SENDing SUCCESS
About Me &
The Making Of SENDing Success
It strengthened my belief that with the right support, environment, and understanding, every child can thrive - even those who have been misunderstood or written off by the system.
SEND In My Own Family
In 2024, my nephew was born and was diagnosed with ASD in 2026. I knew the journey my family was about to begin and I wanted to be fully equipped to support them. SENDing Success isn’t just professional, it’s personal. I’ve experienced the SEND process from every angle:
- An educator
- A caregiver
- An advocate
- A family member.
I understand the stress, the confusion, the hope, and the determination that parents carry when fighting for the right support.
My Journey Into Teaching
Hello, My name is Tonisha and in summer 2019, I graduated with a second class upper division BSc in Sociology with Theology and Religious Studies originally planning to become a secondary school teacher. Throughout my time studying, I volunteered with a charity offering tuition to children with low-income backgrounds, and that experience sparked my passion for teaching. Post graduation, I continued tutoring and working as a TA and Cover Teacher to make sure teaching was truly the path I wanted to follow.
Before long, I began a tutoring business and then the pandemic hit... Throughout this time I continued tutoring for one particular family and their 5 children. Later I became their full time nanny and educator. I stayed with them for 6 years, supporting the children's learning, development, and day to day life.
Seeing The SEND Process First hand
During this time, I noticed one child was struggling in ways that didn’t align with typical learners his age. I spoke with his teachers and recommended screenings for dyslexia and dyscalculia. The assessments confirmed both. Around the same time their other son aged 2 was presenting with delayed milestones, and an ASD and language disorder diagnosis was later confirmed.
That was the moment everything changed for me.
I witnessed first hand what families go through - the assessments, the paperwork, the professional jargon, the emotional weight, and the fight to secure a fair and accurate EHCP. Reading reports about children I cared for deeply was difficult because a child is so much more than their 'needs'. It also opened my eyes to how overwhelming the process can feel for parents.
Teaching Outside Of The Classroom
At age 5 the family decided to home school their autistic son. We had meetings to discuss how we could make that work and I got busy designing a classroom and curriculum. I worked closely with Occupational Therapists and Speech & Language Therapists for around 5 years, ensuring his support was consistent, meaningful, and truly personalised. I knew that with the right support any child can make incredible progress but, seeing it in action is a feeling I will NEVER forget. Seeing him wear a school uniform, respond to conversation, grow in independence and express himself clearly was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. For many these are 'typical milestones' but for some neurodivergent people this can be a HUGE accomplishment.
I later went on to provide tuition as an alternative provision for local authorities, supporting children with a wide range of SEND needs, backgrounds, and behavioural profiles. This experience deepened my understanding of how diverse neurodivergent learners truly are. I worked with children who had experienced trauma, school avoidance, complex learning profiles, and emotional regulation difficulties.
Training & Qualifications
Over the years, I’ve gained specialist training and qualifications, including:
- Attention Autism Programme
- Working with Children with SEND in Education (Level 2)
- Autism Awareness CPD
- IPSEA SEND Law Training Level 2 & 3
Purpose
The purpose of SENDing Success is simple:
To support and educate families that are new to this world of SEND and to ensure their child receives the right support. I've seen the difference early intervention can make. I know first hand how important it is.
This journey is tiring, but I'm determined to make it that little bit easier.