Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Richard Hayhow, Director of Open Theatre in Birmingham, about how the arts can unlock the creativity and capability of young people with learning disabilities.

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Natalie Walsh and Jacqui Bebbington, Executive Principals of SENDScope Independent School in Liverpool, about how they support young people for whom mainstream education isn’t working. They discuss how a culture of belonging, high expectations, and adaptive teaching helps students re-engage with learning — and, in many cases, return to mainstream education...

In this episode, Geoff Barton talks to John Camp OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Compass Partnership of Schools. Sharing an important philosophy that inclusion starts with belonging, that parents must be partners, and that the most powerful agents of change are the adults in our schools.

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Cath Kitchen, Chair of the National Association of Hospital Education, about the often-overlooked world of children with medical needs. Cath explains how hospital education covers not only hospital schools but also medical alternative provision, home tuition, and online learning — all supporting children too unwell to attend mainstream school. She highligh...

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with John Pearce, Corporate Director for Children and Young People’s Services in County Durham, about the realities of inclusion and SEND provision in England. Drawing on over 30 years in local government, John explains the complex web of responsibilities local authorities hold — from managing EHCPs to ensuring educational outcomes for all children — often with...

In this episode, Margaret Mulholland is joined by parents Beth and Michael, who share their story navigating the SEND system for their four-year-old son. They discuss the long waits for diagnosis and EHCP assessment, the confusion around choosing between mainstream and specialist settings, and the lack of transparency that leaves many parents feeling unsupported and invisible in the process. This...

In this episode, Margaret Mulholland is joined by Philip Hedger, CEO of the LEO Academy Trust, to explore how schools can take ownership of inclusion rather than wait for policy change from above. Philip shares how investing in digital access for every pupil has boosted confidence and independence, particularly for learners with SEND and those acquiring English as an additional language.

In this episode, Margaret Mulholland talks to Melissa Farnham, CEO of ASDAN, to discuss how curriculum and assessment can be redesigned to create a more equitable education system. They examine how current systems can unintentionally limit young people’s potential, and rethinking these methods helps every learner belong.

In this episode Geoff Barton is joined by Marc Rowland, an experienced education adviser who has visited more than 1,000 schools to understand what makes inclusion work in practice. They discuss how strong leadership, a culture of care, and a deep understanding of what happens in classrooms every day are key to helping all pupils thrive — especially those at risk of underachievement.

In this episode Geoff Barton talks to Stephen Unwin, Theatre Director and author of  Beautiful Lives: How We Got Learning Disabilities So Wrong.  They dissect the historical stigmatisation of people with disabilities, and question how society measures worth.

In this episode, Geoff Barton talks to Amelie Thompson, Assistant Director of Education at Greenshaw Learning Trust, to explore what inclusion looks like in practice.

In this episode, Margaret Mulholland sits down with Vik Verma, Director of Education and Skills at Bristol City Council, to explore how local authorities can strengthen inclusion through collaboration. They discuss Bristol’s approach to building trust between schools, parents, and the council, supporting SENCOs, and creating systemic solutions across education, health, and social care.

In this episode, Geoff Barton talks to Claire Dorer, CEO of the National Association of Special Schools. Claire reflects on the vital but often overlooked role special schools play, the pressures driving increasing demand, and the systemic issues that leave too many families waiting for places.

In this episode, Geoff Barton talks to Simon Cook, principal and CEO of Mid-Kent College, making the case that further education colleges are a crucial and underappreciated part of the inclusive education pathway. As students arrive having struggled in the statutory school system, colleges offer individualised pastoral and academic programmes.

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Chamika Hand - a lawyer, parent, and SEND campaigner - about her fight against reduced school hours for children in specialist settings.

In this episode, Geoff Barton talks with Jane Harris, chief executive officer of Speech and Language UK . They explore how language development sits at the heart of learning, behaviour, and mental health. Drawing on her professional expertise and personal experience as a parent, Harris highlights the urgent need for early identification and intervention, explaining how 1 in 5 children struggle wit...

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism , about what true inclusion for autistic children and young people really means. Jolanta shares her lived experience as a parent and leader, explaining why awareness of autism has grown but understanding and support have not kept pace. She highlights the urgent need for acceptance, early support, an...

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Tania Tirraoro and Sharon Smith of Special Needs Jungle about the lived realities behind SEND policy. They share powerful personal stories of advocating for their children, the systemic barriers families face, and why EHCPs aren’t the problem—underfunding, poor training, and lack of accountability are.

In this episode, Margaret Mulholland is joined by Dr. Susana Castro Kemp, Associate Professor of Psychology at UCL and Director of UCL's Centre for Inclusive Education. Drawing on international research to explore how early intervention, family partnerships, and cross-sector collaboration can transform SEND provision from Finland’s universal early-childhood screening to rethinking workforce tr...

In this episode, Geoff Barton talks with Georgina Ellis, executive director of SEND at the Unity Schools Partnership - a family of 40 schools across Suffolk, Essex, and Norfolk. Sharing how Unity is integrating mainstream and specialist provision through SEND units, specialist schools, and shared best practice across the trust. Georgina emphasises one simple principle: inclusion works best when sc...

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Dr Sami Timimi - consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author of Searching for Normal. Together, they explore the controversial question: are we over-diagnosing and over-medicalising children?

In this episode, Margaret Mulholland speaks with Stephen Kingdom, campaign manager from the Disabled Children’s Partnership and former Deputy Director for SEND at the Department for Education. Drawing on decades of experience, Stephen argues that the question isn’t simply how to “fix” the SEND system, but how to build an education, health, and social care system that works for all children.

In this episode of Talking Inclusion, Geoff Barton talks with Ellie Costello, executive director of Square Peg , an organisation representing families of children who struggle to access or remain in education. Reflecting in part on her lived parental experience of what inclusion does and doesn’t feel like for too many young people. They discuss why the current system too often fails young people w...

In this episode, Geoff Barton speaks with Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, about her bold new Children’s Plan . Based on conversations with over a million children and responses from 90% of headteachers across the country, the plan lays out a vision for tackling some of the hardest issues in education: from SEND provision and waiting times to mental health, attendance...

In this latest episode Geoff Barton talks to Sarah Johnson, president of PRUsAP - the organisation that represents pupil referral units and alternative provision - about the important role these places play in helping children and young people to feel a sense of achievement and belonging. With over 20 years’ experience working with excluded children, Sarah explains how PRUs and AP settings can tra...