Being the parent or carer of a child with special educational needs (SEN) is a role filled with deep love, resilience, and a fair share of challenges. Whether you’re navigating the EHCP process, supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing, or simply trying to stay afloat, it helps to know you’re not alone.
Books can’t solve everything, but they can offer comfort, practical advice, and the reassuring voices of others who truly understand what life is like for families like yours.
Top 7 Books for SEN Parents & Carers
Here’s a selection of books, both practical and personal, that many SEN families have found helpful. Whether you’re after straightforward guidance or simply something that makes you feel seen, there’s something here for you.
The Parents’ Guide to SEND
By Gary Aubin & Stephen Hull
This is a fantastic starting point if you’re trying to understand the UK SEND system. Co-written by a parent and a SEND professional, it breaks down what you actually need to know in a way that’s clear and accessible.
It covers everything from how to work with schools to understanding your child’s rights, to managing meetings and paperwork. It’s full of real-life examples and tips, making it a great companion for both new and experienced SEN parents.
TLDR;
- Straightforward and practical
- Helps you feel informed and empowered
- UK-specific guidance
Purchase The Parents’ Guide to SEND on Amazon
Day by Day: Emotional Wellbeing in Parents of Disabled Children
By Joanna Griffin
This book goes deeper into the emotional journey of parenting a child with additional needs. Joanna Griffin is both a psychologist and a parent of a disabled child, so she brings both professional insight and lived experience.
She explores how parents can look after their own mental health while navigating long-term stress, guilt, and burnout. It’s honest, comforting, and full of gentle encouragement. A brilliant read if you’re feeling stretched or unseen.
TLDR;
- Focuses on your well-being, not just your child’s
- Includes research and real parent voices
- Offers emotional validation and resilience tools
Raising the SEN-Betweeners
By Lisa Cherry
Lisa’s heartfelt and often humorous memoir follows her experience raising two autistic children who don’t quite “fit” the systems in place. Her children are bright, capable, and complex – and the book offers real insight into what it’s like when your child doesn’t slot neatly into mainstream or special provision.
Lisa shares the messiness, frustration, and joy of raising SEN children, especially when they fall between the cracks. It’s a great read for any parent who’s had to fight for support or felt their child was misunderstood.
TLDR;
- Honest, relatable storytelling
- Shows the ups and downs without sugar-coating
- Helps you feel less alone in navigating a “grey area” in SEN support
Purchase Raising the SEN-Betweeners on Amazon
A Different Kind of Perfect: Writings by Parents on Raising a Child with Special Needs
Edited by Cindy Dowling
This beautiful collection of essays features real parents sharing their stories. It doesn’t pretend everything is easy, but it shows the love, strength, and growth that come through living with and loving a child with additional needs.
Each piece is deeply personal, offering different perspectives across a range of conditions and challenges. Sometimes all you need is to read someone else’s story to feel less isolated.
TLDR;
- Powerful, real-life experiences
- Offers comfort, connection, and understanding
- Ideal for dipping in and out when time is short
Purchase A Different Kind Of Perfect on Amazon
The Boy in the Moon: A Father’s Journey to Understand His Extraordinary Son
By Ian Brown
This deeply moving memoir follows a father trying to make sense of his son’s rare genetic condition. It’s tender, raw, and incredibly honest about the emotional complexity of parenting a child with profound needs.
Though based in Canada, the emotional landscape Ian describes will feel familiar to many UK parents. It’s not a “how-to” guide, but a story that makes space for the full range of feelings that come with parenting a child who doesn’t follow the expected path.
TLDR;
- Written with honesty, grace, and humour
- Makes space for grief, love, confusion, and pride
- Beautifully written and emotionally resonant
Purchase The Boy in the Moon on Amazon
A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Special Needs
Edited by Colleen Sell
This is another collection of real-life stories from parents who’ve been there. It’s not overly serious or academic – just heartfelt, hopeful, and honest accounts of life as a SEN parent.
It’s the kind of book you can pick up when you’ve had a tough day and need a reminder that you’re not alone. Some stories will make you smile, others might bring a tear – but all of them are written with warmth and understanding.
TLDR;
- Uplifting and human
- Perfect for short bursts of reading
- Gives a sense of community
Purchase A Cup Of Comfort On Amazon
A Guide to SEND in the Early Years
By Kerry Murphy
If your child is in nursery or early primary school, this book is a great resource. Aimed at both professionals and parents, it covers the key aspects of identifying needs, early support, inclusive practices, and transitions.
It’s especially useful if you’re just starting out on your SEN journey and trying to understand what good practice should look like in the early years. It also empowers you to have confident, informed conversations with educators.
TLDR;
- Focused on the crucial early years
- Encourages parent-professional partnership
- Packed with examples and strategies
Purchase A Guide to SEN in the Early Years On Amazon
Why books are good for SEN Parents and carers
Books like these can act as a lifeline: offering not only guidance, but comfort, humour, and a deep reminder that you’re not doing this alone. Whether you’re navigating EHCP battles, daily sensory overload, or the emotional rollercoaster of being a parent-carer, the right words at the right time can make all the difference.
So go ahead – pick up a book. You never know what support might be waiting in its pages.
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