All tagged neurodivergence

Starfish and Coffee: What Prince Taught My Daughter, Boredom, and the Beauty of Being Different

Starfish and Coffee: What Prince Taught My Daughter, Boredom, and the Beauty of Being Different

Kevin George
child development

Kevin George, clinical therapist, author, and former professional footballer, explores what Prince's 1987 song Starfish and Coffee reveals about neurodivergence, creativity, and the underrated developmental power of boredom. Drawing on the song's true origin story, a real girl named Cynthia Rose, whose difference was met with curiosity by classmate Susannah Melvoin and later immortalised by Prince, George connects the psychology of the song to his clinical work with young people through Soccology and KTDA!. The post moves between a father-daughter moment, the Muppets Tonight extended performance, and the deeper question of what it means to listen to children who do not fit. Written by the author of Soccology and BACP-registered clinical therapist and Senior Family Therapist Kevin George, this piece sits at the intersection of SEND, neurodivergence, child development, and cultural analysis.

The Boy Nobody Could Reach: Neurodivergence, Antisocial Behaviour, and the Systems That Keep Failing

The Boy Nobody Could Reach: Neurodivergence, Antisocial Behaviour, and the Systems That Keep Failing

Kevin George
boys mental health

This article examines the connection between neurodivergence, antisocial behaviour and systemic failure. Drawing on experiences working with neurodivergent young people, it explores how ADHD, autism and other neurodevelopmental differences are frequently misunderstood within education, social care and youth justice systems. Rather than viewing challenging behaviour as evidence of bad character, the article argues that behaviour is often a form of communication that reflects unmet emotional, developmental and social needs.

The article discusses school exclusion, emotional literacy, SEND provision, youth offending and the school-to-prison pipeline. It highlights how neurodivergent children are disproportionately represented in exclusion statistics and youth justice settings, often because their needs are not identified or appropriately supported. The piece calls for earlier intervention, greater understanding of neurodiversity and a shift from punishment-based responses towards approaches rooted in empathy, emotional development and psychological understanding.

Key topics include neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, emotional literacy, SEND, school exclusion, youth offending, mental health, behaviour as communication, child development, educational psychology and youth justice.

When the System Is the Problem: How to Lead Operational Improvement in SEND

When the System Is the Problem: How to Lead Operational Improvement in SEND

Kevin George
SEND Leadership

SEND operational failure is structural, not personal. Sustainable improvement requires a three-level approach addressing systems (live compliance tracking, named accountability), people (supervision, tacit knowledge mapping, workload management), and culture (modelled values, proactive family communication, relational safety). Measurable impact includes improved EHC plan timeliness, reduced regulatory correspondence, lower formal complaint volumes, and improved staff retention.