Three Years of Growth, Purpose and Possibility

written by Kirsty Chandler-Stockwin, founder of Validate Learning

Three years ago, I took a leap that I had spent much of my life talking myself out of.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to run my own business. Like many people, I had ideas, passion and ambition, but I never quite found the courage to take that first step. Instead, I spent years working for other people, building my skills, gaining experience and learning what good support for children and young people should look like.

Eventually, I realised something important: I didn’t need someone else’s permission to make a difference.

As a teacher and tutor, I had worked with countless students who were struggling within traditional educational settings. Time and again, I saw incredible young people whose needs weren’t being fully met, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). I knew there had to be another way to support them.

At the same time, my personal life was teaching me lessons of its own. As a parent of neurodivergent children, I experienced first-hand the challenges that many families face when navigating education systems that don’t always understand or accommodate their children’s needs. The frustrations, the worries and the determination to secure the right support became part of my everyday life.

These experiences shaped not only the business I wanted to build, but the difference I wanted to make.

What started as a small home tuition service has grown slowly and organically over the past three years. There was no grand launch, no overnight success story and no shortcut to where we are today. Instead, there has been consistent hard work, genuine relationships and an unwavering commitment to putting children and families first.

Alongside the tuition service, I was inspired to establish a Parent Support Group, creating a safe and understanding space for SEND parents to connect, share experiences and support one another. It has become one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey and a reminder that sometimes people simply need to know they are not facing challenges alone.

The past year has been particularly significant.

While much of the work happened behind the scenes, it was one of the biggest investments in the business’s future. Countless hours were spent developing policies, refining procedures, strengthening quality assurance processes and ensuring that every aspect of the service reflected the highest possible standards.

The goal was clear: to become an approved provider for the Local Authority.

It was a lengthy process that required dedication, patience and persistence. There were questions to answer, evidence to provide, systems to develop and standards to demonstrate. At times, it felt like progress was happening slowly, but every step was moving us closer to the vision we had set out to achieve.

In May of this year, that vision became a reality.

We are now an approved and quality-assured provider, able to deliver home tuition and alternative provision services for schools and the wider Local Authority.

Reaching this milestone feels incredibly special, not simply because of the accreditation itself, but because of what it represents. It is recognition of years of hard work, a commitment to quality, and a belief that children who learn differently deserve educational opportunities that are tailored to their needs.

As I reflect on the last three years, I feel immense gratitude. To every family who has trusted us, every student who has allowed us to be part of their educational journey, every professional who has supported our work, and everyone who has believed in the vision, thank you.

This achievement is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning of a new chapter.

We now have an exciting opportunity to expand our reach, support more young people, work with more schools and continue developing innovative provision for students who need something different from mainstream education.

Three years ago, I finally found the courage to start.

Today, I am proud of how far we have come, inspired by the lives we have touched, and excited about what lies ahead.

If there is one lesson I have learned through this journey, it is that it is never too late to pursue a dream and that meaningful growth often happens quietly, one step at a time.

Here’s to the next chapter!

This blog is written by Kirsty Chandler-Stockwin who is the founder of Validate Learning

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