Removing the fear of reading with Vicki Edgar
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
What do neurodiverse girls need to know about romance? with Kim McCabe
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
Wellbeing, Culture and Inclusion with Cathal Lynch
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
Neurodiversity and Sport: Creating Safe, Inclusive Spaces Where Neurodivergent can Thrive with Liz Day
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
Living with Hearing Loss and Deafness with Samantha Baines
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
*Special Episode* - Who Will Be SEND? Questions, Not Answers on the Reform Ahead with Dale Pickles
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
Barriers to Mental Healthcare for Autistic People with Dr Joanna Grace
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
*Special episode* The Autism and ADHD Shows 2026
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
Rare but Recognisable: Isla’s FOP Story with Nicky Muller
The SENDcast
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...
info_outline
Supporting Young People with Long-Term Illness in Education with Josh Pelled
The SENDcast
Bright Futures’ research estimates that around 270,000 young people (age 5–24) miss 20% or more of their education each year due to long-term illness. The consequences for qualifications, employment and wellbeing are severe - for example, 79% of 18-24 year‑olds who are out of work due to ill health only have qualifications at GCSEs or below, compared with 34% of their peers. These young people don’t just lose learning: prolonged absence damages social connections, confidence and everyday school experiences. “Returning to normal” needs careful planning, not a simple reinstatement of...
info_outlineGeoff 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.