I recently came across a conversation with actress Anna Maxwell Martin that really struck a chord with me. She was speaking about children with SEN (Special Educational Needs), but instead of using that term, she referred to them simply as "children with individual needs."

And I thought - yes. Yes, exactly.

As someone who's spent the past 25 years working with children, I've come to believe that every single child is unique. They all bring their own mix of strengths, challenges, quirks and spark. And when it comes to learning, communicating or simply joining in, there is no such thing as "one size fits all."

At Perform, we've worked with thousands of children over the years. Some are bursting with confidence; others barely say a word in their first few classes. Some can focus for an hour without blinking; others need constant redirection and movement. Some process instructions in a flash; others need time, repetition and reassurance. Are those "special" needs? Or are they just human needs?

What Anna Maxwell Martin beautifully reframes is the idea that all children have individual needs. Some are more visible than others. Some are labelled; many are not. But when we move away from categories and focus instead on the child in front of us, something changes. We become more present. More flexible. More curious.

It's not about ignoring the importance of diagnoses or the vital support systems they unlock. That's crucial. But it's also about language and the power it holds. When we call a child "SEN", even with the best of intentions, we risk putting them in a separate box. When we call them a child with individual needs, we're reminded that they belong exactly where they are, in the mix just like everyone else.

And that's how we approach things at Perform. Whether we're working with a four-year-old who needs help joining in or a ten-year-old bursting to play Hamilton, we treat every child as an individual. We adapt. We listen. We get on their level. Because we believe in their potential and that everything is possible.

So yes, I completely agree with Anna Maxwell Martin. Let's keep celebrating children not for fitting in but for being their full, individual selves. And let's make sure they know that whatever their needs are, we'll meet them with patience, positivity and belief.