As the number of children with SEND in mainstream schools continues to rise, coupled with limited spaces in specialist settings, the demand for effective and inclusive support is huge. More children are entering classrooms with complex needs, placing pressure on mainstream schools to meet those needs. But how can schools do this? This week, Tanya Lefort joined Dale to discuss 'Structured Teaching, Pre-empting Barriers and Developing Curriculum Pathways'. With 18 years' experience in SEN, Tanya h...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 33 min
In this podcast episode, Dale Pickles takes a step back from hosting duties where his colleague Jon asks the questions. They discuss the success of the SENDcast podcast, which won the Resource for SEND at the nasen awards 2024. Dale reflects on the podcast's journey over four years, highlighting its reach of over 350,000 listens and contributions from 83 experts in the field. Dale emphasises that the recognition from nasen is not just personal but aims to expand the podcast's audience, helping m...
Feb 25, 2025•37 min
This week Dale is joined by Dr Sarah Moseley, Educational Consultant, and SENCO of four schools, Ginny Bootman to discuss 'Foundations of early literacy – what are the building blocks?' This is the first episode in a series exploring the foundational components of early literacy, which aims to bridge the gap between theory and classroom practice. They discuss the importance of oral language, vocabulary development, and how these foundational skills set the stage for reading success. Key topics i...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In this special podcast episode, Karen McGuigan discusses her work with the 'Maths for Life' program, which was highly commended in the resource for SEND category by nasen. Karen explains that 'Maths for Life' is designed to help students build foundational mathematical skills, particularly for those who struggle with the national curriculum. Karen emphasises the program's focus on practical applications of maths, making it relevant to everyday life, rather than abstract concepts. She contrasts ...
Feb 18, 2025•44 min
Did you know that 300 million people worldwide live with colour blindness, including 3 million in the UK and around 450,000 of those are children? Unfortunately, many of these children are being let down by the education system, as colour blindness often goes unrecognised - meaning there's likely one child in every classroom facing this challenge. In our latest podcast episode, Dale is joined by Marie Difolco, a passionate advocate and mother to a severely colour blind child. Together, they disc...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Maxine O'Neill discusses Hope School, which won the Specialist Provision of the Year award. She highlights the school's commitment to a trauma-informed approach, serving 68 students and working with 32 schools across Liverpool through their HEARTS program. This program emphasises holistic thinking, empowerment, trust, and safety within the school community. Maxine explains the importance of recognising trauma in all forms, not just extreme cases, and how this understanding has transformed their ...
Feb 11, 2025•38 min
In recent years, we have seen increasing requests for diagnoses related to autism, dyslexia, and other neurodiverse conditions. Often parents may feel that having a diagnosis is a golden ticket to access support, but this is merely a step in a long journey of understanding and support. Dr Susie Nyman joins Dale in the studio to discuss 'Life's ups and downs of having or not having a special educational needs assessment', bringing her wealth of experience as a teacher and curriculum manager for H...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 15 min
The podcast features Eugene Dwaah, who was highly commended for his work in the 'Change Maker of the Year' category. He discusses his innovative approach to education, focusing on holistic development through sports and addressing social inequality and youth violence. Eugene emphasises the importance of engagement and belonging for young people, particularly those facing adversity. His initiatives at Dagenham's future youth scene have significantly improved school attendance, demonstrating the p...
Feb 04, 2025•35 min
"CALM DOWN!" "I've already asked you THREE times to put your shoes on!" "How dare you talk to me like that!" Do you ever find yourself standing at the bottom of the stairs, hollering at your child? Or perhaps you're dealing with a child who is sobbing hysterically while you're racing against the clock for work. We all carry 'core scripts' learned during our childhood, which influence our daily interactions with our children. It often feels natural to use familiar phrases and tones from our own u...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 4 min
In this podcast, Adam Millichip discusses Tettenhall Wood School's achievement of winning the Innovative Technology in the Field of Inclusion award. The school's podcasting initiative aims to teach communication, social skills, and computing while promoting acceptance and awareness among autistic students. Since its launch in May 2021, the podcast has produced over 100 episodes featuring notable guests, including sports figures and celebrities, and has garnered significant attention, even appear...
Jan 28, 2025•32 min
Getting to sleep can be challenging for some, often leading to hours spent trying to unwind before finally drifting off. Improving sleep is crucial – not just for children and young people, but also for their parents, families, friends, classmates, teachers, and communities as a whole. Dr Jill McGarry, consultant clinical psychologist and sleep expert, joins me in today's episode to discuss 'Sleep, Neurodiversity and Learning Disability'. With over 28 years' experience around sleep, Jill discuss...
Jan 23, 2025•59 min
The SENsible SENCO, Abigail Hawkins joins Dale for a podcast special episode highlighting what's on at the SENsible25 SENCO conference on 14th February in Nottingham - and why you should be there! Abigail shares details on her second annual conference dedicated to helping SENCOs including; a conference overview, networking opportunities, speaker line up and interactive sessions. "SENsible25 has a theme of 'all in the room', so we're all going to be in the room again together. But we also have a ...
Jan 22, 2025•22 min
In this special episode, Paul Willis discusses All Saints Catholic School in Essex, which recently won the Secondary Provision of the Year award at the nasen awards. The school is recognised for its commitment to inclusive education and its "No Child Left Behind" philosophy, ensuring all students, including those with special educational needs, have access to learning. Paul outlines a staff action research project aimed at raising awareness of students facing barriers to learning, with over 50 s...
Jan 21, 2025•26 min
The social and emotional development, mental health, and wellbeing of children have become critical issues, with a crisis now widely recognised. NHS Digital reports that 1 in 5 children face mental health challenges, and we continue to see alarming rates of exclusions and suspensions, even in primary schools. It's clear that a strategic approach to prioritising children's social and emotional literacy, health, and wellbeing is essential for school improvement and positive outcomes. In this episo...
Jan 16, 2025•56 min
In this special episode, Natalie Hay discusses her recognition as a highly commended change maker for her advocacy in changing the UK government's free school meals policy. Over three years, she raised £8,000 for her campaign, which aimed to make the policy inclusive for children receiving education other than at school (EOTAS), aligning with the Equality Act 2010. Natalie shares her personal journey as a parent carer for her son, who suffers from chronic fatigue and Lyme disease. She highlights...
Jan 14, 2025•30 min
Many schools face challenges in demonstrating progress for pupils with SEND, and I know assessment can often feel a bit mundane. However, it's a crucial aspect of our educational practice, especially as it will remain a key element of Ofsted requirements for the foreseeable. In our latest episode, I'm joined by Jordan, an experienced special needs teacher who works in a specialist provision attached to a mainstream school. With 15 years of experience using our assessment software, Connecting Ste...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Happy New Year! As we prepare for a new term, I wanted to share the first episode of 2025 with you. In this episode 'Sensory Uncertainty', my guests Clare Ward and Dr. Jamie Galpin, Speech and Language Therapist and Developmental Psychologist respectively, provide invaluable insights. They discuss their new book, My Senses Are Like Cups , which uses a compelling metaphor to help listeners understand how sensory experiences impact emotions and behaviour. This engaging metaphor illustrates how our...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Before announcing the final episode of 2024, I just wanted to say a big heartfelt thank you to you, our wonderful listeners! It has been another remarkable year with 51 episodes recorded, 19 new guest speakers, 100,000 downloads and a nasen award to celebrate our achievements. Thank you for being part of this journey! This week, we dive into the concept of relational practice - a powerful approach that emphasises treating others as we wish to be treated, fostering equality, and mutual respect. I...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Tigger Pritchard, a neuroaffirming advocate, consultant, and trainer joins Dale in today's episode to discuss 'Why do so many professionals believe they are right?'. The discussion delves into why many professionals hold rigid beliefs about autism and the implications this has on neurodivergent individuals and their families. Tigger emphasises that while many professionals are well-intentioned, a significant number are stuck using outdated training from decades ago. This can lead to harmful assu...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Two days ago, we celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Dale recently had the pleasure of recording a podcast with Chloe Plummer, she shared her insights on living with cerebral palsy and the 'Assumptions around physical disabilities'. In our conversation, Chloe explains what cerebral palsy is and shares her personal experiences navigating daily life. She addresses common misconceptions about physical disabilities and emphasises the importance of open dialogue and self-ad...
Dec 05, 2024•59 min
The results of a recent study on the widely used Zones of Regulation have come as quite a shock to many in education. Despite its widespread use, the evidence does not seem to support the use of Zones of Regulation, especially with students with SEND. In today's episode we dive into the implications of this new research with Kerry Thalia discussing 'Emotional Regulation Resources for SEND.' Emotional regulation is a critical aspect of working with children and young people, significantly impacti...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 2 min
SENCOs have a notoriously busy role spinning many plates. Ginny Bootman, a SENCO working across four schools, joins Dale in this episode 'Time saving tips for SENCOs' to provide insights on how to work smarter, not harder. " We want to actually be with the children, so by saving time in other ways, we get to spend more time with them, which is what it's all about." Ginny Bootman Here are some highlights from our conversation: Maximising efficiency: Ginny's experience of going paperless, which al...
Nov 21, 2024•59 min
**Please note this podcast covers sensitive topics, including suicide, and carries a trigger warning.** Psychosis, hallucinating, depression, mania…..did you know these are all symptoms of bipolar disorder? Living with this condition can be terrifying, not just for those who experience it, but also for their family and friends. Catrina Lowri joins Dale today for a candid discussion on her journey with bipolar 'I'm bipolar, but don't call me crazy'. Catrina starts by explaining what bipolar is an...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 14 min
The current Ofsted inspection frameworks acknowledge the vital responsibility educational leaders have for the wellbeing of their staff. However, anecdotal evidence from SENCOs in schools and settings suggests they are at particular risk of poor mental health, and that increasing workload over the pandemic has exacerbated this. Angela Scott, Regional Lead for SEND, joins Dale again to discuss 'Reflections on how to promote positive mental health for SENCOs'. Angela tells us that gaining an aware...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Alison Knowles, Emotional Therapist, joins me today to discuss 'it's not the what, it's the why'. Alison tells us that assumptions often arise when we focus solely on behaviour, leading to a lack of understanding. "Actually getting to the root of what's going on rather than focusing on the bit that isn't going to change." Alison Knowles Alison emphasises that all behaviour serves a purpose, but merely focusing on the behaviour itself won't lead to real change. Instead, it's essential to understa...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Alternative Provision (AP) can often look 'fluffy' from the outside, leading to misconceptions about its true purpose. To clarify and raise awareness, Veena Virahsammy joins me to give her insight on 'Alternative Provision'. After her son faced exclusion from school, Veena established her own AP to support him and others in similar circumstances. In our conversation, she shares her experiences launching this initiative and emphasises the vital role that AP plays in education. "All I was fighting...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr
Parents of SEND children face numerous challenges, including feeling unheard, overwhelmed, and stressed when trying to get their child's needs met. They often find themselves at loggerheads with institutions, grappling with systemic failures such as inconsistencies across local authorities, the postcode lottery, and the inadequacies of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). As Danise Grant aptly states, "It shouldn't be such an uphill battle for people to get what they need." In this episode,...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 7 min
This Dyslexia Awareness Week (7-13 October), we are excited to share our latest podcast episode featuring dyslexia specialist Louise Selby! We tackle some of the most common myths surrounding dyslexia, shedding light on the misunderstandings that persist in education and beyond. There's a significant debate about whether dyslexia even exists, and it's concerning that many educators and parents still lack a clear understanding of this condition. A shared understanding could lead to better support...
Oct 10, 2024•56 min
We're excited to announce that in this week's episode of the SENDcast, we welcome Joe Fautley to share his invaluable insights in "Autism: My Personal Experiences and Advice for Professionals." In this open and honest discussion, Joe offers a unique perspective as a young adult growing up and living on the Autism Spectrum. He shares his personal journey, highlighting the needs, strengths, achievements, challenges, and aspirations of children and young people with SEND. Joe's experience as an Aut...
Oct 03, 2024•59 min
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 Move...
Sep 26, 2024•48 min
