nasen awards - Alison Eason, Changemaker of the Year
The SENDcast
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 journey of upskilling in technology during the pandemic, becoming a Google trainer, and implementing tools like Google Classroom to enhance learning. She highlights various accessibility features...
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Why We Need More Support For Neurodivergent Teachers with Catrina Lowri
The SENDcast
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 neurodivergent individuals in the education system, including stigma, lack of understanding, and inadequate support. Catrina highlights the importance of recognising the strengths and needs of...
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nasen awards - Michelle Madziak, Teacher of the Year
The SENDcast
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 experiences leading outdoor activities, such as camping and canoeing, for students with complex needs, stressing the importance of providing them with opportunities similar to their mainstream peers. Michelle...
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The Importance of Literacy Education for ALL learners with Chantal Bryan & Sarah Giles
The SENDcast
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 and his progress in learning to read and write! Chantelle shares her experience of taking Jonathan out of special school to provide him with a literacy-focused education, emphasising the...
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nasen awards - Chapman Shum, Young Advocate of the Year
The SENDcast
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, highlights Chapman's exceptional musical abilities, including his talent for improvisation and participation in the National Open Youth Orchestra. The conversation highlights the importance of recognising...
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Structured Teaching, Pre-empting Barriers and Developing Curriculum Pathways with Tanya Lefort
The SENDcast
As the number of children with SEND in mainstream schools continues to rise, coupled with limited spaces in specialist settings, the demand for effective and inclusive support is huge. More children are entering classrooms with complex needs, placing pressure on mainstream schools to meet those needs. But how can schools do this? This week, Tanya Lefort joined Dale to discuss ‘Structured Teaching, Pre-empting Barriers and Developing Curriculum Pathways’. With 18 years’ experience in SEN, Tanya highlights effective strategies for educators to meet the increasing demands of inclusive...
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nasen awards - Dale Pickles, Resource for SEND
The SENDcast
In this podcast episode, Dale Pickles takes a step back from hosting duties where his colleague Jon asks the questions. They discuss the success of the SENDcast podcast, which won the Resource for SEND at the nasen awards 2024. Dale reflects on the podcast’s journey over four years, highlighting its reach of over 350,000 listens and contributions from 83 experts in the field. Dale emphasises that the recognition from nasen is not just personal but aims to expand the podcast's audience, helping more people discover its valuable resources. He discusses the challenges, why he produces the...
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Foundations of Early Literacy – What Are the Building Blocks? with Dr Sarah Moseley & Ginny Bootman
The SENDcast
This week Dale is joined by Dr Sarah Moseley, Educational Consultant, and SENCO of four schools, Ginny Bootman to discuss ‘Foundations of early literacy – what are the building blocks?’ This is the first episode in a series exploring the foundational components of early literacy, which aims to bridge the gap between theory and classroom practice. They discuss the importance of oral language, vocabulary development, and how these foundational skills set the stage for reading success. Key topics include: The role of listening and speaking in literacy development Strategies for engaging...
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nasen awards - Karen McGuigan, Highly commended Resource for SEND
The SENDcast
In this special podcast episode, Karen McGuigan discusses her work with the ‘Maths for Life’ program, which was highly commended in the resource for SEND category by nasen. Karen explains that ‘Maths for Life’ is designed to help students build foundational mathematical skills, particularly for those who struggle with the national curriculum. Karen emphasises the program's focus on practical applications of maths, making it relevant to everyday life, rather than abstract concepts. She contrasts ‘Maths for Life’ with mainstream programs like White Rose Maths, noting that it is...
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Supporting Colour Blindness with Marie Difolco
The SENDcast
Did you know that 300 million people worldwide live with colour blindness, including 3 million in the UK and around 450,000 of those are children? Unfortunately, many of these children are being let down by the education system, as colour blindness often goes unrecognised - meaning there’s likely one child in every classroom facing this challenge. In our latest podcast episode, Dale is joined by Marie Difolco, a passionate advocate and mother to a severely colour blind child. Together, they discuss ‘Supporting Colour Blindness’ and the need for accessible use of colour in education. When...
info_outlineIn this special episode, Paul Willis discusses All Saints Catholic School in Essex, which recently won the Secondary Provision of the Year award at the nasen awards. The school is recognised for its commitment to inclusive education and its "No Child Left Behind" philosophy, ensuring all students, including those with special educational needs, have access to learning.
Paul outlines a staff action research project aimed at raising awareness of students facing barriers to learning, with over 50 staff members participating. The school employs various strategies to celebrate student achievements and has introduced new initiatives for sixth form students.
Paul emphasises the importance of prioritising student support, highlighting the collaborative culture among staff, including teaching, support, and kitchen staff, all dedicated to student well-being. He discusses the school's inclusive practices, such as tailored interventions for social skills and academic support.
The conversation also touches on the role of communication with parents, the significance of building rapport, and the need for a whole-school approach to inclusion. Paul advocates for continuous improvement and learning from other schools, ensuring that inclusive practices are embedded in the school's ethos and curriculum.
Contact Paul
www.facebook.com/allsaintscsch/
Useful Links
- 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 – [email protected]
- 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.