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Hearing the Patterns – Phonological Awareness in Literacy Development with Dr Sarah Moseley & Ginny Bootman

The SENDcast

Release Date: 05/15/2025

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More Episodes

The second in a four-part series, Dr. Sarah Moseley and Ginny Bootman join Dale to discuss phonological awareness and its importance in literacy development. They explore how phonological awareness, detecting and manipulating sounds in spoken language, forms a foundation for reading skills.

Sarah emphasises that understanding sounds is crucial for children’s literacy success, while Ginny highlights the role of rhythm and rhyme in engaging learners. They discuss how shared experiences, like singing and storytelling, can spark a love of language and improve literacy outcomes. Sarah and Ginny also talk about how teachers can make learning fun and interactive, using music, poems, and playful activities to get children curious and engaged. I love a good dad joke and enjoy it when they use a few as examples of how to make phonological awareness fun!

If you missed Sarah and Ginny’s first episode listen here - ‘Foundations of Early Literacy – What Are the Building Blocks?.

View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!

 

About Ginny Bootman

I have been a teacher longer than I haven’t, as a Headteacher, Senior Manager and Class Teacher  and now as a SENCO of 2 Primary schools in Northamptonshire. My passion lies within all things concerned with empathy and the role which empathy plays in ensuring that all of those in school settings feel valued and listened to. I am an Associate of Undiscovered Country a team who help individuals manage.

Ginny’s Book: Independent thinking on being a SENDCO, Crown House Publishing.

 

About Dr Sarah Moseley

Dr. Moseley has over 30 years’ knowledge and experience within special and mainstream education from teaching assistant to Headteacher, as well as a solid research background rooted within the psychology of learning. Sarah’s Masters and PhD in Special Education focused specifically on the teaching of reading and self-esteem and she has presented nationally and internationally on raising outcomes for learners with SEND and is a published author of her research. In her book ‘Teaching Reading to All Learners Including Those with Complex Needs A Framework for Progression within an Inclusive Reading Curriculum’, Sarah has developed a framework for professionals, families and learners around her concept of an ‘Inclusive Reading Curriculum’. Sarah provides training, information and support focused on how to teach reading to all learners, building on current provision and practice to support confidence and deepen understanding.

Now an independent Educational Consultant at www.drsarahmoseley.com, Sarah delivers face to face and online training, coaching, keynote presentations, information and support for professionals and families from all sectors, specialising in SEND focused school improvement and raising outcomes for all learners. She is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives, attitudes, and outcomes of those who may struggle to learn, based on a belief that every action can make a difference and aims to bridge the gap between theory and learning, to create a culture where high expectations thrive, improving outcomes for all pupils.

 

Contact Ginny

www.ginnybootman.com

https://www.facebook.com/ginny.bootman.1/

https://x.com/sencogirl

[email protected]

 

Contact Sarah

http://www.drsarahmoseley.com/

http://facebook.com/Drsarahmoseley

http://twitter.com/drsarahmoseley

[email protected]

 

Useful Links

Assistive Technology Tools:
Scanning Pens
Dragon Dictation
Read&Write by Texthelp

Literacy Apps & Software:
Book Creator
Digital Learning & Teaching
Fonetti
Gentype
IDL
Literacy Gold
Lyfta
Monarch Reader
Nessy
Storytime Online
Wordshark

Websites:
National Literacy Trust
British Dyslexia Association
Talk for Writing
Teach us too

 

 

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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.