In this episode, we chat with Kyleigh Melville, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh and experienced SEND educator, about the power and potential of multi-sensory environments in schools. Drawing on her research and frontline experience, Kyleigh explores how these spaces can support neurodivergent students, the importance of co-design and staff training, and provides some practical tips for getting started. The conversation also touches on LEGO-based therapy and why inclusive, student-...
Jul 02, 2025•45 min
Roxana Pomplun, who has recently passed her PhD viva, is our Researcher of the Month for June 2025. Her research focuses on how a group of younger adolescents (11-13 years old) interact with algorithmically curated social media like TikTok and YouTube Shorts during this critical stage of brain development. Through interviews with 19 participants, Roxana uncovered these young people's complex perceptions of the emotional impacts of algorithmically curated feeds, and explored the self-regulating s...
Jun 16, 2025•36 min
Educator and social scientist joins us to chat about his new book Masculinities in Schools , which aims to help schools and teachers grow their confidence in exploring masculinities with young people. We know that teachers are struggling with issues and conversations around masculinities. How do we discuss problem areas associated with masculinities, without demonising the young men we are engaging with? How do we create safe spaces for young people to discuss and challenge their masculinities t...
Jun 12, 2025•50 min
What does it mean to be a good enough parent in a world full of pressure, perfectionism and parenting ideals? In this warm conversation, Dr Cassie Rhodes is joined by clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr Tara Porter to explore the messy, complex and rewarding reality of parenting. Drawing on her new book, Good Enough: A Framework for Modern Parents , Dr Porter shares reflections from over 30 years as a clinical psychologist and her own experiences as a mother of three, unpacking the c...
Jun 09, 2025•51 min
Sensory needs are being recognised as a vital part of learning, development and engagement within the classroom. Kim, an occupational therapist, with 20 year's experience supporting sensory needs, talks through how teachers might identify sensory needs and how to use sensory tools effectively in the classroom.
Jun 05, 2025•54 min
Our latest Researcher of the Month, Dr Victoria Goodyear, is challenging policymakers and educators to move past simple smartphone bans in schools. In this thought-provoking interview, she shares the latest findings from her NIHR-funded SMART Schools Study, which reveals that restrictive phone policies alone do not improve adolescent mental health or reduce overall phone use. Dr Goodyear calls for a rights-based, education-led approach, empowering young people with the skills, agency and support...
May 14, 2025•30 min
We chat to one of the world's leading experts on men, masculinities, gender, and violence prevention. In this wide-ranging interview, Professor Michael Flood shares decades of insight into how we can foster healthier relationships, challenge gender stereotypes, and meaningfully prevent violence against women and girls. Drawing on extensive scholarship and frontline advocacy, Professor Flood offers evidence-based, practical advice for educators and parents, capturing key messages and actionable g...
May 01, 2025•37 min
Thinking about talking to children if you or a close loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness may feel very difficult and it’s completely understandable to want to protect them from pain. However, we know that being open and honest is important for their mental health. Professor Louise Dalton joins us to chat about her work on this important issue, one which touches many families. It also contains advice for schools supporting pupils.
Apr 30, 2025•48 min
Ellie Softley, Head of Education at Everyone's Invited, talks to us about a new programme of work with UK primary schools, which the organisation is running in conjunction with researchers from the University of Surrey. Tune in for numerous tips which will help parents or educators navigate potentially challenging conversations with children and teens about issues surround misogyny. Please note that this interview contains adult themes and isn't suitable for younger ears.
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr
Ever wanted to know how important adventurous play is in young children's development? April's Researchers of the Month, Dr Kathryn Hesketh and Professor Helen Dodd, chat to us about new findings from a new national survey of play in preschool-aged children. Find out more about the benefits of adventurous play for both mental and physical health, learn some surprising gendered findings around how very young boys and girls play, and get some top tips about how we can help to facilitate adventurou...
Apr 15, 2025•51 min
Spoiler alert: This interview discusses events and themes from the hit Netflix show, Adolescence. In this informal and informative chat, Dr Weston talks with Dr Elly Hanson, a clinical psychologist who focuses on tackling abuse and online harms. The conversation focuses on themes that have emerged from the show, immediate impressions from the programme, and provides some actions that parents and educators can take to help children and teens navigate the digital world and potentially harmful gend...
Apr 10, 2025•48 min
We are often asked by both families and teachers about how best to support young people in the event that a loved one is seriously ill. Here, Professor Victoria Cooper shares her expertise in this area, offering tips for both parents and school staff. She also highlights the work of Hope Support Services, a UK charity which helps young people aged five to twenty five when a loved one has a serious illness.
Apr 02, 2025•31 min
In this interview, Suzanne Graham, Professor of Language and Education at the University of Reading, and Alison Porter, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton and chair of the Research in Primary Languages network , chat about the benefits of learning foreign languages at primary school. Tune in to find out about the links between language learning, empathy and creativity, and explore key strategies that educators can use to maintain children’s motivation to learn. Professor Graham...
Mar 25, 2025•47 min
Our researcher of the month, Professor Judy Hutchings OBE, joins Dr Cassie Rhodes to talk about the results of a large trial analysing the efficacy of the KiVa anti-bullying programme in the UK. The trial involved 11,000 children and 118 primary schools and it has shown that a significant improvement in social dynamics in primary schools and a 13% reduction in bullying. This is a fantastic episode for any primary school educators who want to learn more about this effective intervention and how t...
Mar 14, 2025•39 min
In this interview, Dr Gemma Goldenberg talks about her fantastic new book Taking Action on Distraction: The definitive guide to improving attention and focus in the Early Years and Key Stage One , which is published today (27th February 2025). Do you want to learn more about creating an effective and calmer learning environment? Dr Goldenberg helps us to understand more about how attention works and chats about how teachers can work positively with all children in early years and primary setting...
Feb 27, 2025•48 min
More than 130,000 women and girls living in England and Wales have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). Despite the practice being illegal in the UK, 60,000 girls every year are at risk. Globally, every nine seconds, a girl is at risk. This interview educates listeners about FGM and its significant and long-lasting impacts. Valerie talks with empathy and personal insight, offering practical advice for school staff seeking to protect and educate those in their care from this extreme...
Feb 17, 2025•27 min
February's researcher of the month, Dr Kim Sylwander, joins Dr Cassie Rhodes to chat about her new paper, "There is No Right Age! The Search for Age-Appropriate Ways to Support Children’s Digital Lives and Rights". Dr Sylwander talks about the importance of considering each individual child's capacity, maturity levels and understanding of digital issues before giving them access to certain digital devices or content, and offers parents some great advice about opening up discussions about childre...
Feb 11, 2025•46 min
Professor Paul Ramchandani, Lego Professor of Play in Education, Development and Learning at the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge, chats to us about different kinds of play, why play is so vital to children's development and wellbeing, and why all parents and carers should be considering their children's 'play diet'.
Feb 10, 2025•37 min
Relatively little work has focused on why we are motivated to learn words. In this interview, our researchers of the month talk to Dr Cassie Rhodes about the findings of their new study, which assessed whether children and teens experience a sense of intrinsic reward from word learning. They discuss how these findings might be useful in designing interventions focusing on vocabulary learning and reading, and talk about ongoing research into why some children, such as those with dyslexia or devel...
Dec 16, 2024•47 min
Homework has a key role to play in strengthening memory, building attainment and helping students to develop transferable, life-long study skills. If done right, regular, good-quality homework has the potential to bridge achievement gaps and help all students become successful, confident learners. Experienced teacher, Dr Jovita Castelino, talks to us about her new book, The Homework Conundrum , providing advice and tips for teachers about how to set effective homework, build a strong homework cu...
Dec 02, 2024•52 min
Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz chats about her fascinating work which investigates what role sleep problems in very early childhood have in the development of later mental health problems. Very few babies and toddlers sleep through the night all of the time, so Dr Morales-Muñoz chats about what might be normative developmentally, and what might indicate a problem that could benefit from intervention. Learn about the potential links between poor sleep and later ADHD diagnosis and find out about the link...
Nov 29, 2024•47 min
Our latest researcher of the month, Dr Natalie Brown, chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her latest study, which set out to understand young people’s perceptions of menstrual education in schools and their experiences of menstruating whilst at school, including within physical education. Teachers will want to tune in to find out more about a fantastic set of free lesson resources that Dr Brown and colleagues have created. Listeners will come away armed with a wealth of insight into what effective m...
Nov 14, 2024•46 min
Dr Rachel Moseley chats about her innovative research into the interaction of autism and/or ADHD and menopause. She outlines what we know so far about the experiences of neurodivergent people during menopause and explores some of the additional challenges that might be faced. Sadly, some people in her studies have described facing barriers or feeling invalidated when seeking help. Dr Moseley provides some excellent advice for individuals going through menopause, for their families and for employ...
Nov 08, 2024•49 min
From research, we know a lot about the impact of parental mental health on children. But we know less about the impact of children's mental health on parents. In this interview, Dr Faith Martin, currently senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Cardiff, discusses her research into the effects that children's mental health difficulties can have on parents and carers, and makes suggestions for how parents and carers might best manage their own wellbeing when they are looking after a you...
Oct 28, 2024•46 min
In this interview, Dr Wesley O'Brien, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Coaching Science at University College Cork, chats to us about his work on fundamental movement skills. Discover how actively developing these foundational movements when children are young can have long lasting positive impact on both their physical health and academic achievements. Dr O'Brien provides numerous practical tips to help both parents and teachers embed these skills into everyday life and learning....
Oct 21, 2024•50 min
Author Kandace Chimbiri discusses her most recent book, The Story of Britain's Black Nurses, which uncovers the contributions of numerous Black nurses, mainly women, in Britain. Written predominantly for children, it's a fascinating read for everyone which reveals a rich history and highlights the importance of Black nurses to the UK health service. We talk to Kandace about these inspiring stories and chat more generally about Black History Month, key things for teachers and parents to consider ...
Oct 18, 2024•32 min
Our new researcher of the month, Dr Margarita Panayiotou chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her recent paper which examines the impact of social media use within the complex systems of adolescent mental health and development. In findings which might surprise listeners, her study showed that for the group of teens studied, social media was one of the least influential factors on mental health with other things like bullying and lack of family support being more significant. Tune in to find out more...
Oct 17, 2024•32 min
In this conversation, Dr Sophie Zadeh , a researcher who specialises in families formed through donor-assisted conception, and Nina Barnsley, director of the Donor Conception Network , chat about how best to support donor conceived children, both at home and school. In the past, parents were often advised that it was not necessary to tell children about using a donor. Today, we know that open conversations are a positive thing from an early age. Sophie talks us through the research evidence and ...
Oct 10, 2024•45 min
Lucy Bray, Professor of Child Health Literacy at Edge Hill University chats to us about the things that children need to help them feel better prepared for medical procedures, whether routine appointments or something more serious. Find out more about the things that can improve both children’s and parent’s knowledge and satisfaction regarding planned procedures and what reduces worries and wobbles that both we and they might feel.
Sep 30, 2024•47 min
Our latest Researcher of the Month, Dr Caoimhe Dempsey, chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her new paper, which focuses on how the different relationships that young children have with important adults in their lives interact with each other, and how these relationships contribute to children’s school adjustment. The interview is packed with useful tips for parents and educators alike and outlines interesting new findings about the power of positive child-teacher relationships for children who migh...
Sep 13, 2024•38 min
