Learn to question what is happening

When a child is struggling, it can be difficult to separate individual incidents from the wider picture. Difficulties with attendance, behaviour, anxiety, learning or life at home may be treated as separate problems when they can also point towards unmet needs or gaps in support.

CounterNarrative ASN helps parents and carers break down their experiences and look more closely at what is happening, what may be contributing to it and what has changed over time.

Our resources help you explore the support your child currently receives, identify areas where needs may not be fully recognised or met, and consider the impact this is having on their education, wellbeing, participation and family life.

We also encourage families to look beyond broad statements such as “they are coping” or “their needs are being met”and consider what these conclusions are actually based upon.

Questioning does not mean assuming that something is wrong. It means learning how to look beneath the surface, recognise patterns and identify the questions that may need to be asked.

Understanding the problem more clearly helps you ask better questions about what needs to change.