The SENDcast

I'm excited to share our latest podcast episode featuring our youngest guest, 16-year-old Archie Clapcott. Archie travelled to our studio to discuss his journey from mainstream education to a specialist setting. As an autistic individual with ADHD and Tourette's Syndrome, he offers a unique perspective that we can all learn from. I was really taken aback hearing how much Archie's physical well-bei...

Jane Fearnley and Faye Ebbs from the LEAF Centre, discuss their work and recent recognition as winners of the nasen Alternative Provision of the Year award. The Leaf Centre, located within Willow Tree Academy, focuses on providing therapeutic intervention support to improve student attendance, reduce exclusions, and foster early intervention, leading to academic progress. Over the past two years,...

I am delighted to share the latest episode of our podcast, where Beth Elkins and Ian Thorsteinsson from Gretton School join Dale to explore the relationship dynamics with children who have Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Beth is a parent to a young man with PDA and brings a unique perspective that combines both personal and professional insights. Her candid reflections on the highs and lows o...

In this special episode, Catherine McCluskey, Paul Schofield, and Roo Stenning from St Andrews International School in Bangkok discuss their recognition as the International Provision of the Year at the nasen Awards. They highlight the school's commitment to inclusivity, emphasising that every child's potential is valued and supported. Catherine notes that the award recognises the hard work of the...

Inclusion continues to be a hot topic in education, and while schools have made tremendous strides in fostering inclusivity, several barriers remain, particularly league tables and Ofsted defining school intent. In our latest episode of the SENDcast, Dale speaks with Maria Dawes, CEO of the Schools Alliance for Excellence. Maria shares valuable insights on how schools can leverage self-evaluation...

Alison Eason discusses her recognition as the Changemaker of the Year at the nasen Awards for her innovative work in using technology to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She emphasises how her computing strategies help students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, and ADHD, promoting independence and reducing reliance on teaching assistants. Alison shares her j...

We typically discuss how to support neurodivergent children, but what about teachers? Today, Dale and Catrina Lowri, founder of Neuroteachers, discuss the need for increased support for neurodivergent teachers and support staff. Catrina shares her personal journey as a neurodivergent educator with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, dyslexia and ADHD. She sheds light on the challenges faced by neurod...

In this special episode, Michelle Madziak discusses her recognition as a joint winner of the Teacher of the Year award at the nasen Awards. She emphasises her passion for empowering students and the transformative impact of her work in a special needs setting. Michelle highlights her innovative use of communication tools like tactile signing and iPads to enhance inclusion. She shares her experienc...

In today's episode, 'The Importance of Literacy Education for ALL Learners', Chantal Bryan and Sarah Giles from the charity Teach Us Too join Dale for an engaging discussion. The conversation centres around Chantal's son, Jonathan, who faces significant challenges due to his complex physical disabilities. I was inspired by his incredible journey towards being able to communicate with his family an...

The podcast features Chapman Shum, the nasen Young Advocate of the Year 2024 winner, discussing his journey as a visually impaired musician. Chapman, who was born blind and has learning difficulties, shares how music has been a powerful tool for connection and expression. He emphasises that challenges can be overcome and aims to inspire others facing difficulties. His mentor, Professor Adam, highl...

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,...

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...

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, vocab...

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 appli...

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 M...

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 recogn...

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 educat...

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...

"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 int...

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 g...

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...

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...

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...

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 lit...

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 jour...