The Parent Carer is a practical, emotionally honest and empowering handbook for families raising children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Written by an experienced educator, specialist dyslexia tutor and award-winning, national, disability-inclusion campaigner. The book is in a dyslexia friendly format with tinted pages, a dyslexia friendly font and spaced text. 

This book bridges the gap between professional knowledge and lived experience. It recognises a difficult truth: parent carers are often expected to become caseworkers, advocates, educators, therapists and administrators with little preparation and even less support.

The Parent Carer provides a survival framework combining emotional resilience, rights-based advocacy, practical systems, and strategic thinking. The book positions parent carers not as passive recipients of services but as empowered and informed advocates navigating complex education, health and social care systems.

Through clear explanations, real-world scenarios, advocacy scripts, checklists, and professional insight, the book helps readers move from crisis response to confident leadership of their child’s support journey.

Natalie Hay has worked in education for over twenty years, is a mother of two and changed government policy in 2024. She was and was awarded the Highly Commended Changemaker of the Year award 2024 (by NASEN) and runner-up Campaigner of the Year 2025 (by SMK).

Product details

• Author: Natalie Hay
• Publisher: Authors & Co.
• Publication date: 12 May 2026
• Format: Paperback, 326 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-1917623315
• Dimensions: 13.97 x 2.08 x 21.59 cm

• Author: Natalie Hay, educator, specialist dyslexia tutor and disability-inclusion campaigner
• Publisher: Authors & Co.
• Dyslexia-friendly format: tinted pages, dyslexia-friendly font and spaced text
• Includes advocacy scripts, checklists and real-world scenarios
• For parent carers of children with SEND and additional needs
• Format: Paperback, 326 pages
• Published: 12 May 2026
• Dimensions: 13.97 x 2.08 x 21.59 cm
• Weight: 490g
• ISBN-13: 9781917623315

• Written from both sides. The author is a professional insider and a parent carer with lived experience.
• Practical tools. Advocacy scripts, checklists and real-world scenarios you can use straight away.
• Dyslexia-friendly. Tinted pages, a dyslexia-friendly font and spaced text make it easier to read.
• From crisis to confidence. Helps parent carers move from crisis response to confident leadership of their child's support.

What's in the Box

• 1 x paperback book

Delivery and Returns

Standard UK delivery applies. See our Delivery and Returns page for full details.

• Who is The Parent Carer for?
  It is written for parent carers and families raising children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or additional needs.
• Is The Parent Carer dyslexia-friendly?
  Yes. The book has tinted pages, a dyslexia-friendly font and spaced text.
• What does the book cover?
  It provides a survival framework combining emotional resilience, rights-based advocacy, practical systems and strategic thinking, with advocacy scripts, checklists and real-world scenarios.
• Who is Natalie Hay?
  Natalie Hay has worked in education for over twenty years, is a specialist dyslexia tutor, a mother of two and the director of Open Doors Education Ltd. She was Highly Commended in the NASEN Changemaker of the Year award 2024.
• What format is The Parent Carer?
  It is a 326-page paperback published by Authors & Co. on 12 May 2026. It measures 13.97 x 2.08 x 21.59 cm, weighs 490g and has the ISBN 9781917623315.