Sleep workshop for SEND patients and parents

11 MARCH 2026

Thanks to funding from York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity, Cath McGill, Special School Nurse Support Worker, has achieved her licence to deliver ‘Sleep Better’ workshops for parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

This qualification now enables Cath to offer tailored education to both students and families, helping them understand the importance of sleep and how to build healthier routines.

Since becoming licensed, Cath has been delivering workshops to schools across the Scarborough area and has been invited to speak at parent support groups in Whitby, Scarborough, and Ryedale.

Her sessions cover essential topics including:

• The science of sleep
• Sleep hygiene
• Healthy eating
• Building positive daily habits
• Reducing screen time and overstimulation before bed

These workshops aim to equip families with practical strategies to improve sleep and overall wellbeing, something especially vital for SEND children who may experience additional challenges.

Cath shared the impact the training has already had:

“The course information is invaluable. Not just for me but to be able to relay it to the students and their families. One of the major blockers is trying to engage with students. educating them that their choices to stay up late gaming, the use of screens late into the night and reliance on energy drinks to keep them awake are damaging to their growth, education and physical health.

“I have recently attended a school where I was brought into a class to educate on the importance of sleep, and one student was asleep in the class due to staying up all night gaming.

“By York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity funding my course, it has meant that I can have confidence in leading sleep workshops to students and parents. I see parents at breaking point, not knowing how to get their child to sleep or how to break the cycle. This qualification allows me to help the students, teachers and family and has proven to be invaluable to everyone involved.”

By funding Cath’s training, York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity has supported to improve wellbeing for SEND children by increased parental confidence and understanding. By providing earlier support and intervention to break unhealthy sleep cycles, there has already been better engagement and attendance in school.

Cath’s work is already making a significant difference to families who may otherwise feel overwhelmed or unsure where to turn for support.