Many of us take everyday tasks for granted, like standing up from a chair. However, for individuals with physical disabilities and complex needs, this simple act can be a significant challenge that not everyone can accomplish independently…yet. This week, we delve into the crucial role of functional movement in the lives of children with physical disabilities and complex needs. Our guest, Chloe Plummer from MOVE Europe, discusses ‘Why movement matters- the importance of providing functional...

All students benefit from personalised learning. By empowering them in a person-centred manner, they can engage openly with educators, making essential connections between subject content and their own experiences. This approach enhances their ability to remember and recall key information for future examinations. We're thrilled to welcome back Dr. Susie Nyman in this week’s episode for another engaging discussion on personalisation and the person-centred approach for SEND students. Her...

How often do you ask children what they think about something instead of simply telling them your opinion based on your own experiences? Often adults give answers based on their model of the world and views which aren’t necessarily right. In today’s podcast, Alison Knowles, Emotional Therapist, joins Dale to discuss ‘Ask don’t tell’. Alison tells us that by asking WHAT? and HOW?, you can transform your conversations with children. These simple questions not only build their confidence but...

Ahead of Jane’s FREE SEND Briefing on 24 September, she joins Dale for this special episode to give an insight into what she will be presenting in her session ‘What will the new Government mean for SEND?’.  “I think what we’re going to see from this government is a real push down that early intervention route.” Jane Friswell Listen to hear Jane’s thoughts on the government changes, focus on inclusion, early intervention, resource allocation and more……  Useful Links  Vote for B Squared at...

Often, when children are labelled with a 'problem,' they are perceived as different or failing, which can create a cycle of negativity. This can lead to challenges such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression, as the brain tends to hold onto these negative perceptions. In the last 10-15 years, the field of positive psychology has emerged as a valuable counterpoint to the traditional focus on fixing mental health issues. Dr Rob Long, a Chartered Psychologist, joins us to discuss how...

Schools invest in tools to identify and support students with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN). But are these investments paying off? Many schools struggle with poor implementation, wasting valuable time and resources. We're excited to welcome back Angharad Welch, Speech and Language Therapist, to the SENDcast! Four years after her debut, Angharad returns to discuss ‘Identifying language needs in Primary through Screening’. In this episode, Angharad emphasises the importance...

Having had several chance encounters at the Autism Shows, we're delighted to finally have Tigger Pritchard as a guest on the podcast! ‘Awesomely Autistic’ is a profound and insightful exploration of Tigger's personal journey as a neuroaffirming advocate, consultant, and trainer. Tigger shares a heartfelt and deeply honest insight into his experiences growing up as an autistic individual. He describes the challenges he faced, particularly during his school years, when he felt alienated and...

Schools often invest in professional development to make classrooms dyslexia, autism or speech language and communication ‘friendly’. However, this can overwhelm teachers with too much information, making them feel they can no longer effectively support all of their students’ different needs. Angela Scott joins Dale for this week’s podcast to discuss ‘The magic of ‘high value’ strategies for pupils with SEND in the classroom’. Angela highlights that you can make the lives of teachers...

In today’s podcast we delve into the profound mental health effects of dyslexia and the crucial need to address them. Dyslexia not only presents self-esteem challenges but also carries significant implications for individuals' overall well-being. However, there are numerous ways to mitigate the detrimental effects of dyslexia, especially when it is openly discussed and destigmatised. Once again, we are joined by Dr. Helen Ross, who shares her insights on 'Identifying Dyslexia and Why it...

The SENCO role is unique and crucial, as SENCOs champion the needs of students who require additional support. However, other priorities in schools often mean that SENCOs themselves don't receive the support they need to be effective. To better champion these students, the SENCO's voice needs to be heard. But how do you, as a SENCO, ensure your voice is heard? In this week's podcast, Dale is joined by Ginny Bootman, a SENCO working across 4 schools. Ginny brings a wealth of experience and...

At present, challenging behaviour in school is off the scale and largely this is due to unmet needs. You can’t ‘punish or reward the neurodivergent’ out of children, so the traditional methods of classroom management and behaviour control won’t work. Joining Dale today is Catrina Lowri, who shares her personal journey with behaviour management spanning over 25 years. Catrina provides a glimpse into her early experiences in the classroom, reflecting on the techniques she initially believed to...

For many of us, everyday tasks such as entering our PIN numbers, not exceeding the speed limit, food shopping or telling the time we take for granted. However, for individuals living with dyscalculia, these seemingly simple numerical activities can pose significant, and often debilitating, challenges. Dyscalculia affects 6-10% of the population (around 4 million people), the same proportion as dyslexia, but unlike dyslexia, most people haven’t heard of it. Dyscalculia is a little-known, much...

Children are not making as much progress communicating as they could be and are losing out on their ability to gain independence and autonomy. The failures in communication can lead to a lower expectation or achievement in academic and social areas. I'm excited to welcome Kerry Thalia to the podcast to discuss ‘Effective use of visuals to aid communication.’ This is Kerry's first podcast with the SENDcast, and we explore how we use visuals everyday with SEND, and more widely in teaching. ...

We have become victims to the “norm” and we doubt our self-worth based on external benchmarks such as houses, cars, grades, clothes. Parenting is around your child doing better than the next or behaving the way they do and not necessarily celebrating their uniqueness. Alison Knowles returns today to discuss ‘Looking and trusting inside rather than looking for solutions externally’. Alison explores the reasons why we aren’t trusting our judgement and why we’re basing our sense of self on...

When it comes to zones of regulation, often they’re not fully understood or correctly used in schools with the assumption that they are good or bad. Kim Griffin joins Dale today to shed light on this misconception! Green = good Red = bad In today’s podcast ‘Zones of regulation’, Kim provides clarity and insights on this important topic as she: Explains the zones and their original purpose Summarises information from a book about the zones Reflects on personal experiences Considers how...

Today we are celebrating the release of our 200th episode of the podcast! To mark this special occasion, we have invited some of our past guests back to record an episode focused on the important topic of ‘school attendance’. Suzy Rowland, Sarah-Jane Critchley and Fintan O’Regan join me, not only will you hear our familiar voices, but you'll also see us live as we have video recorded the episode for the first time! The controversial DfE campaign “Attendance Matters” received criticism and...

The Children’s Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice (2015) placed great emphasis on the use of person-centred approaches. The concept was embraced but without necessarily being fully explored and accurately interpreted. There is a level of confusion in some schools and settings about how to effectively implement person-centred practices without fully understanding the underlying principles. For SENCOs in particular, these approaches have often become overly bureaucratised. In this week’s...

Everyone knows about phonics/phonology as it’s high on the national agenda for intervention currently, but it doesn’t always work. A lot of SENCOs, especially in secondary, are feeling trapped by phonics and Ofsted feeling they don't have permission to try a new approach. Teachers are also frustrated that they are just being told to do the same thing over and over. Our new special guest, Louise Selby, joins Dale today to delve into the fascinating world of ‘Morphology’. Louise explains that...

Dr. Helen Ross, dyslexia expert and consultant, joined Dale this week in what they had planned to be a discussion on dyslexia and mental health. However, their conversation took an unexpected turn, leading them on a meandering path through various topics and reflections on life. They therefore decided to call the episode ‘Whole life mental health meanderings’. During this lively discussion, Helen and Dale ended up reflecting on their lives which took them all over the place – from labels,...

As you know, SENCOs play a crucial role in supporting students with special educational needs, and they often find themselves in the firing line when dealing with parental issues. Despite their kindness and empathy, SENCOs (and teachers in general) are not always equipped with specific training in this area, which poses a significant challenge. To shed light on this topic, Lynn How joins Dale to share valuable insights and tips for working effectively with parents. In this episode, Lynn...

Did you know that there is a profound connection between our senses and mental health? Our senses can heighten the more stress we’re under, but they can also shut down as well. Smell alone can bring up strong feelings and emotions, for example, no one likes the smell of hospitals, but they love the smell of fresh bread. To explore this connection further, Dale invited Joanna Grace, Sensory Engagement and Inclusion Specialist, to join him to discuss ‘Your senses and your mental health’. ...

We’ve all heard of Occupational Therapists – but do we truly understand the breadth and depth of their role? Kim Griffin has been an OT for over 20 years and joins Dale for today’s podcast ‘What is an OT?’. Kim sheds light on the history of the profession, explains how the name was derived and how it can specialise in different areas; such as working with children, adults, mental health, SEND, orthopaedics and so on. An OT’s role can support people across their lifespan! Kim specialises in...

Let's begin by acknowledging a fundamental truth: there are no bad children. Each child exhibits behaviours as a means of survival within their unique environment. In the case of foster or adopted children, many have endured profoundly traumatic pasts, resulting in complex behavioural issues. However, at their core, they are children who, like any other child, simply need to feel loved, safe, and valued. In this week’s episode, Alison Knowles joins Dale to discuss ‘Parenting foster/adopted...

Recently a new term has emerged 'profound autism', which refers to autistic individuals who have intellectual disabilities and require round-the-clock support. While this term has been well received in some circles, it has sparked controversy in others. We delve into this topic with Joanna Grace and explore the new term and its implications within the autistic community in today’s podcast 'A Profound Separation'. During our discussion, we touch upon the following: High or low functioning...