When school becomes overwhelming and unsafe for a neurodivergent child, families can find themselves in incredibly challenging situations—feeling lost, overwhelmed, and alone. The pressure to “fix” their child can stir up painful thoughts and feelings, all while parents are already stretched to the limit.

In this episode of Neuro-affirming care in hard times, host Stacey Innes is joined by neurodivergent counsellor and trauma therapist Jade Farrington for a compassionate, reality-honouring conversation about what families are really facing when school is no longer safe.

Together, they explore neuronormativity and the harm caused when children are expected to conform to systems that don’t meet their needs. Jade shares why a neuro-affirming approach is especially vital for children who have experienced trauma, burnout, or a loss of safety—and how shifting away from “fixing” towards understanding can help rebuild trust, regulation, and connection.

The conversation offers reassurance to families who feel isolated and overwhelmed, alongside gentle, practical ideas that can be woven into everyday life to support safety and joy at home. Above all, this episode reminds parents that they are not failing—and that becoming a neuro-affirming parent with their child and themselves, can be a powerful, compassionate act of care in the hardest of times.

When school becomes overwhelming and unsafe for a neurodivergent child, families can find themselves in incredibly challenging situations—feeling lost, overwhelmed, and alone. The pressure to “fix” their child can stir up painful thoughts and feelings, all while parents are already stretched to the limit.

In this episode of Neuro-affirming care in hard times, host Stacey Innes is joined by neurodivergent counsellor and trauma therapist Jade Farrington for a compassionate, reality-honouring conversation about what families are really facing when school is no longer safe.

Together, they explore neuronormativity and the harm caused when children are expected to conform to systems that don’t meet their needs. Jade shares why a neuro-affirming approach is especially vital for children who have experienced trauma, burnout, or a loss of safety—and how shifting away from “fixing” towards understanding can help rebuild trust, regulation, and connection.

The conversation offers reassurance to families who feel isolated and overwhelmed, alongside gentle, practical ideas that can be woven into everyday life to support safety and joy at home. Above all, this episode reminds parents that they are not failing—and that becoming a neuro-affirming parent can be a powerful, compassionate act of care in the hardest of times.

Full episode with Elaine Walklet and Stacey Innes talking about Elain's journey securing EOTIS for her son.

In episode 3, Stacey Innes, founder of Children Lead the Way, sits down with Denita Dinger from Listen to Children for a rich and reflective conversation on the critical importance of listening to children and empowering them in all aspects of their learning and lives.

Denita brings deep insight from her work advocating for children’s voices, sharing what truly empowers children to feel heard, respected, and capable. She explores the conditions that support genuine child agency, as well as the common barriers adults face when it comes to letting go of control, shifting power, and trusting children’s competence.

Alongside this, Stacey shares her own personal journey of overcoming fear and learning to let go — meeting her child exactly where he needed her to be. She reflects on navigating her fear of his big emotions, the inner work required to shift long-held beliefs, and how embracing her child’s voice became a turning point in truly empowering him.

Together, this conversation invites educators, parents, and leaders to reflect on how their own beliefs and practices shape children’s experiences, and challenges us to create environments where children’s voices are not only heard, but valued and acted upon.

In Episode 2, Stacey Innes sits down with Elaine Walklet, Health Psychologist, for an honest and deeply empathetic conversation about the realities, pressures, and emotional toll families face when navigating the EHCP process and advocating for their child’s rights.

Elaine draws on both her professional expertise and lived experience to share valuable insights for families on this challenging journey. Together, they explore the weight of advocacy, the systemic barriers families encounter, and the emotional and practical hardships that often come with seeking the right support for a child.

Alongside the challenges, Elaine also shares the glimmers of hope that sustained her — moments of connection, progress, and resilience that reminded her why the journey mattered. This episode offers reassurance, understanding, and practical reflection for families who may feel overwhelmed, unheard, or exhausted by the process.

A powerful listen for parents, caregivers, and professionals supporting children and families through the EHCP journey.

Podcast Summary: From Shutdown to Strength

Stacey Innes, SEND educator and Mum to neurodivergent child discusses healing through sensory rich environments in nature and empowering relationships rooted in trust.

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, we meet Stacey Innes, Founder of Children Lead The Way CIC, an Outdoor Recovery Centre and Forest School based in Gloucestershire, UK. Stacey shares her moving personal story — a mother’s journey from heartbreak to hope — as she recounts how her son’s acute separation anxiety and emotional shutdown ultimately became the catalyst for creating a nurturing, nature-based recovery space for children.

When Stacey’s son began to withdraw from the world, communication became nearly impossible. She describes those early days with raw honesty — the silence, the fear, and the feeling of not knowing how to reach him. Traditional interventions offered limited support, and it was through gentle patience and a return to nature that Stacey began to witness her son’s reconnection with life.

This powerful experience inspired her to found Children Lead The Way, a unique outdoor recovery centre and forest school where children are invited to heal, explore, and grow through natural play, sensory experiences, and compassionate connection. Stacey explains how being in nature provides a safe, grounding space for children to rediscover trust — both in themselves and in others.

Through her work, Stacey has seen first-hand how stepping outside conventional approaches can open extraordinary possibilities. She speaks passionately about creating environments where children feel truly seen and accepted, not judged or rushed.

As Stacey beautifully puts it,

“When we truly see children and trust them with connection, understanding and patience, they show the most extraordinary gifts. That’s when resilience, confidence and connection grow.”

Throughout the episode, Stacey reflects on what it means to build a community interest company rooted in empathy and empowerment. She discusses the importance of trauma-informed care, the role of nature in emotional regulation, and how her team supports families navigating anxiety, shutdown, and recovery.

Listeners will be inspired by Stacey’s courage to transform personal struggle into a mission that now touches countless families. Her story reminds us that healing doesn’t always happen in classrooms or clinics — sometimes, it begins under the open sky, beside a fire, or through the quiet rustle of leaves.

This episode is a celebration of resilience — of a child’s ability to lead their own recovery when given space, connection, and trust. It’s also a call to reimagine how we see and support children’s mental health, not through control, but through compassion.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply someone who believes in the healing power of nature, Stacey’s story offers deep insight and hope for what’s possible when we let children lead the way.

During the episode, Stacey’s memory took a brief pause while recalling the author of an important quote: “Children do well if they can” (often paraphrased as “Children do the best they can with the skills they have”). Just to confirm — this beautiful insight comes from Dr. Ross W. Greene, clinical psychologist and author. Her memory may have hit pause, but her passion never does!