A Million Families Waiting: Can AI Help? with Ben Cosh
The SENDcast
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...
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Behind the Mask: Autistic Burnout and Eva's Story with Sarah Griffiths
The SENDcast
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 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...
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What do we mean by trauma informed practice? with Dr Asha Patel
The SENDcast
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...
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Where are specific learning difficulties in the SEND reforms? with Louise Selby and Janet Goring
The SENDcast
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...
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DLD and SEND Reforms: No Child Left Behind with Jane Harris
The SENDcast
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 , 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...
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We need to talk about the neurodivergent teachers in our schools with Chris Benson
The SENDcast
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...
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Why every school needs a SENCO on the senior leadership team with Lisa Pinkerton
The SENDcast
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...
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It's Not What It Looks Like: Screen Time and Neurodivergent Children with Dr Daniel Weisberg
The SENDcast
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...
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Leadership in Social Impact Education with Ed Robbins
The SENDcast
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...
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*Special episode* The Tes SEND Show 2026
The SENDcast
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,...
info_outlineThe SENsible SENCO, Abigail Hawkins joins Dale for a podcast special episode highlighting what’s on at the SENsible25 SENCO conference on 14th February in Nottingham - and why you should be there!
Abigail shares details on her second annual conference dedicated to helping SENCOs including; a conference overview, networking opportunities, speaker line up and interactive sessions.
“SENsible25 has a theme of ‘all in the room’, so we're all going to be in the room again together.
But we also have a sub theme this year. It's about assessment and identification because that's where SEN starts.”
Abigail Hawkins, The SENsible SENCO
This event brings together exhibitors, speakers, and SENCOs around the same tables. Join us for a day filled with engaging sessions, laughs and a few moments of realisation, led by experts in Special Educational Needs (SEN), where knowledge is shared and connections are made. From sensory needs to identifying speech and language needs in EAL students, we invite you to be part of this fun filled community day where everyone learns from each other.
About Abigail Hawkins
Abigail Hawkins is a passionate and seasoned SENCO with over 25 years of experience. She is the dynamic force behind SENDCOSolutions and SENsible SENCO CIC. Through her SEN consultancy and not-for-profit networking support group, she champions inclusive education and offers invaluable support to educators and schools across the spectrum.
Having taught a diverse range of subjects to students of all ages, from toddlers to adults, Abigail has a versatile and practical approach to SEN issues. In addition to her consultancy work, she collaborates with software and product companies to create innovative tools for SEN and Safeguarding purposes, develops and delivers teaching assistant apprenticeship and master’s degree programs, and has authored several books and resources on SEN and exclusions.
With her no-nonsense, hands-on approach, Abigail continues to make a significant difference in the lives of countless students, educators, and schools. She remains unwavering in her commitment to promote inclusive education.
Contact Abigail
Website – www.sendcosolutions.co.uk
Email – enquiries@sendcosolutions.co.uk
Twitter – @sendcosolutions
Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sensiblesenco
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/SENsibleSENCO
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B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk
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Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast
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Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk
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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.