Our Journey with Autism: Finding Support and Strength at Shining Stars Nursery

Parenting is an adventure, full of unexpected twists and turns. But when you add autism into the mix, that journey takes on a whole new meaning. This blog is a deeply personal one, as I step away from my usual business and accounting content to share our family’s experience—our journey as autistic parents raising an autistic daughter and the incredible support we found at Shining Stars Nursery in Epsom.

The Early Days: Facing Reality

Our daughter was diagnosed with autism at an early age, something we now see as a blessing. Girls, in particular, are often very good at masking their symptoms, making diagnosis more challenging. In the beginning, I was in massive denial. I kept thinking, “She’ll grow out of it. We can develop her skills, and she’ll catch up.” I was wrong. It took me a while to accept it, but once I did, everything changed.

Finding the Right Nursery: Enter Shining Stars

Choosing a nursery is a nerve-wracking decision for any parent, but when your child has additional needs, it feels like an even bigger leap of faith. We enrolled our daughter at Shining Stars Nursery in Epsom, and it was one of the best decisions we ever made. She had two fantastic teachers, Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Bowyer, who made an immense impact on our family.

From day one, they showed incredible care, love, and understanding. Our daughter struggled with concentration and self-regulation, often wandering off during activities. But instead of seeing this as disruptive, they embraced it, finding ways to engage her in a way that suited her unique needs.

The Leap Programme: A Game Changer

One of the biggest turning points was when our daughter was accepted into the LEAP programme, a Surrey-based initiative designed to support autistic children and their families. The programme provided:

A specialist who visited our home weekly.
A support worker who worked with our daughter at nursery.
Additional tailored activities to help her develop key skills.

For Shining Stars, this was a completely new experience, but they took it on with open arms. Mrs. Carter had never worked with LEAP before, yet she embraced it wholeheartedly, learning everything she could and adapting the nursery’s approach to fully integrate the programme. The passion and dedication they showed were nothing short of inspiring.

The Emotional Struggles: Coming to Terms with a Special Needs School

One of the hardest parts of this journey was accepting that our daughter would thrive best in a special needs school. As a parent, that was a tough pill to swallow. I had moments of deep fear, and yes, there were tears—many of them.

But thanks to the unwavering support of Shining Stars’ team, particularly Mrs. Smith, the SEN teacher, I was able to see the bigger picture. A mainstream school simply wasn’t the right fit for our daughter, and that was okay. Once we visited a specialist school, it became clear—this was where she would thrive, grow, and be supported in the best way possible.

Gratitude and Reflection

Looking back, I can’t express enough gratitude to Shining Stars Nursery. They weren’t just teachers; they became a part of our extended family. Their commitment, warmth, and genuine care gave us the strength to navigate this journey with confidence.

So, if you’re a parent facing a similar path, know this: You are not alone. There is help, there is support, and there are incredible educators out there who will stand by you and your child every step of the way.

Let’s Talk

If this story resonates with you, and you need someone to talk to, I’m here. Click the link below to book a call, and let’s chat. Sometimes, just knowing someone else understands can make all the difference.

And to the team at Shining Stars—Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Bowyer, and Mrs. Smith—thank you. You’ve changed our lives, and we are forever grateful.