ParentTalk# with Bev

I've had conversations with many parents along my journey—single parents, co-parents, and those in partnerships. One theme keeps coming up: the feeling of struggling alone.

But why struggle alone?

How can we shift this? How can we rewrite this narrative?

Listen as I share experiences and practical steps to break this cycle. Maybe it’s time to #FindYourTribe and #MakeThatChange—because no one should have to do this alone.

A single pebble creates ripples. Let’s drop that pebble together. Buckle up. The shift starts now.

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Welcome to Part 2 with my guest, Michelle, who is sharing her knowledge around parent's rights in the English Education System?  We recap an item from Part 1 clarifying points, rules and timeframes. Is home education a real choice? What's the difference between Home Schooling and Home Education? What should parents understand If your school says it's not working so move your child? How might parents work in partnership with schools?

More info on Home Education visit -https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/about-us/

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What are parent's rights in the England Education System? If my child has additional learning needs do these right change? What are some rules and timeframes? My guest has over 20 years experience and gives us some valuable insight. Websites referred to in this interview are below. Please copy and paste links where applicable.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25 
https://sossen.org.uk 
https://sossen.org.uk/services/walk-in-advice-centres
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/template-letters

Michelles contact email is [email protected]

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A longer than usual podcast about a Black mother's search for healing in a system where services are not holistic. Listen as she shares her experience  with us. Trigger warnings! Some of this may be uncomfortable listening but she leaves us with gems we ALL can learn from. Find the courage to reach out for support & information. 
Instagram -@SANCTUARY4SISTERHOOD  Email: [email protected]
Freephone National 24-hour Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge) on 0808 2000 247.

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Instagram -@bevparenttalk

Did you know you need to be a UK homeowner to act as guarantor for you child's rent outside of halls of residents? In Bristol you do! I never knew it was an issue until now.  Low income families with bright children going to university be aware. Starting a degree is not the issue but continuing to the end can be the challenge.   Links below for more research so you can be prepared or campaign for change. 
Links for further reading:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/oct/29/parents-who-wish-they-knew-more-about-university

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jan/20/student-housing-what-you-need-to-know-as-a-guarantor
Bristol - https://my.housinghand.co.uk/register?code=bristolun

UCAS Hub for parents

https://www.ucas.com/discover

Podcast contact: [email protected]

Do you know what a H.EA.R. is? Nor did I. If you have children at university or going to university you should know about this. Found out about it while helping a student. Sharing experiences help us to support our children and our communities better. Warning!!  Death by suicide mentioned.
Websites mentioned; www.open.ac.uk/study/credit-transfer and www.oiahe.org.uk. 

Reach out if you want to be a guest on the podcast. Contact email for guests is  [email protected]

Sharing my response to an incident a Year 7 mother is facing with her daughter's new secondary school.  Nipping things in the bud early is key. Schools keep written records, even an email is a record, so parents need to do the same.   What could/should we ask the school to do? Can we use role play at home to help our children practice how they respond to help them survive? 

Instagram: Bevparenttalk
Email. [email protected]

When it comes to grandparents and our children are parents always between a rock and a hard place?  A nan's comment, to her grandchild, led to a lengthy conversation between me and her mum. This podcast is some of my reflections on the struggles, questions and tensions of a complex relationships with our parents in this new grandparent role.  How do we find the courage to tell our parents they are wrong? How do we teach our children to be who they are but respectfully? Do we hear any pearls of wisdom from our parents, or does it all just sound  like criticism?

Instagram @bevparenttalk
Email: [email protected]

This was the last unpublished podcast for 2022 reflecting on how we might deal with the long journey of parenting. Like others, over the past twenty years, I have had to find my way over and my journey is not finished.  I sometimes have felt crushed, in this space, but share some things that might help us to cope a little more on our pathways. This parenting experience  is not a short distance journey. It's like a car ride where the kids keep asking "are we there yet"!  We can't abandon the car really although we might want to. We're trapped  on the road as we practice parenting for the long haul.