15 years ago I underwent my second back operation and was told by the surgeon that if my discs prolapsed again I would be on pain medication for the rest of my life. After 20 years as a Specialist Painter in Faux and oil glaze finishes this was quite devastating. I had taken and passed the level 5 Ptlls and Dtlls in the ‘Lifelong’ sector. It was just after this that my discs decided to give up. During recovery I was employed at my son’s school as a voluntary reader for SEND children twice a week. My son was in year 3. They seemed to think I had potential as they offered me a job as a 1-1 with SEN children. I quickly adapted and having discovered the art room, began to in-still, with the help of the SENDco, creative programmes, both 1-1 and group work. I took whatever training I could get that covered most neurodiverse complexities. I spent 7 years at this school, working with many children. The experience I gained was invaluable but tough. I set up art work shops, after school clubs, behaviour support groups. I worked with the Premier League Primary Stars programme, adapting it into a creative sketchbook activity, so much so that I had an article written about it on Premier League Primary Stars and Teachwire. I loved doing my advanced course with David Holston, ‘Think ,inside the sketchbook’. This opened many doors that I had previously kept locked as I was growing up. Such a powerful provision.It was not long after this that I felt I needed to move on. I joined another school and again set about setting up creative programmes for children who were neurodiverse and others with social challenging behaviours.During COVID, I was asked to design and create a Nurture Room. This I did, painting murals on the walls for the children making it a friendly, calm, safe place. I then proceeded to run SEMH programmes from here. It was then that I discovered Drawing and Talking, a level 2 Attachment based provision. It was a LIGHTBULB moment. All my life I had been doing this, even as far back as to the age of 7 years old. I attended the course and knew this was what all my training had been about. I set up programmes for the children and ran with it. I took my advanced nearly two years ago making nearly 4 years experience in this provision.I then left and created another Nurture Provision in another school, this time adding more creative art basedprovisions. It was in July this year that I decided the NOISE in schools was hindering my ability to help those that needed me. I became an Independent Drawing and Talking Practitioner. I have come full circle.