Supporting families every
step of the way
Empowering Families
Preventing Crisis
Promoting Wellbeing
At Parenting Special Children, we bring our lived experience and professional knowledge to offer specialist information, expert advice and a compassionate listening ear.
Upcoming events
Discover allLet’s Get Creative! Kinship Families (inc support group) February 2026
Starts on Saturday 14th FebruaryA monthly group for Berkshire children (age 5-12). A small number of tickets are available for non-Berkshire children. Held in Reading from 10am-12pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire
- Other
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Dads and Male Carers Support Group February 2026
Starts on Tuesday 17th FebruaryA monthly support group, held in Reading, from 7.30-9.30pm. Available to Berkshire and non-Berkshire dads and male carers.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire
- Other
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Interoception Workshop February 2026
Starts on Tuesday 17th FebruaryFor Berkshire and non-Berkshire parents/carers of autistic/ADHD children and young people. Held online via Zoom from 7-9pm. Bookings close on 17th February at 5:50pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire
- Other
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Protected: Transition to Adulthood Group February 2026
Starts on Tuesday 24th FebruaryA closed monthly social group for Berkshire neurodivergent, adopted, fostered and kinship care young adults who attend(ed) a mainstream school (age 16-19/20), held in Reading from 4.30-6.30pm. Bookings close at 3.30pm on 25th Nov. To apply to join the group please email: transition@parentingspecialchildren.co.uk
Open to
- Bracknell
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) February 2026
Starts on Tuesday 24th FebruaryA workshop for for Berkshire and non-Berkshire parents/carers. Held online via Zoom from 7-9pm. Bookings will close on 24th February at 5:50pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire
- Other
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Sensory Processing Workshop: Berkshire East February 2026
Starts on Tuesday 24th FebruaryFor parents/carers of autistic/adhd children and young people, living or registered with an NHS GP, in the Berkshire East NHS area. Held online via Zoom from 7-9pm. Bookings close on 24th February at 5:50pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Slough
- Windsor and Maidenhead
Community Parent/Carer Support Group: Slough February 2026
Starts on Tuesday 24th FebruaryA face-to-face monthly support group held at Farnham Common Village Hall between 10am-12pm.
Open to
- Slough
Protected: Mosaic Minds Group: Juniors (Feb-Mar 2026)
Starts on Wednesday 25th FebruaryA closed fortnightly social group for Berkshire autistic/ADHD children, age 8-12, who attend a mainstream school, held in Reading from 4.30-6.30pm. We are currently operating a waiting list. To apply to join the group please email: interact@parentingspecialchildren.co.uk
Open to
- Bracknell
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Answering difficult questions and life story work workshop (Feb 2026)
Starts on Thursday 26th FebruaryA workshop for adoptive, foster and kinship care, and birth families of children with development trauma. Held online via Zoom from 10am-12pm. Bookings close on 29th January at 8.50am.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire
- Other
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Supporting Children with Trauma and Insecure Attachments at School: for Professionals Feb 2026
Starts on Friday 27th FebruaryTwo linked workshops for Professionals working in schools with children affected by trauma through adverse childhood experiences. Held online via Zoom from 12.30-2.30pm
Open to
- Bracknell
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire
- Other
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
The A Team: High Score Arcade February 2026
Starts on Saturday 28th FebruaryA monthly face-to-face group for autistic/ADHD girls living in Berkshire. Trip to Clip n Climb. Bookings will close on Thursday 11th December at 4:50pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Reading
- Slough
- West Berkshire
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
Interoception Workshop: Berkshire East March 2026
Starts on Tuesday 3rd MarchFor parents/carers of autistic/adhd children and young people, living or registered with an NHS GP, in the Berkshire East NHS area. Held online via Zoom from 7-9pm. Bookings close on 3rd March at 5:50pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Slough
- Windsor and Maidenhead
Navigating School Support for children with early life trauma (Mar 2026)
Starts on Thursday 5th MarchA workshop for adoptive, foster and kinship care, and birth families of children with development trauma. Held online via Zoom from 10am-12pm. Bookings close on 29th January at 8.50am.
Open to
Autism Course: Berkshire East March 2026
Starts on Tuesday 10th MarchThree linked sessions for parents/carers of autistic children and young people registered with a Berkshire East NHS area GP surgery or living in this area. Held online via Zoom from 7-9pm. Bookings will close on 10th March at 5:50pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
- Slough
- Windsor and Maidenhead
Community Parent/Carer Support Group: Reading March 2026
Starts on Friday 13th MarchA face-to-face monthly support group held at South Reading Community Hub, 9.15-11.15am.
Open to
- Reading
- Wokingham
Community Parent/Carer Support Group: Bracknell March 2026
Starts on Thursday 19th MarchA face-to-face monthly support group held at Great Hollands Community Centre between 12.30-2.30pm.
Open to
- Bracknell
Ethnically Diverse Communities Coffee Morning March 2026
Starts on Wednesday 25th MarchA coffee morning to support families of children with additional needs from diverse ethnic communities who live in the Reading Borough Council area. Held in Reading from 10am-12pm.
Open to
- Reading
Lived experience is at the heart of everything we do
At Parenting Special Children, 90% of us are parents & carers of neurodivergent children & young people, children with SEND or early life trauma and/or are neurodivergent ourselves.
Duration: 2 minutes, 21 seconds
Our impact
Parents & Carers
2135
were supported by PSC in 2023-24 academic year
Children & Young People
340
were supported by PSC in 2023-24 academic year
Professionals
435
were supported by PSC in 2023-24 academic year (active on our database, not including commissioning)
We make a life changing difference for families
But we can’t do it without our funders
Here are some strategies and resources that might help you
Jargon Buster
Read our glossary of neurodivergence, early life trauma and SEN jargon to help understand some of the terms you might hear
Read article
Find out about Neurodivergence
Read this resource to find out about neurodivergence and neurodiversity which provides a starting point to understanding neurodivergence
Read article
Find out about Attachment
Attachment is the affectionate bond that develops when a child experiences love, security and comfort from an adult carer.
Read article
News
August-September 2025 Newsletter
Our August-September 2025 Newsletter is available to view and download
PSC Conference 2025… Save the date!
Save the date for our next conference!
A Very Special Honour for Our CEO
On Friday 25 July, our Founder and CEO, Ruth Pearse, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Reading in recognition of her exceptional contribution to the fields of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and early life trauma through her work with Parenting Special Children over the past 20 years.
