-old son.

Emma, a Family Help Intervention Worker with lived experience of SEND and inclusion, brought deep understanding of ND challenges. She supported the family through their appeal for specialist provision and attended Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings alongside them.

Both parents needed significant emotional support and reassurance to rebuild trust with services. They described Emma’s presence as invaluable; her feedback and calm approach during meetings eased their anxiety and gave them confidence. Knowing Emma would attend made a huge difference.

Emma didn’t just provide emotional support, she brought fresh and creative practical solutions that changed daily life for the Bordens. She introduced inclusive activities like Life Leisure family swims, helping the family enjoy time together in a supportive environment. Emma also signposted the Solihull Approach online parenting courses and encouraged Dad to join the Riding the Rapids programme, giving him the chance to connect with other parents and build a strong support network. These steps helped the family regain confidence, reduce isolation, and start moving forward.

Emma’s relaxed, empathetic approach enabled her to become the first professional in 2 years to enter the family home without the youngest son running upstairs to hide. She introduced a range of practical and creative strategies to support the youngest son’s development and confidence. These included visual tools such as timelines, 'now and next' boards, and emotion check-ins, alongside activities like sensory play, turn-taking games, and the engaging 'what’s in the bag? activities.

She also incorporated walks to gently increase his exposure to other children and used developmentally appropriate language to communicate at his level. By following his lead and creating opportunities for connection, Emma helped him feel understood and supported. Over time, she built a trusting relationship with him, and he began looking forward to her visits. This breakthrough gave the family hope that their son could form positive relationships with trusted adults. This was a huge step forward.

The parents commented: “Prior to this we had lost hope of anyone being able to help because of the many professionals we have had experience of and being left to fend for ourselves. We finally felt listened to and were given so much advice, and activity suggestions that we can access as a family, as we have been very isolated for some time due to both of our sons' struggles.”

Emma also worked closely with the eldest sibling, aged 14, who attended a Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) provision. She began by building trust through simple, engaging activities like playing Uno and showing genuine interest in the subjects he enjoyed discussing. As their relationship strengthened, Emma introduced strategies to boost his confidence, self-esteem, and resilience, while helping him identify emotional triggers and develop self-regulation skills.

Over time, he achieved significant milestones like going to the cinema with friends, inviting a friend over to game, which was something he'd never done before, and even joining a gym. These experiences sparked new aspirations, including a keen interest in pursuing a future in health and fitness.

The parents added: “Emma was so encouraging towards our eldest son and promoted confidence in him to get out the house and see his friends.”

Emma’s holistic support transformed the family’s outlook. They now feel optimistic about a brighter future, with their youngest son starting at a specialist school in September and their eldest son thriving at his current school.