Odd Socks and Docs

How a leisurely Arts and Craft lesson can lead to many other teaching opportunities in a lovely calm inclusive environment.

Sometimes as a teacher one of your students will teach you more than you teach them. this was the case with the unforgettable James. I am honoured to have his mum as a guest in this episode where she gives valuable insights into her world as parent of autistic twins. She reminds us that it is ok to be different and to look for joy. We reflect on some of the most valuable things he learned  and som...

Teaching and working in classrooms can be very exhausting and stressful. This episode gives a few reminders of how to best help yourself manage this.

This episode is about the benefits of walking. Simplicity in its self, inclusive, inexpensive and brilliant for physical and mental health of students and staff. 

A discussion about how the state of arousal  or what level of regulation a student has can massively impact their behaviour and learning. some tips on how to manage this.

This episode looks at how to manage challenging, often aggressive behaviour, if you are smaller and less strong than a student in crisis.

The first episode of Series 2, welcome back after the summer holiday! In this episode I talk about how to prepare your staff and room to make a great learning environment, laying the foundations for a great school year.

In this episode I chat to a friend who came as a volunteer, then became a Dinner  Lady, then a Teaching Assistant and then went to university qualifying as a teacher. We chat about her first year as a teacher of the early years  in a special needs school. With some helps and tips for both new teachers and managers. This is the last episode in Series 1, I will be back at the end of August. Enjoy yo...

This episode follows on from the previous episode and we discuss successful inclusion of the students with the highest need for support.

A rare insight into this group of students from a former member of the school nursing team. It is an uplifting episode and her love and passion for her work really shine through!

Looking at ways to deal with students bringing in precious things to school that may cause problems.

When problems arise in class that you are struggling to resolve how best to approach a manager - some dos and don'ts!

How to make reading engaging, age-appropriate and fun for secondary age students with severe learning difficulties.

If your school has a hydro therapy pool make it a priority to book it as a weekly session. This episode I chat with a young teacher about managing a warm water session and the huge benefits of these very inclusive, joyful sessions.

Recording is an important part of the teacher's job. Here I talk about how to make it workable and how new digital recording programmes designed for mainstream don't really fit special needs and can massively increase the teacher's workload.

Visiting a cafe with a group of SEND students, is brilliant for real life skills, inclusive and enjoyable and can cover many cross curricular targets.

Planning to spend part of every day outside of the class room, how simple activities outside of the class room can give opportunities for learning, assessment and fun. Short periods of time can break up the day and refresh everyone.

Chatting with another teacher about how to manage students who like to fight with each other.

Nat's mum talks about his primary school years. Nat has a diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism and attended both a main stream primary school and a special school. Lots of valuable insights and lovely stories.

Nat is a 27 year old young man with Down syndrome, in this episode I chat to his mum about his early years up to school. During this time he was also diagnosed with Autism. I feel it is a very uplifting and joyous story and makes interesting listening to anyone who works with SEND children or knows a SEND child. Personally and professionally I learned so much from parents.

Some useful tips on developing your game face!

So many SEND students have issues around food and eating that a good dinner time is vital to the rest of the student's day. This episode explores ways to make dinner time run smoothly and be enjoyable for the dinner ladies. it touches on a multi disciplinary approach to support students.

This episode looks at how a very successful mini business developed from teaching real life skills. A project that can be done with a full range of SEND students as a group or as individuals. Turning Friday mornings into the students and staff's favourite morning.

I have experienced so much joy during fairly chaotic moments and this short episode is about making chaos work for you and the the students and creating fun. Students learn when having fun!

Teaching and supporting SEND students can be at times a very tough job, it is really important to acknowledge special moments, make memories and celebrate achievements.