ONE mother has made it her mission to create a safe space for parents of kids with additional needs.
On an allotment she had waited seven years for Rachel Harrison has built The Education Patch, a space for SEND children to learn about growing food, wildlife and composting.
Rachel told the Chronicle that when the allotment was given to her it was filled with rubbish like ‘stoves, microwaves and mattresses’.
It has been a struggle to clear it herself, but she has said that progress is coming along with the space and it is in a ‘beautiful and secluded area’ in Holyland Common.
The company combines traditional means of teaching with methods that suit the children better and allows them to engage with content better.
The approach involves taking pictures, writing reports, journalling and other hands-on techniques, which integrate maths and english language skills.
Rachel said: “It benefits the children so much as they really enjoy being outside and so it allows them to learn in an environment they are comfortable in.”
Alongside the Education Patch, Rachel runs Kind Roots, a SEND parent carer group with 530 members on Facebook this group meets at the town centre’s library once a month.
Here she connects parents with professionals such as speech and language therapists and hosts events such as sound baths for parents and soft play sessions for children.
On her TikTok, @sen—home—ed, she documents her journey and offers advice for SEND parents.
Rachel said that she felt the need to launch these organisations as a result of ‘toxic’ experiences she had amongst the SEND parent community.
She had attended a meeting where someone had recorded parents at their most vulnerable without permission or notification.
She said: “It really hurt me and at the time I was never going to get involved with the community again.
“That was until I thought that this was not just for me, but for other parents that needed a safe space.
“Members of The Education Patch have come to me and said it is a place where finally they have felt heard and respected.
“Some go so far as to take three buses to get here.”
For this impressive work and contribution to the SEND community she has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.
