Barbara Follows is the parent of an adult who had behavioural difficulties as a child. She also has a Masters degree in Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and is an experienced SEN and child behaviour consultant. Barbara has worked in mainstream and special schools in the UK and abroad across the full age range, including five years at a secondary boarding school for teenage boys with severe behavioural problems.
Barbara runs training courses for headteachers, teachers and support staff. In 2009 she returned from Namibia after spending over a year working with and advising the Namibian Government to improve children's access to education.
Barbara says: "Mambic was born out of my personal knowledge and professional experiences of special educational needs. As a mother, I know what it is like to have a child who is different and, as a teacher, to have pupils who challenge. I can steer you through the minefield of the education services, provide support in seemingly impossible home and school situations, and be there to understand, assist and advise. Education is a complex system, and if you do not have the experience and knowledge, then you can get lost in the maze.My own "different" child was fortunate to have a parent who knew how to navigate the system and obtain the best possible outcome for his personal circumstances "
Read Barbara's posts
- Coming to terms with your child’s hidden Special Educational Needs.Not all Special Educational Needs are immediately obvious. Some are initially hidden, such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD. When parents…Continue reading »
- Why consistency in parenting is vital, especially for children with challenging behavioursWe have adopted a cat, or rather he has adopted us. We' re no strangers to owning cats, but this…Continue reading »
- Balancing the needs of siblings, when one has ADHDIn a class of 30+ children, a teacher’s prime objective is to make sure that everyone is working to the…Continue reading »
- The secrets and lies of special needs and disabilityA secret: Confidential, untold, not to be made public. In other words something to be hidden. A lie: To speak falsely or…Continue reading »
- Seeing the view from the other side of the parent-teacher divide‘Teachers leave them kids alone’, the line from Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall, must resonate with some parents…Continue reading »
- How I learned to take the best advice (and ignore the rest) when raising my ADHD sonIn my first post on top tips for parenting a child with challenging behaviours, I suggested that you: Seek support…Continue reading »
- 10 tips for parenting a child whose behaviour is challengingTania's note: Difficult or challenging behaviour can be one of toughest things you can face as a parent of a…Continue reading »
