OMATAS Blog: Resources, Articles & Podcasts

Lauren Edmunds, founder of a school for children with learning delays, challenges the “siloed” approach to special education.
Using a personal story about her daughter’s misdiagnosed autoimmune disease, she explains why specialists must look beyond their narrow scope to see the whole child.

In this insightful discussion, Lauren Edmunds, the founder of a school for children with learning delays, explores the critical role of patience and observation in supporting neurodiverse children. She challenges adults to set aside their own rigid, “goal-driven” agendas to truly meet children where they are. This is especially vital for those who are non-speaking or navigating ADHD, autism, and anxiety.

Lauren Edmunds, the founder of a school for children with learning delays, discusses the importance of shifting away from adult-driven goals to better support neurodivergent children. She explains that adults are often so focused on their own schedules, such as getting to the shops or starting a maths lesson, that they lose sight of the child’s perspective.

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explains that sending a child to a single weekly therapy session is like doing ten sit-ups on a Friday and expecting a six-pack. She suggests that for therapy to actually “pay off,” parents need to view the therapist like a personal trainer; the real results come from doing the exercises at home between sessions.

Lauren Edmunds, founder of a school for children with learning delays, explains that mistakes are exactly where learning occurs. She warns that common phrases like “you can do better” can accidentally shame children, leading them to avoid challenges and stick to easy tasks just to get praise.

By establishing a foundation of mutual respect and allowing children to face the natural consequences of their actions, parents and teachers can help them develop vital self-discipline and impulse control. This episode offers a practical, compassionate roadmap for raising accountable, resilient children who take true ownership of their lives.

Lauren Edmunds, a school founder specialising in learning delays, discusses how the “morning rush” can derail a child’s entire school day. She explains that when children arrive dysregulated due to stress, screens, or a lack of connection, their brains are not “online” for learning, forcing teachers to spend hours calming them rather than teaching.

Lauren Edmunds, who runs a school for children with learning delays, looks at how the way we moan or complain about schoolwork actually becomes the voice in our children’s heads. She argues that if we treat homework as a chore or a waste of time, our kids will too, which eventually makes the work even harder for them. This episode is about shifting that mindset by role-modelling effort and using language that connects practice to progress.

Lauren Edmunds uses a powerful metaphor to explore what real remediation should look like when children are struggling.
Rather than repeatedly pulling children out of difficulty, she explains why the focus must be on building the skills, resilience and self-belief that allow them to climb out themselves — and stay out. This episode is a thoughtful reflection on over-helping, learned helplessness, and the role of parents, teachers and therapists in creating strong, capable children who can navigate challenges with confidence.

Lauren Edmunds explains how something as ordinary as a school stationery list can become a powerful tool for building organisation, independence and foundational learning skills. She explores how small, everyday tasks help children develop confidence, planning and problem-solving abilities that support long-term academic and life success.

Lauren Edmunds speaks candidly about the moment a child receives a diagnosis and the emotional journey that follows for parents and families. Drawing from her own experience as both a mother and an educator, she explores denial, grief, acceptance and responsibility, and why the weight of a diagnosis should never sit on the child alone. This episode offers an honest, compassionate look at how early, intentional intervention, accountability and love can set children up to live confidently and authentically with who they are.