About – Natchathiramcic

25+

years of experience

About us

Natchathiram

Natchathiram means star in Tamil. We chose that name intentionally. Because Tamil families navigating the SEND system are often doing it in the dark, without the right information, without anyone who truly understands their world, and without a clear path forward. Natchathiram exists to change that. We are a Community Interest Company founded to support Tamil and South Asian families across England who have children with special educational needs and disabilities. We provide information, guidance, and direct advocacy so that families can understand their rights, navigate the system with confidence, and get the support their children deserve.

Who We Are

Natchathiram was founded by Suja Vairavanathan, a Tamil woman and specialist SENCO with over 10 years of experience working directly with children with complex special educational needs. Suja has spent her career inside schools and the SEND system, supporting some of the most vulnerable young people and their families. What she saw again and again was a gap. Tamil families, South Asian families, communities whose first language is not English and whose experience of institutional systems is shaped by culture, trust, and language, were being left behind. They were receiving less information, attending fewer meetings, and having less say in decisions about their own children.

What We Do

We work directly with Tamil and South Asian families to help them understand and confidently navigate the SEND system. From explaining EHCPs and legal rights to preparing families for meetings, reviews, and tribunals, delivering accessible community workshops, and creating bilingual resources in English and Tamil, our support is culturally informed, easy to understand, and guided by lived experience from both within the education system and alongside the families we serve.

Explaining what EHCPs are and how to request one

Helping families prepare for meetings, reviews, and tribunals

Supporting families to understand their legal rights

Providing workshops in accessible, community-friendly settings

Creating bilingual resources in English and Tamil

Families First

Every child and family come first. We focus on their unique needs, ensuring every decision is guided by care, respect, and the best possible outcomes.

Clarity Over Jargon

Simple guidance you can trust. We turn complex SEND processes and legal language into clear, practical information that families can understand with confidence.

Community-Rooted

Built within the community we serve. We understand the cultural values, language barriers, and lived experiences of Tamil and South Asian families.

Rights-Based

Empowering families through knowledge. We help families understand their legal rights and confidently advocate for the support their children deserve.