Podcasts about special educational needs

The UK's Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system is buckling because of rising demand. One in five children now qualify for some form of SEND support, yet access still depends heavily on postcode and parental intervention. In this episode of the We Society with Will Hutton, join Alice Reeves, Research Grants and Programmes Manager at the Nuffield Foundation, as she unpacks the root causes of the SEND crisis, and what the government's new SEND White Paper proposes to do about it. The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance educational opportunity and social well-being. They tackle the UK's biggest social challenges by funding research and guiding decision-makers to improve people's lives. To find out more about the research the Nuffield Foundation has funded when it comes to education go here.  You can read more about the Government's SEND White paper here. This episode is ideal for listeners interested in topical issues, the UK's education system, disability, and institutional change in education.  In the We Society, join acclaimed journalist and Academy of Social Sciences president Will Hutton, as he invites guests from the world of social science to explore the stories behind the news and hear their solutions to society's most pressing problems. In this series social science calls on aspects of business, education, economics, geopolitics, healthcare, human geography and more, exploring their impact on society and the social policy they can inspire. The We Society is for those interested in how social science impacts their world, and how evidence backed research can improve it.Don't want to miss an episode? Follow the show on your favourite podcast platform and you can email us at wesociety@acss.org.uk to tell us who we should be speaking to.The We Society podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.Producer: Emily Uchida FinchAssistant Producer: Emily Gilbert A Whistledown Production for the Academy of Social Sciences

AI is everywhere right now - but how useful is it really for families navigating the SEND system, and how do you know when to trust it? In this episode, Dale is joined by Ben Cosh, founder and CEO of Silva, to discuss AI in SEND: what it can do, what it can't, and why families shouldn't have to wait years for help. Ben built Silva after living through the reality of year-long NHS waiting lists, overwhelmed teachers, and private assessments that cost a fortune but came with no support afterwards. His own experience - three years to identify his daughter's unmet needs, and another three to get everything stable - is the reason Silva exists. Together, Dale and Ben explore: - Why AI should never be thought of as a single thing - there are now 628 different AIs, and they are not all equal. - Why none of them are doctors, and why their confidence can be deeply misleading. - How to find the right AI for the right job - and why where it gets its information from matters enormously. - Why behaviour is always communication, and how understanding that changes everything about how you respond to a struggling child. - What Silva is doing differently - and why families shouldn't have to wait years to get the right support. "Each AI is different - and what none of them are is a doctor that can diagnose." Ben Cosh   About Ben Cosh Ben Cosh is the founder and CEO of Sylva. He built Sylva after experiencing first-hand how broken the system is: years-long NHS waiting lists, overwhelmed teachers, and private assessments costing a fortune, with no support afterwards.  Before founding Spicy Minds, Ben built a renewable energy company that developed over £300m of wind and solar farms, became the fastest-growing in the South West and appeared in the Sunday Times Fast Track. He earlier worked in Downing Street (2001–2003) and is a former management consultant (PA Consulting), engineer (QinetiQ), and active angel investor in digital health and edtech. B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

A unique art exhibition celebrating the creativity, perspectives and strengths of autistic teenagers is returning for its second year.   Picture Voice Art Exhibition 2026 will showcase artwork created by autistic young people from across Clare, Galway, Limerick and Tipperary, including students from three Clare schools.   The project aims to give young people a platform to express themselves through art and have their voices heard.   It grew out of Jarlath Healy's Master's in Special Educational Needs in Mary Immaculate College.   Jarlath, who is Autism Advisor for County Limerick with the NCSE and a primary school teacher since 2007, joined Alan Morrissey to tell us more. Photo (c) Clare FM

Autistic burnout is talked about on social media, but how many of us truly understand what it looks like - and what it takes to recover from it? Sarah Griffiths, children's author, meditation teacher, and parent advocate, joins Dale to discuss autistic burnout and the story of her daughter Eva. Sarah shares, with honesty and warmth, how Eva - autistic and ADHD, and a skilled masker for years - collapsed into severe burnout at the start of Year 6. Her executive functioning all but disappeared. She couldn't leave the sofa. The family slept downstairs for three months. And at every turn, the systems that should have helped them either didn't respond, didn't understand, or made things worse. Dale and Sarah also explore what autistic burnout actually is - a nervous system shutdown, not a behaviour or a mental health condition - why removing demands is so much harder than it sounds, and why a diagnosis alone means very little without the understanding to go with it. This is also a story of hope. Nine months on, Eva is making positive steps forward in her recovery - and beginning to imagine a future on her own terms.   About Sarah Griffiths Sarah Griffiths is a children's author, meditation teacher, parent advocate and former primary teacher, raising awareness of autistic burnout and the growing crisis facing neurodivergent children and families. After supporting her own daughter through severe burnout and school trauma, she began sharing their journey publicly – leading to hundreds of parents connecting with similar experiences. Through her books, including Eva's Voice and Finding Stones for Grandma, Sarah uses storytelling, mindfulness and lived experience to help children and families feel seen, supported and understood. Her work focuses on emotional wellbeing, sensory overwhelm, recovery, and creating more compassionate conversations between families, schools and professionals. Her book Eva's Voice launched on 16 February 2026 and is available on Amazon. Sarah Griffiths Amazon Author Page Eva's Voice on Amazon Advocacy page on Facebook   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Trauma-informed practice is one of those phrases everyone nods along to – but how many of us truly understand what it means, or what it actually looks like in practice? Dr. Asha Patel, founder and CEO of Innovating Minds, joins Dale to discuss what we really mean by trauma-informed practice. "Trauma-informed practice is a way of being. It's not a switch that you can switch on and off." — Dr. Asha Patel It starts with the adult being regulated, aware of how they are feeling, and able to offer that calmness to the young person in front of them. You cannot support a dysregulated child if you are dysregulated yourself. Dale and Asha also explore why the word 'trauma' puts so many people off – and why it shouldn't. Trauma doesn't just mean the most extreme experiences. It is a normal human response to overwhelming situations, and it shows up everywhere, every day. Understanding that changes everything about how you respond to behaviour – because behaviour is always communication, and asking why someone is struggling will always lead somewhere more useful than asking what they have done wrong. They also discuss why giving someone your undivided attention is one of the most powerful things you can offer, why trauma-informed practice is not about lowering expectations or excusing behaviour, and why the biggest barrier to getting this right is often simply not knowing where to start. About Dr Asha Patel Dr Asha Patel is a qualified Clinical Psychologist and the founder and CEO of Innovating Minds, a multi-award-winning social enterprise dedicated to early intervention in mental health. Drawing on her expertise in forensic mental health, Dr Patel launched Innovating Minds in 2016 to bridge the gap between access to clinical expertise within education, health and social care. A passionate advocate for mental health equity, Dr Patel empowers frontline professionals to deliver trauma-informed psychological services to enable young people to access education, training and employment opportunities.   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

The SEND reforms have generated a lot of discussion – but one significant gap has gone largely unnoticed. Where do specific learning difficulties fit in? Dale is joined by Louise Selby, a dyslexia specialist, and Janet Goring, an SpLD specialist, for a lively and at times eye-opening conversation about what the shift from four broad areas of need to five areas of development could mean for children with SpLD. Together, they explore: Why cognition and learning has disappeared from the new framework – and why this is a significant oversight. Why dyslexia, dyscalculia, and SpLD maths don't fit neatly into what remains. Whether a stronger universal offer can really compensate for the absence of a dedicated cognition and learning category. The important distinction between a diagnosis that unlocks funding and one that tells a child: this is not your fault. Why quiet children who are struggling but not disruptive have always been at risk of being overlooked – and why the new framework may make this worse. About Louise Selby Louise has worked in a number of SEND settings, more recently for 11 years in the advisory service for Specific Learning Difficulties at Hertfordshire Local Authority, before becoming freelance. Louise's first book, Morph Mastery, a Morphological Intervention for Reading, Spelling and Vocabulary, was published in 2021 by Speechmark (Routledge) in 2021. Her recent two books, "All About Dyslexia, a practical guide for primary/secondary teachers" were published in December 2024 with the same publisher, and her 4th book, Morph Mastery for Small Groups, is in the pipeline. Louise's passion is in enabling, equipping and empowering staff in schools at grass roots level to meet learners' needs.  About Janet Goring Janet Goring worked as a teacher for 25 years, firstly as a primary classroom teacher and Advanced skills teacher for Maths and assessment, before training as a specialist SpLD teacher/assessor and completing a Masters with a focus on supporting number sense through games. She chaired the SASC (SpLD Assessment Committee) Working Group on Dyscalculia and Maths Difficulties which produced the 2025 guidance on the assessment of Maths Difficulties and Dyscalculia.   Having retired as Manager of a local authority team of specialist Literacy and Numeracy teachers in 2023, she now focuses on training in maths difficulties for mainstream and specialist teachers. Where are dyslexia and dyscalculia in the 2026 SEND Reforms? B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

There are 1.3 million children in this country with developmental language disorder. Most of them are sitting quietly in classrooms going unnoticed. Today, Dale is joined by Jane Harris, Chief Executive of Speech and Language UK, to discuss DLD, the SEND reforms, and what it really means to ensure no child is left behind. They discuss: - Why children with DLD are six to ten times more likely to fall behind in core subjects, and twice as likely to be unemployed as adults. - The deeply problematic link between unidentified speech and language challenges and mental health - and why referring these children to talking therapies without addressing the root cause simply doesn't work. - Why children with DLD are often invisible in classrooms, quietly masking just as autistic children do - until suddenly they aren't. - How behaviour policies are failing these children, and why over three-quarters of teachers themselves say children with speech and language challenges are being unfairly punished in schools. - The government's new oracy framework and what it could mean for identification and support - if it goes far enough. - Why augmentative and alternative communication technology is life-changing for some children, and why the current commissioning guidance is working against them.   About Jane Harris Jane Harris is Chief Executive of Speech and Language UK, an experienced and energetic charity sector leader with 15 years' experience influencing public policy, building new audiences, and increasing income for third sector organisations including the National Autistic Society, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Rethink Mental Illness. Throughout her career, Jane has focused on raising the profile of issues that impact people's lives - through influencing public policy, building new audiences and increasing income generation. She has helped to measurably change public perceptions of mental health and autism. She recently launched Voices for DLD, has been central to the SEND reform consultation with the Department for Education and partners, and has helped guide two schools to Ofsted outstanding ratings. SEND reform and speech and language challenges Transforming SEND campaign DLD resources for educators   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Michael Moynihan, Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion

We will never have true inclusion in our schools while neurodivergent teachers remain hidden. In this episode, Dale is joined by Chris Benson, founder of Headfirst Consulting and ND Chat, to discuss the neurodivergent teachers in our schools – and why it's a conversation that the profession shouldn't ignore. Chris was one of the first serving headteachers to publicly disclose his own ADHD diagnosis. The response – hundreds of private messages from educators across the country – spoke volumes about just how many teachers are quietly living with the same experience. Together, Dale and Chris explore: – Why around 25% of teachers are estimated to be neurodivergent, yet there is almost no data, no formal recognition, and no consistent support in place for them. – What it really means to receive a late diagnosis, and why a neurodivergent identity should never become a glass ceiling. – The gap between awareness and genuine belief – truly believing that a child's behaviour is not a choice – and why this remains one of the biggest challenges in education today. – Why ADHD doesn't even have its own data category on school management systems, unlike autism. – What it means for a school to claim inclusion whilst its own neurodivergent staff feel they must mask. – Why the teaching profession's increasing compliance culture is making it harder – not easier – for all professionals to thrive. "We will never have true inclusion in schools whilst those in the teaching profession who are neurodivergent themselves remain hidden" — Chris Benson   About Chris Benson Chris Benson is an education leader, writer and consultant specialising in ADHD, neurodiversity and inclusive systems. With over 25 years in education and more than 15 years in senior leadership—including headship in the UK and leadership roles in leading international schools—he brings deep insight into how schools, organisations and systems enable people to belong, contribute and thrive. Chris is the founder of Head First Consulting and NDChat. NDChat is a social initiative focused on improving communication between families, educators, and young people. It brings together academics, clinicians, educators and parents to build shared understanding and improve outcomes for neurodivergent individuals. His work sits at the intersection of behaviour, neurodiversity, mental health and identity, and is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience as a leader with ADHD and a parent of neurodivergent children. A published TES author and emerging national voice in education, Chris is known for challenging deficit narratives and advocating for high expectations, agency and system change. His work focuses not on lowering standards, but on redesigning environments so that more people can meet them. Do neurodivergent teachers get support in schools Supporting neurodiverse staff ADHD UK   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

If a school's inclusion strategy depends solely on its SENCO, it simply isn't sustainable – and it isn't working. In this episode, Dale is joined by Lisa Pinkerton, Head of Education at Widgit Software and former primary school deputy headteacher, to discuss why every school needs a SENCO on its senior leadership team. Together, Dale and Lisa explore why the SENCO's circle of influence is so often determined not by the SENCO themselves, but by the headteacher and the authority they choose to give. They discuss the very real tension between strategic leadership and the mountain of administrative demands that come with the role, and why inclusion by design – planning for every child's needs from the outset rather than bolting support on afterwards – leads to better outcomes for every single pupil in the school. "A SENCO with strategic influence can transform the experience of every single child in the school." — Lisa Pinkerton   About Lisa Pinkerton Lisa Pinkerton is head of education at Widgit Software.    Former primary school teacher and deputy head, Lisa's passion lies in developing personalised learning journeys to meet the specific needs of children with SEND. With a specialism in early years, Lisa spent many years supporting the youngest pupils in primary and could see the transformative effect of meeting children where they are at and giving them what they need to move forward in their learning.   This developed Lisa's lifelong passion for the use of Symbols. She saw, repeatedly and firsthand, the benefits of using Symbols to help with comprehension, receptive and expressive language, confidence, independence, vocabulary and, unsurprisingly, behaviour.    As a result, Lisa began to support inclusion on a wider level, becoming an inclusion lead and a specialist teacher in literacy difficulties. Lisa's firm belief is that, if we consider all potential barriers at the point of planning, we can give pupils a toolkit of supports that enable them to fully access the curriculum and feel truly included.    When not at work, Lisa is an avid theatre goer and keen reader. Her happy place, as a qualified scuba instructor, is under the water. https://www.widgit.com/ https://www.facebook.com/widgitsoftware26  https://www.instagram.com/widgitsoftware/  https://x.com/widgit_software?s=21&t=WYBwCcJznmsfjzH62LQfXQ  lisa@widgit.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-pinkerton-42148a26a/    B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

In this episode, Helen and Caroline Door talk about her journey from education marketing to teaching English. At the IATEFL 2026 conference in Brighton, she presented on managing young learners' sensory needs, drawing from personal experiences and research. Caroline highlights the importance of addressing sensory factors like light and temperature to improve learning environments. She emphasises the supportive atmosphere at IATEFL, which helped her overcome initial anxieties. Caroline also discusses the ethical use of AI in education and her interest in peace pedagogy. She encourages others to present at IATEFL and recommends the mentorship programme for first-time speakers. If anyone would like a copy of Caroline's presentation on 'Managing young learners' sensory needs to create inclusive learning environments', they can e-mail her at caroline.door@britishcouncil.orgTo find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

When you see a child glued to a screen, it's easy to make assumptions. But for neurodivergent children, screen use is rarely what it looks like from the outside. In this episode, Dale is joined by Dr. Daniel Weisberg a consultant clinical psychologist to discuss neurodivergent children, young people, and screen use. Together, Dale and Daniel explore six key reasons why screens function very differently for neurodivergent children - from the haven of predictability that games provide in contrast to an overwhelming real world, to the role of screens in decompression and emotional regulation after a demanding day. They also dig into the neurobiology of dopamine, why the anticipation of screen time can be just as powerful as the screen use itself, and the important nuance between different types of screen time. They also tackle the thorny subject of sleep - what screens actually do to the brain at night, why it's not as simple as just switching off, and why the 70mph-to-standstill analogy might make you think twice about your own bedtime scrolling habits.   About Dr Daniel Weisberg Dr Daniel Weisberg is a consultant clinical psychologist and the managing director of CAYP Psychology, an award-winning independent clinical psychology service for Children, Adolescents, and Young People. Daniel worked for NHS services for over ten years. He has substantial experience of working with children, adolescents and young people experiencing health, social, emotional and psychological difficulties. After he qualified as a clinical psychologist, he worked within Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust for Children's Psychological Services. He then moved to Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and worked within the Paediatric Psychosocial Department. Daniel specialised in paediatric neuropsychology, a highly specialised area of clinical psychology that aims to understand how children's brains relate to their learning, behaviour and development. He worked closely with children and families who are living with neurological health conditions, genetic disorders, metabolic diseases and other health conditions.   www.cayp-psychology.com https://www.facebook.com/CAYPpsychology/ https://www.instagram.com/cayp.psychology/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cayp.psychology daniel@cayp-psychology.com     B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

For some children and young people, the traditional school system has already failed them - sometimes more than once. What they need isn't a better curriculum. It's someone who will meet them where they are. In this episode, Dale is joined by Ed Robbins, CEO of Fresh Start in Education to discuss 'Leadership in Social Impact Education'. Fresh Start works one-to-one with young people in their homes, in coffee shops, parks, libraries - wherever they feel safe enough to connect. The goal isn't academic attainment from the outset. It's building a relationship, celebrating the seemingly small wins, and gradually inspiring a belief that things can be different. Dale and Ed discuss why behaviour is always communication, why 'they won't' and 'they can't' are very different things, and why a child who hasn't left their bedroom in weeks getting as far as opening a car door is, in reality, a huge achievement worth celebrating.   About Ed Robbins Ed Robbins has been an integral part of Fresh Start in Education since its earliest days, bringing over two decades of experience in teaching, mentoring, operational leadership and social impact. Ed played a key role in shaping the company's growth, having served successively as operations manager, operations director, managing director and now CEO.   Before joining Fresh Start, Ed worked as a finance manager for an independent fostering agency and spent many years teaching and mentoring both in the UK and across Asia. His diverse experience, ranging from finance and strategy to direct youth engagement, gives him a unique lens through which to lead the organisation. Holding an MBA, Ed blends business acumen with deep human empathy, aligning operational excellence with a mission to see the lives of children transformed by the opportunity of a fresh start.   As CEO, Ed oversees Fresh Start's national delivery and strategic development. He is passionate about system reform, second chances and scaling personalised education that genuinely works. Under his leadership, Under his leadership, the company continues to expand its reach and impact, guided by its core values: IMPACT – Innovation, Making a Difference, Person Centred, Appreciation, Collaboration and Trust.   https://freshstartineducation.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/freshstartineducation/ https://www.instagram.com/freshstartedu/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/freshstartineducation/     B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

This is a special episode in which Dale is joined by Beverley Walters, Programme Director of the Tes SEND Show, and Jane Friswell, SEND Consultant and parent advocate, to discuss why listeners should attend the Tes SEND Show taking place on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Now in its 34th year, the show is the flagship event in the SEND calendar, offering over 42 seminars, 29 free exhibitor sessions, six parent-carer forum sessions, and a leadership summit run in partnership with ASCL. Beverley outlines this year's seminar programme, which reflects the current climate of SEND reform, covering topics such as change management in education, school improvement, and AI technology. Jane shares her experience of attending 32 of the 34 shows and reflects on the unique sense of community, collaboration, and welcome the event has always fostered. We are looking forward to exhibiting and Dale will be recording live podcasts at the show, with guests speaking about the SEND reform, which will be released after the event. We hope to see you there! About the Tes SEND Show The Tes SEND Show is the UK's leading event for the SEND community, with over 30 years' experience of supporting front-line teaching and support staff. The 2026 show takes place on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London N1 0QH. The show brings together thousands of education professionals for two days of inclusive CPD, networking, and discovery. Highlights include: 42 CPD-certified seminars from leaders across the SEND community – view the full seminar programme The SEND Leadership Summit – an immersive all-day conference for senior educators, delivered in partnership with ASCL A Parent, Carer and Teacher Forum – sharing real experiences to improve outcomes for children with SEND 3 free-to-attend exhibition theatres showcasing innovative products and services Over 150 exhibitors, including specialists you won't find anywhere else   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Children with rare genetic syndromes are already in our classrooms, yet many teachers receive little training in how best to support them. So what does meaningful, practical, research-informed support actually look like?As the Department for Education gives renewed priority to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), experts discuss their research into children with neurodevelopmental disorders."Trying to be curious... not just the child and their different syndromes, but about their individual characteristics, curious about what information is already out there, curious about parent perspective as well... that's the key thing."Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/teaching-fully-inclusive-classrooms-staffroom-s06e07More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

When schools stop doing things *to* students and start doing things *with* them, everything changes. Dale is joined by Claire Cannon a national inclusion consultant at Indigo Owl Coaching and Consultancy and Alice Phillips, a Year 11 student currently taking her GCSEs and a neurodiversity advocate with Tourette's. Together, they explore what student self-advocacy really means - and why so many schools are still getting it wrong. Alice speaks with remarkable insight and honesty about her own experiences: fighting for the right to wear a hoodie; being sanctioned for not going to lessons when she physically and mentally couldn't and spending years masking at school. Claire brings the professional lens - unpicking why schools default to rigid systems over individual understanding, and what genuine listening actually looks like in practice.   About Claire Cannon Claire Cannon is an experienced educational leader with 20+ years in education. With extensive experience across both mainstream and specialist settings, Claire has worked in a variety of roles including Assistant Head in secondary AP (SEMH) and SENCO across two education phases. Claire also supports others as an Educational Leadership Coach, INSET day provider (specialising in SEMH and behaviour), and SEND consultant – frequently contributing as a conference speaker. She is an NPQ facilitator and has served as Chair of Governors. Claire holds a degree in Psychology, bringing a research-informed, people-centred approach to her work supporting children, staff, and whole-school improvement. In her downtime, she enjoys taking time to reset – her spaniels happily take her for a walk twice each day. https://www.indigoowlcoachingandconsultancy.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088529101987 claire@indigoowlcoachingandconsultancy.co.uk   About Alice Phillips Alice is 16 years old and getting ready to take her GCSEs this year. She has 2 bunnies and 2 naughty working cocker spaniels. https://www.instagram.com/tourettes_dino26/   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

For many neurodivergent children, reading isn't just difficult - it's frightening. And without the right support, that fear can follow them well into adulthood. In this episode, Dale is joined by Vicki Edgar, Director at Fonetti and co-founder of the National Read Aloud Challenge, to discuss 'Removing the Fear of Reading'. Vicki was diagnosed with dyslexia at seven and brings a deeply personal perspective to the conversation - sharing how the anxiety of reading aloud in class has stayed with her, and what finally helped her overcome it. She also introduces Fonetti, a read aloud platform that gives children real-time visual feedback as they read, and explains how it is helping reluctant and struggling readers build confidence - without judgment, and without disrupting their flow. Make sure you check out their National Read Aloud Challenge - a free summer reading initiative now in its fourth year, open to all children aged 5 to 15 across the UK! View all podcasts | Visit our SENDcast Sessions shop   About Vicki Edgar I'm deeply passionate about children's literacy and confidence when reading aloud. Growing up with dyslexia, I know first-hand how difficult and isolating reading can feel — and how powerful it is when a child discovers confidence in their own voice. Now, through my work with Fonetti, the read-aloud app for school and home, I'm helping children build fluency, independence, and a genuine love for reading. I see the impact every day, both in classrooms and at home with my own son, who is dyslexic, ADHD, and ASD. I work closely with schools to support the implementation of Fonetti and the Fonetti School Portal for teachers. The feedback from teachers, parents, and most importantly, the children themselves has been nothing short of inspiring. Helping children find joy and confidence in reading aloud isn't just my job, it's my purpose.

Neurodiverse girls are often loyal, perceptive, and generous - qualities that are real strengths, but that can also make them vulnerable when it comes to navigating romantic relationships. In this episode, Dale is joined by Kim McCabe, founder of Rights for Girls CIC, to discuss 'What do neurodiverse girls need to know about romance?'. Kim is the author of From Daughter to Woman, a parenting guide praised for its wise and practical support through the teen years and appears regularly on BBC and Sky News as a child development expert. Kim shares her top five tips for preparing neurodiverse girls for romance, covering everything from why these conversations should start much earlier than most parents expect, to the importance of building on what girls already know about friendship rather than treating romance as entirely new territory. She also explores why neurodivergent girls can be particularly vulnerable in romantic relationships - having spent years masking, adapting, and people-pleasing in order to fit in - and why they need explicit permission to slow things down, trust their instincts, and say no. Kim and Dale also discuss the powerful role parents play as relationship role models, and why the dynamic children witness at home sets the bar for everything that follows.   Kim McCabe Kim McCabe is the author of From Daughter to Woman, a parenting guide praised for its wise and practical support through the teen years. A child development expert featured on BBC and Sky News, Kim is also the founder of Rites for Girls CIC, an organisation dedicated to making growing up kinder for girls - and saner for parents. With warmth, clarity, and decades of experience, Kim helps parents rediscover their confidence and connection, knowing they hold the key to raising grounded, resilient children.   https://www.ritesforgirls.com https://www.facebook.com/RitesForGirls https://www.instagram.com/ritesforgirls/ info@ritesforgirls.com     Useful Links Rites for Girls YouTube From Daughter to Woman by Kim McCabe Mothers Journeying Together Parenting Through Difficult Times Girls' Net Parent Pause   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Wellbeing, culture, and inclusion are more than buzzwords - but too many schools tick the boxes without making the real change that matters. In this episode, Dale is joined by Cathal Lynch, Director of Wellbeing Quality Mark, to discuss 'Wellbeing, Culture and Inclusion'. "The anxious brain is not a learning brain. The more we can reduce anxiety, the better learning and behaviour outcomes will be." — Cathal Lynch Together, they explore: Why school culture always exists - whether leaders shape it intentionally or not. How to build genuine belonging by actively listening to the views of pupils, parents, and staff. The role of executive function in behaviour, transitions, and learning - and what schools can do about it. Why structure, routine, and consistency are not about control, but about reducing anxiety and cognitive load. How to codify practice so that good work survives leadership changes and scales across a whole school. View all podcasts | Visit our SENDcast Sessions shop   About Cathal Lynch Education leader, coach and author of Building Belonging Cathal has extensive leadership experience in mainstream and special education, including as a National Director of SEND and a MAT co-founder. He is an Associate Education Expert for the Key, a coach, assessor and facilitator on the NPQEL and author of Building Belonging, a systematic approach to school improvement and emotional wellbeing.   https://www.wbqm.co.uk clynch@esseducation.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-lynch-2b076a7a/   CPD SESSIONS Train with Cathal Lynch Go deeper with Cathal in one of his focused 1-hour CPD sessions — each just £10 and shareable with your whole school. https://thesendcast.com/shop-home/   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

As the government plans major reform of the England's Special Educational Needs system, File on 4 Investigates goes back to the floor, spending time with councils as funding decisions are made and with families trying to navigate a system in flux. From home-schoolers in Whitley Bay to getting on board a school bus in Hackney, we'll hear about the challenges of delivering services to tens of thousands of children with SEN each year. As the number of young people who need extra support rises how will Councils balance their books? Over a hundred schools have closed in England in the last five years. Analysis by the BBC's Data team has shown that pupils with special educational needs have been disproportionately affected by school closures. These pupils made up 29% of those whose school has closed, which is higher than the national average. We'll hear how the disruption of a school closing can affect those with additional needs, and their families.Presenter: Hayley Clarke Producer: Nicola Dowling Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley Editor: Tara McDermott(Thanks also to the BBC News Data Journalism team)

The government has recently announced a reform of the provisions for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) pupils. It promises more resources for children in need of support. However, there are worries about how these reforms will work for blind and visually impaired children. Joining us for this episode is Dr Rachel Hewett from the Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR). Dr Hewett is the author of a report that examines the benefits offered by specialist schools for blind and visually impaired children - and the fear these schools may be overlooked in the new reforms. We're also joined by Victoria Ward, head of visual impairment education at New College Worcester, a specialist school for children with visual impairments.The RNIB's "Newsagent" service provides newspapers and magazines in an accessible format. Although now resolved, the service has recently been affected by IT problems. Iain Lackie is a regular user of the service and he joins us to share his concerns about how the problems were handled.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Fern Lulham Production Coordinator: Helen SurteesWebsite image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image, wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three individual white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch"; and the Radio 4 logo (the word Radio in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one of a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.'

Bridges to Learning - Episode 6: Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Learning by 2mfm

Sport has the potential to be a powerful, positive force in the lives of neurodivergent children - but without the right awareness and approach, it can become yet another environment where they feel excluded. In this episode, Dale is joined by Liz Day, founder of Collectively Diverse CIC, to discuss 'Neurodiversity and Sport: Creating Safe, Inclusive Spaces Where Neurodivergent Children Can Thrive'. Liz brings a wealth of personal and professional insight - as a former county-level gymnast, specialist PE teacher, and neurodiversity expert who completed a Master's in Psychology at the University of Exeter in 2024, exploring mental health literacy in young people. Together, they explore: Why sport and physical activity can be transformative for neurodivergent children - and why PE lessons too often have the opposite effect. The importance of psychological safety in sports settings, and what coaches and clubs can do differently. Why children with EBSA still need access to physical activity, and how to make it happen. How parents can communicate their child's needs effectively with sports organisations. The link between physical activity, emotional regulation, and mental health. This episode is essential listening for parents of neurodivergent children, coaches, and youth sports club leaders - but also highly relevant for teachers, SENCOs, and anyone supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. View all podcasts | Visit our SENDcast Sessions shop   About Liz Day Liz is an experienced trainer and facilitator, passionate about mental health, neurodiversity, and cultivating a safe environment for all. She began her career as a teacher with a specialism in PE, drawing on her background as a former county-level gymnast and lifelong love of sport. This shaped her inclusive teaching approach and continues to influence her work today — sport remains central to her identity and wellbeing. https://www.collectivelydiverse.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572518254058 https://www.instagram.com/collectivelydiverseUK/ liz@collectivelydiverse.co.uk   Useful Links EBSA Toolkit for Schools Compass Panel   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

This Deaf Awareness Week, we welcome Samantha Baines to the podcast to explore what it's like living with hearing loss and deafness. Samantha is an award-winning actress, comedian and broadcaster who discovered she was deaf nearly 10 years ago and now advocates for accessibility. Samantha shares practical insights, challenges misconceptions, and explores what meaningful accessibility looks like in everyday life and in education. They discuss: The language that deaf communities prefer (and why words matter). How to make meetings, classrooms and public spaces more accessible. The role of BSL interpreters, captions and lip-speaking (and why "one size fits all" doesn't work). Practical ideas schools can apply. "People just assume deaf equals absolutely no hearing. And actually, it is more complicated than that." Samantha Baines View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Samantha Baines Samantha Baines is a multi award-winning woman. An actress, broadcaster and a bestselling author as well as a business woman, speaker and mentor. She is a proud deaf and disabled person and advocate for women and disabled communities.   Samantha presents on The One Show, BBC Morning Live, Rip Off Britain and BBC Radio London, researching stories with her journalist background. As an actress she has starred in Netflix's The Crown, Romesh Ranganathan's sitcom Avoidance, Alan Carr's comedy Changing Ends, Call the Midwife, Silent Witness or Magic Mike Live (directed by Channing Tatum). She is a voting BAFTA member, and has been a judge National Television Awards and the Nasen Awards. Her personal appearances include ITV's Loose Women, Sky News, ITV News and Andrew Neil's This Week. After seven years of stand-up comedy, two sell out Edinburgh Fringe runs and a UK tour, Samantha has proved her comedy chops but these days sticks to being funny on TV, social media, speaking events and books.   A proud deaf and disabled woman, she is hearing aid wearer, lipreading and is learning BSL. Samantha is ambassador for the Royal National Institute for Deaf people, patron of Stagetext and the author of two children's books with deaf protagonists; the award-winning Harriet Versus the Galaxy (which she also voices on Audible) and Bloomsbury Education book The Night the Moon Went Out as well as bestselling non-fiction book Living With Hearing Loss and Deafness: a guide to owning it and loving it. Samantha is working on a new children's book serie to be announced soon.   A regular on radio stations (yes even though she is deaf), Samantha can be heard on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio London, Virgin Radio, she uses video calls for her interviews so she can lipread.   A professional speaker and event host, she is a TedxOxford speaker and has spoken at the House of Commons, BAFTA, BFI, FCA as international events. She is host of the multi-award nominated, smash-hit podcast The Divorce Social. A 'Times Podcast of the Week', a No.1 relationship podcast on itunes and reaching over half a million downloads, the podcast has won awards at the International Women's Podcast Awards, the British Podcast Awards (bronze) and has had a total of ten award nominations.  ​ As well as being a successful author, Samantha has written for publications including The Guardian, The Radio Times, The Telegraph, Time Out, Huffington Post and Stylist Magazine.    ​Samantha is also founder and director of a boutique social media management company Penguin in the Room and luxury accessories brand Baines London which raises money for charitable causes.     Contact Samantha https://www.samanthabaines.com/ https://www.facebook.com/samanthabaines https://www.instagram.com/samanthabaines/ https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthabaines http://www.twitter.com/samanthabaines http://www.youtube.com/user/samanthabaines   Useful Links Living With Hearing Loss and Deafness: A guide to owning it and loving it  Signature deaf awareness course   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Who Will Be SEND? Questions, Not Answers on the Reform Ahead Dale Pickles, Managing Director, B Squared England's SEND system is on the cusp of its most significant reform in a generation - but one crucial question is going largely unanswered: who will actually be SEND under the new framework? Dale has written another thought-provoking paper - and again he's recorded it too, so you can take it in without having to work through 34 pages of reading. He unpacks the quiet but profound shift hidden within the proposed move from four areas of need to five areas of development. The SEND register has long been used as a catch-all for children who need help - not all of whom have genuine special educational needs. The reform is set to separate those two groups, with major implications for children, families, schools, and SENCOs. This paper explores the four distinct populations affected by the changes, what the removal of Cognition and Learning as a category really means, why mental health is being repositioned as a universal concern, and how the familiar SEND vs non-SEND data comparison is about to become meaningless. Crucially, Dale argues that this reform is not about removing support - it's about making sure the right support reaches the right children, honestly described. Essential reading for SENCOs, school leaders, and anyone who cares about what happens to the children the system has always struggled to see. He is always open to conversations, so feel free to get in contact with your thoughts. Here are the timings for the different sections: Start - 00:00 Introduction - 01:37 Section 01 - 05:28 Section 02 - 09:35 Section 03 - 16:48 Section 04 - 27:09 Section 05 - 47:57 Section 06 - 01:02:53 Section 07 - 01:09:21 Section 08 - 01:21:58 Section 09 - 01:34:18 Section 10 - 01:40:49 Closing - 01:47:02 Useful links... Who will be SEND? document - https://bsquared.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Question-Who-will-be-SEND.pdf  Fixing a Broken System document - https://bsquared.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Fixing-a-Broken-System-1.pdf Listen to Fixing a Broken System - https://thesendcast.com/special-episode-fixing-a-broken-system/ SENDcast Session FREE Briefing on the White paper and SEND Reforms - https://thesendcast.com/product/whats-in-the-schools-white-paper-for-send/ B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe Fixing a Broken System document - https://bsquared.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Fixing-a-Broken-System-1.pdf SENDcast Session FREE Briefing on the White paper and SEND Reforms - https://thesendcast.com/product/whats-in-the-schools-white-paper-for-send/ The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Did you know that a third of autistic people experience serious mental health challenges? This striking statistic is highlighted by Dr Joanna Grace in her latest podcast 'Barriers to Mental Healthcare for Autistic People'. "Autistic people have been actively removed from research about mental health." Dr Joanna Grace A sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, Joanna emphasises that while there is substantial research on mental health, we often don't know if it applies to autistic individuals. During the podcast, they discuss: The prevalence of inaccurate mental health diagnoses among autistic adults. The impact the differences in interoception has on diagnosis. Practical strategies to support mental health within the autistic community. Mental health has significant consequences for the quality and length of life. By understanding the risks and barriers, we can empower ourselves and others to take proactive steps in addressing these challenges. Please note this podcast covers sensitive topics, including suicide, and carries a trigger warning. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Dr Joanna Grace Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects.   Joanna has worked with people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent conditions aged from 0-100 (well 1 day old – 87 years old to be precise) in a range of settings and context.  Through all she does Joanna is seeking to contribute to a future where people are understood in spite of their differences.    Contact Dr Joanna www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP https://x.com/Jo3Grace sensorystory@gmail.com https://www.youtube.com/@TheSensoryProjects     B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Geoff and Nargis join Dale in the studio for this special episode to discuss the Autism & ADHD Shows (June–July) in London, Birmingham, and, for the first time, Liverpool (moved from Manchester). They share how the event evolved from the Autism Show, launched in 2011 after their son's autism diagnosis, to its current format that also includes ADHD - driven by the rise in co-occurring diagnoses. They also describe what attendees can expect: a welcoming, supportive community hub offering over 100 CPD-accredited learning hours, practical strategies, workshops, one-to-one clinics, and the chance to connect with exhibitors and services. About the Autism and ADHD Shows It's the national event dedicated to autism and ADHD. Attend to access a huge amount of trusted information and advice to help support an autistic or ADHD person in a home, education or workplace setting.  The CPD accredited programme has been designed to enable attendees to pick and choose the learning which is most relevant, whether it relates specifically to autism, ADHD or when both conditions co-occur. Interwoven between the many theatres, one to one clinics, and practical workshops, you'll also find an essential selection of specialist products and services. Discover what's on at each location: The Autism and ADHD Show LONDON 19 – 20 June  The Autism and ADHD Show BIRMINGHAM 26 – 27 June The Autism and ADHD Show LIVERPOOL 3 – 4 July B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Today is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) Awareness Day, and to mark the occasion we're sharing an episode focused on raising awareness of this rare condition. In this conversation, Nicky Muller - a former trustee of FOP Friends and mother of Isla, who has FOP - joins Dale to share practical insight into supporting children with rare conditions and to tell Isla's inspiring story. Nicky explains that FOP causes the body's soft tissues to progressively turn into bone, often after flare-ups triggered by injury or sometimes viruses. She highlights how unpredictable this is, and how it affects daily life - particularly movement, risk management, and schooling. A key focus is Isla's recent transition to secondary school where they discuss difficulties around inclusion, PE participation, breaks/lunchtime, and the emotional impact. Nicky highlights the importance of school-wide awareness and an inclusive culture. Stressing that genuine inclusion is not just about the support in place, but whether a child feels safe, seen, valued and able to belong. "The best one-on-ones are the ones where you don't even know they're there. Isla's voice is the voice that's heard - it's so difficult for her to feel not only included but valued." Nicky Muller View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Nicky Muller Nicky is an FOP awareness advocate and mum to Isla who is now 12 and diagnosed with FOP as a baby. A former trustee of the UK charity, FOP Friends and a career in Marketing, she combines lived experience with expertise to drive awareness, fundraising and support for families.   Contact Nicky https://www.fopfriends.com https://www.facebook.com/fopfriends https://www.instagram.com/fop_mum/ https://x.com/FOPFriends nickyjmuller@gmail.com https://www.youtube.com/FOPFriends   Useful Links www.fopfriends.com    B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Special Episode: Turning the Tables — Georgina Durrant Becomes the Guest! SEND Strategies for the Secondary YearsSEND in the Experts with Georgina Durrant — Special Book Launch EpisodeThis week on SEND in the Experts, we're doing something completely different. Host Georgina Durrant steps out of the interviewer's chair and into the hot seat as a guest to celebrate the release of her brand‑new book, SEND Strategies for the Secondary Years.To mark the occasion, Georgina is joined by her colleague and friend Michelle Windridge, who takes over as guest host for this special behind‑the‑scenes conversation.If you support, teach, or parent young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), this is an episode you'll want to save, share, and return to again and again.⭐ What's Inside This Special EpisodeMichelle guides Georgina through an honest, insightful and deeply practical discussion about the challenges facing young people with SEND in secondary school, and what adults (parents and teachers) can do right now to support them.

A Kent dad who lives in Abu Dhabi has told the podcast about the moment he was alerted to potential missile strikes. Justin Cooke received a message on his phone shortly before seeing puffs of smoke in the sky as the missiles were intercepted. The retaliatory strikes on Saturday followed an attack by America and Israel on Iran which killed the country's leader. Also in today's episode, the head of the Met Police says he's fiercely committed to restoring trust, five years on from the murder of Sarah Everard. The 33-year-old was abducted in Clapham by then serving officer Wayne Couzens from Deal, her body was later found in woodland near Ashford. We've been asking women in Rochester how safe they feel now. The Canterbury MP has raised concerns in the commons about funding for children with Special Educational Needs in Kent. It follows an announcement from the government that £4 billion will be invested to make mainstream schools more inclusive. A Kent football club say they've been left in limbo after developers dropped plans for two 3G pitches, as part of proposals for a new housing estate. Larkfield and New Hythe Football Club have been working with Obee Estates to deliver a community sports hub at the site of the former Oast Park Golf Course. However, a revised application includes 320 houses and a grass pitch only. And in sport, there's action in the quarter finals of the Kent Senior Cup tonight. Gillingham take on Tonbridge Angels at the Longmead Stadium. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the dust settles on the government's landmark changes to children's special educational needs and disabilities provision, what will their impact really be on young people, their families and schools? John Harris and Kiran Stacey look at what we know so far. And, a growing backlash from graduates over student loan payments, led by the influential consumer champion Martin Lewis, is causing a headache the government was not anticipating. Why did they overlook this and what changes could be made?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

St. Patrick's Comprehensive School is welcoming back former pupil and Shannon native Dani Hunter later today. Dani, who now serves as Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council in the UK, is returning to her alma mater for a special visit. With a strong interest in Special Educational Needs, Dani will meet with staff including Leona Leonard, a teacher who works closely with students in the school's Autism classes. To find out more, Dani Hunter and teacher, Leona Leonard joined Alan Morrissey in-studio. Image © ShotByJude.com

On Monday, the government released its plan to reform SEND, the system that supports children with special educational needs and disabilities, in England. It's used by around one in five children and Keir Starmer is promising £4 billion over 3 years to overhaul it. But what's changed, who's affected and how will the government pay for it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Georgia Lambert, education and news reporter, The Times.Hayley Harding, SEND campaigner. Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Keir Starmer: I'll ensure no child with special needs is left behindFurther listening: Broken trust: Inside England's maternity scandalPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government's long-awaited plans for the special educational needs and disabilities system. Can the controversial overhaul convince parents and MPs? Plus, the latest on the Gorton and Denton byelection. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Political correspondent Alexandra Topping and special educational needs student Jake with his mum, Laura, explore the government's controversial plans for reform. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Andrew – formerly known as Prince – was arrested whilst Harriet and Ruth were in the middle of answering your questions from the Burner Phone for a half term special whilst Beth is away during political recess on her holidays.So in this episode, they react to the extraordinary news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested (and later released under investigation) on suspicion of misconduct in public office and discuss what it means for the rule of law.Later, they tackle questions on the government's latest U-turn over postponed local elections, and whether Reform UK is facing proper scrutiny over the Equality Act.Plus, as Keir Starmer appoints the first woman head of the civil service, they ask why female public figures still face misogyny.And with major Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms expected next week, Harriet and Ruth hear from parents who fear change could make a broken system worse, not better.Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing.Responding to Harriet's comments about Reform, a Reform UK spokesman said: "Unlike Harriet, we don't need a pink bus to attract women to our party."Reform has high-profile women throughout our cabinet and senior women in our party staff, unlike Starmer."And on the Equality Act, the spokesman added: "Reform UK remains committed to supporting workplace protections against discrimination. No one should be treated unfairly because of their sex, race, if they are pregnant or have a disability."That's why we will introduce a new 'Workplace Fairness Act' to replace the Equality Act and ensure workplace protections are maintained whilst also re-asserting the rights of individuals rather than groups under the law."The Equality Act has been damaging to our economy, our society, and the way government works. It has unleashed the burdensome and unfair DEI culture that plagues workspaces and has enforced discrimination and equality of outcome."This has led to the unacceptable situation of unfair recruitment policies, positive discrimination and anti-white working-class bias, pitting different groups against each other and dividing our country."Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Clare McDonnell speaks to Amy Wallace, the co-author of Virginia Giuffre's memoir, Nobody's Girl. Amy spent two years closely working with Virginia - one of the most prominent and vocal accusers of child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and an advocate of justice for survivors of sex trafficking. We hear Amy's reactions to the latest Epstein revelations.More than 1.7 million children in England have special needs and today, the government has announced that all secondary schools and colleges will be expected to have a dedicated Special Educational Needs and Disability - or SEND - base. Called an 'inclusion base' it would be a dedicated safe space away from busy classrooms where pupils can access targeted support that bridges the gap between mainstream and specialist provision. We speak to BBC education reporter Kate McGough and Margaret Mulholland, SEND and Inclusion specialist for the Association of School and College Leaders. Deborah Douglas has written a memoir about her experience as a victim turned campaigner in one of the biggest scandals in British medical history. Her story sits at the centre of the case of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson, jailed in 2017 for performing harmful and unnecessary operations on women who believed they were being treated for cancer. An inquiry in 2020 found both NHS and private hospitals missed repeated chances to stop him. Deborah joins Clare to discuss The Cost of Trust. The classical concert pianist Alexandra Dariescu performs in studio, and tells us why she is so dedicated to promoting the works of female composers.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

In this podcast from 4 April, John Harris speaks to Today in Focus about how music helped him connect with his son, James. Harris tells Helen Pidd what he has learned about the way some autistic people experience music, and how songs opened up the world for James. Plus, they discuss the challenges and stereotypes autistic people still face. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

In this podcast from 4 April, John Harris speaks to Today in Focus about how music helped him connect with his son, James. Harris tells Helen Pidd what he has learned about the way some autistic people experience music, and how songs opened up the world for James. Plus, they discuss the challenges and stereotypes autistic people still face. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Government has announced a £3 billion investment to create around 50,000 new specialised places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The aim is to speed up support for families and improve provision in both mainstream schools and bespoke facilities. To discuss what that means in practice, Anita Rani is joined by the BBC's Education Correspondent Vanessa Clarke and Sharon Smith, co-director of Special Needs Jungle, a parent-led UK website and resource hub providing news, information, and advocacy for families with children with special educational needs.One of the unexpected stars of this year's Celebrity Race Across The World has been Anita's Dad, Bal, with many people commenting on their touching father/ daughter relationship. Since reaching the finish line, he's now discovered his wanderlust and Anita catches up with him on a Christmas cruise to look back at their time travelling together. The Government's long-delayed strategy to tackle violence against women and girls is set to be unveiled next week. According to the Movember Foundation, two-thirds of young men regularly engage with masculinity influencers online. A new campaign, Same Side, launched today by UN Women UK, is aiming to counter that with the help of some leading sports stars. One is the former Manchester City and QPR defender Nedum Onuoha. He joins Anita along with Tabitha Morton, Executive Director of UN Women UK.Have you already overindulged at a few parties? Could you imagine getting though the festive season without booze? Well Laura Antonia Jordan hasn't had a drink, or even a mildly tipsy Christmas, for 10 years now. A journalist, she's written about navigating the festive season completely sober after years of living by, as she calls it 'the doctrine of hedonism'. She tells Anita why the cultural pressure can be tough, but dry December does not have to be boring.Boudoir photography, stripping down into lingerie and posing for a photographer may sound like something from the world of supermodels and glossy magazines, but there are lots of women from all walks of life who are choosing to pay for professional intimate photos, as gifts for partners, or just to feel good about themselves. Joining Anita to discuss this increasingly popular world are boudoir photographer Laura Slater and Joley Gordon, who booked herself a session two years ago and has never looked back. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

SEND in the Experts with Georgina Durrant – Supporting Families with SEND at ChristmasIn this festive episode of SEND in the Experts, host Georgina Durrant speaks with Amanda Protheroe, Parent Educational Content Lead for SEND at Twinkl. Amanda draws on her experience as a class teacher, SENDCo in primary schools, and her personal journey of supporting a sibling with SEND. She shares practical advice and heartfelt insights to help families navigate the holiday season with children and young people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

SEND in the Experts: Margaret Rooke on DyslexiaWelcome back to SEND in the Experts, hosted by Georgina Durrant, where we bring you conversations with leading voices in the world of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Each episode is designed to support parents, carers, and teachers who want to better understand and empower children with SEND.This week, Georgina is joined by acclaimed author Margaret Rooke, whose books have given a platform to young people with dyslexia and other forms of neurodivergence. Margaret has written multiple titles, including Dyslexia is My Superpower and Different Like Us. Her latest book revisits the young people she first interviewed, now adults navigating life with creativity, resilience, and strength.

In this episode ‘Special Educational Needs to Label or Not to Label? That is the question' Dr Jane Gilmore and Professor Umar Toseeb address the nuanced and complex issue of diagnostic labels within education. Together, they delve into whether the use of diagnostic labels such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia should continue or if it is time to reconsider their role. The discussion explores the challenges and benefits of these terms, as well as the deeper philosophical questions surrounding how such classifications shape understanding, support mechanisms, and young people's identities. They examines the current framework used: communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health difficulties, and sensory and physical needs. It considers the impact these labels have on children's educational provision and inclusion, weighing them against a potential shift towards a needs-led system that might allow for a more personalised and human-centred approach. Drawing from both professional experience and current research, the conversation reflects on the delicate balance between the necessity of shared terminology for effective communication and the risk that such labels may oversimplify complex individual needs or contribute to stigma. This episode invites listeners to reflect on how best to support neurodiverse young people within education, ensuring their unique strengths and challenges are both recognised and respected without losing sight of their individuality. It offers fresh perspectives for academics, practitioners, families, and educators alike on the practice of diagnosis, its effects on young people, and the possibilities for creating a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

Patricia Lockwood is a poet, memoirist and novelist whose work straddles the literary world and the wilds of the internet. Patricia first went viral with her traumatic poem Rape Joke, while her memoir Priestdaddy, about being the daughter of a Catholic priest, has been called a modern classic. Patricia talks to Nuala McGovern about her new book, Will There Ever Be Another You, which explores the surreal disorientation of illness, memory and recovery in the wake of Covid. The list of hospital trusts that will be looked at as part of a rapid review of maternity care in England have just been announced. This is part of an independent, national, investigation into harm to hundreds of babies, that might have been prevented with better maternity care. However some of the families, whose cases will be part of it, have expressed concerns about its scope. Nuala is joined by BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan to find out more about this review. Parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are heading to Westminster today. They are taking part in what they are calling a ‘Day of Action,' organised by parent support groups, which includes a rally at Parliament Square, MP drop-ins and a Parliamentary debate on SEND children's rights. 18-year-old Katie Nellist, who has autism and struggled to attend school, will be giving a speech at the rally. Katie and her mother Ruth tell Nuala why they are taking part in this 'Day of Action'. The BBC Eye documentary and podcast called Death in Dubai has identified a former London bus driver running a sex ring exploiting young vulnerable Ugandan women. The programme has been told that hundreds of women are going to Dubai from Uganda, seeking their fortunes and ending up in sex work. Two of the women have died falling from tower blocks in Dubai. Nuala talks to the BBC Eye producer and reporter Runako Celina, who has spent two and a half years investigating this story. Kathrine Switzer was the first female to officially run the Boston marathon back in 1967, at that time considered a men's-only race. However a race official tried to stop her mid-event when they discovered she was a woman. She went on to complete the course and she's dedicated her life to enabling women to participate in the sport. Now in her late 70s, she's run 42 marathons and is the co-founder of 261 Fearless, that aims to empower women through running. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

As Labour looks to get a grip on public spending, one rebellion gives way to another with the changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system threatening to become welfare round two. On this week's Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, Lucy Dunn is joined by The Spectator's Michael Simmons and former Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman to explore what the government is planning – and why so many Labour MPs are worried. Is the system failing the children it's meant to support, or simply costing too much? And can Labour afford to fix it without tearing itself apart?Listen for: Amanda on the unintended consequences of the 2014 SEND overhaul; why teaching assistants may not be the silver bullet schools think they are; and Labour's mess over Ofsted. Michael Simmons also outlines the fiscal timebomb threatening local authorities; the cultural shift post-Covid that's changed how we approach education; and why one Labour insider is warning, ‘If you thought cutting support for disabled adults was bad, wait till you try it with children.'Produced by Oscar Edmondson.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

As Labour looks to get a grip on public spending, one rebellion gives way to another with the changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system threatening to become welfare round two. On this week's Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, Lucy Dunn is joined by The Spectator's Michael Simmons and former Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman to explore what the government is planning – and why so many Labour MPs are worried. Is the system failing the children it's meant to support, or simply costing too much? And can Labour afford to fix it without tearing itself apart?Listen for: Amanda on the unintended consequences of the 2014 SEND overhaul; why teaching assistants may not be the silver bullet schools think they are; and Labour's mess over Ofsted. Michael Simmons also outlines the fiscal timebomb threatening local authorities; the cultural shift post-Covid that's changed how we approach education; and why one Labour insider is warning, ‘If you thought cutting support for disabled adults was bad, wait till you try it with children.'Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Only a week after the government was forced to retreat on benefits reform, there's now controversy over its plans for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send). John Harris speaks to Kate Cox, a parent of two children with special needs, about why there's such concern about the plans. Plus, with NHS doctors going on strike again and small boat crossings reaching a record high, how can the government get out of this mess? John speaks to the political correspondent and fellow host of Politics Weekly, Kiran Stacey. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

After the bruising passage of the government's welfare reform bill, attention on the backbenches is now turning to another lightning rod issue - the potential overhaul of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system.Anoosh Chakelian discusses the battles looming with colleagues Hannah Barnes, Will Dunn and Pippa Bailey.READStarmerism is disintegrating - Aaron BastaniLISTENOne year of Labour rule: Can things still only get better?Sign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss why backbenchers and campaigners are already gearing up for another fight, this time over children's special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support. And, could a new party on the left be a threat to Labour?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

John Harris on how music helped him connect with his autistic son James. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus