1/5

Reflecting on a week of positives both for me and the school.

Yet one of the absolute highlights was a conversations with some new parents.

Mum had seems nervous when speaking to me at the front of the school since joining us in Sept - couldn’t put my finger on why.

2/5

Invited mum and dad in to talk - mainly as I hadn’t had the chance to get to know them then on a tour.

Both came in on the defensive and were ready to be told their son had upset or hurt someone. Surprised when I said I just wanted to meet them and to hear about their boy.

Could see Dad was taken aback but unsure still so, simple thing, I removed my jacket, rolled my sleeves up and revealed my tattoo sleeves. Poured us all a drink and sat back and just listened.

Dad became animated - not because he was still defensive but because he hadn’t had

the chance to talk about his son before. He’d only ever been called to school to hear negatives.

Got upset explaining that his son was labelled ‘naughty’ but it was his ADHD and that no one understood.

I explain that I did. Shared by personal experience of school and ADHD.

Mum and Dad left happier after that hour than they had felt in a school in years.

Mum doesn’t seem nervous anymore on a morning and Dad now waves at me with a big smile.

Moral of the story.

Listen. Relate. Build relationships.