Advisory Teacher for Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder where the anxiety prevents, or limits, someone's ability to speak in certain situations, despite being able to speak freely when in comfortable situations. Sadly, many children are labelled as "just shy" and parents are told "they will grow out of it", but unfortunately, if not dealt with, it can lead to severe mental health issues later in life, and often school refusal. Being a teacher for the last 30+ years (13 of them having been in an SEN unit) as well as a parent of a grown up son who had high profile SM all through school, I am able to understand and support both families and schools in helping children to overcome SM.