The SENDcast
The SENDcast is a weekly podcast focusing on Special Educational Needs, it is an amazing way to keep up to date with all the different areas within SEN, best practices and to improve your knowledge around SEND.
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Pupil Voice and Choice Making with Sarah-Jane Critchley
05/19/2022
Pupil Voice and Choice Making with Sarah-Jane Critchley
About Sarah-Jane Critchley Sarah-Jane is an Author, Speaker, Consultant and Coach from Different Joy Partnership. She was previously the Programme Manager for over 10 years at the Autism Education Trust. Pupils with autism often struggle with attending school for a number of reasons. Her daughter Beth is autistic and also suffers from migraines which meant from Year 3 onwards she missed a lot of school and missed over 50% of her GCSE classes, eventually dropping out of school in year 12. Contact Sarah-Jane: Twitter: @SarahJaneCritch Instagram: Facebook: Useful Links 0-5 Developmental milestones: Jim Sinclair – Don’t mourn for us - Growth mindset – Carol Dweck - For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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*Special Episode* Response to the SEND Review with Lorraine Petersen OBE
05/13/2022
*Special Episode* Response to the SEND Review with Lorraine Petersen OBE
Last week Lorraine Petersen OBE joined Dale in the studio to deliver a presentation on the SEND Green Paper. It was a fantastic summary of the 104 page document which has helped SENCOs save time and understand the key points and implications for schools. We’ve turned the session recording into a special edition podcast so that you can listen anytime, anywhere. A chance to listen to the presentation, discussion and the questions and answers - it is around 2 hours long, so be prepared!!! If you want to watch the session instead, it is still available, you just need to and watch on demand. About Lorraine Petersen OBE Lorraine has 25 years’ experience in mainstream and special school environments as a Teacher and Headteacher. From 2004 – 2013 Lorraine was CEO of nasen, a charitable organisation supporting all those who work with children and young people with SEND. She worked on a number of projects with various agencies including the Department for Education, the National College of Teaching and Leadership and UKTI. She has also been a chair, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at numerous national and international events and conferences. In 2009 Lorraine was awarded an OBE for her services to education. Lorraine now runs LPEC an educational consultancy dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with mental health needs. Contact Lorraine Website: Facebook: Twitter:
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How Laughter and Playfulness can be used to help reduce Anxiety with Katie White
05/12/2022
How Laughter and Playfulness can be used to help reduce Anxiety with Katie White
When it comes to mental health we often feel like we need the support of a professional. Of course, some children do require specialist support from counsellors, psychologists, or social workers, but for children who are experiencing low levels of anxiety - play may be the answer. This Mental Health Awareness week I am joined by a new guest on the podcast, Katie White! Katie is an Embodied Wellness Practitioner and founder of The Best Medicine. In this episode we discuss How Laughter and Playfulness Can Be Used to Help Reduce Anxiety, covering: What is anxiety and how does laughter and play fit in? Laughter as a tool for managing panic attacks How we can support children to identify and recognise their anxiety using play Games and techniques for lowering anxiety What it requires to support an anxious child Simple games, strategies and techniques can go a long way in empowering children to understand, express and reduce their anxiety, listen to find out more. About Katie White Katie is an Embodied Wellness Practitioner and founder of The Best Medicine. She specialises in laughter and playfulness; teaching interactive games, practical strategies and mindfulness based tools that help to reduce stress and anxiety. Contact Katie White Website - Twitter - Facebook - Useful Links Superpower Bootcamp - Parenta Blogs -
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Homework - Risk and Return with Fintan O'Regan
05/05/2022
Homework - Risk and Return with Fintan O'Regan
Research shows that it takes 3 times as long for a student with ADHD to do the same piece of work at home as in school. The school day alone can be exhausting for pupils with SEND and then they might be expected to attend clubs, interact with family, eat their meal AND complete their homework when they get home. Are we expecting too much? The result could be detrimental to their mental health: “I think it's disadvantaging more in terms of self-esteem and attitude, because when they go in next day, they haven't been able to do the same thing in the same way as other people, and they're often getting penalised for it.” Fintan O’Regan In this episode Fintan O’Regan, one of the leading Behaviour and Learning specialists in the UK, discusses homework and issues relating to pupils with SEND. Is the risk worth the return when it comes to children with SEND? In this podcast we consider a range of alternative options to complete schoolwork, listen to hear some innovative ways of approaching homework with your pupils. About Fintan O'Regan Fintan was the Head teacher of the Centre Academy from 1996 -2002, which was the first specialist school in the UK for students between the ages of 7-19 specialising issues related to ADHD, ASD and ODD. He is an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, the Institute of Education, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and the former Vice Chairman of the UK ADHD Network and of the European ADHD Alliance. Fintan now works as trainer and consultant for schools and school support systems including, Social Services, Health, the Police and Foster carers with regards to providing behaviour management strategies for children and families struggling with SEND and behaviour issues. Contact Fintan O'Regan Website – Email – Twitter – Useful Links The Bullying Problem by Alan Train The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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SLCN - Implementation and making the best use of resources with Wendy Lee
04/28/2022
SLCN - Implementation and making the best use of resources with Wendy Lee
7.6% of all children have got developmental language disorder, that's two or three in every classroom. The Bercow Review (2018) highlighted ongoing and significant challenges for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in terms of available support and diminishing resources. More than ever, it is important we maximise what we have available for the greatest impact. In this week’s podcast we discuss how to make best use of resources to meet the needs of pupils with SLCN. Wendy Lee, speech and language therapist, joins me in this episode to look at: evidence of what works for children with SLCN what parents see as important aspects of best practice to support their children experiences of teachers and support staff the challenges of translating evidence into practice practical solutions for implementing strategies and support Listen to find out some great free resources and advice you can implement straight away in your classroom. About Wendy Lee Wendy has worked as a speech and language therapist for over 30 years, in clinical practice, higher education and the third sector. She was Professional Director at The Communication Trust until 2015 where she led on a number of projects, as well as inputting on national policy and research. Wendy is currently the Director of LINGO, which provides consultancy, professional development, resources and speech and language therapy. She works with academics, academy trusts, schools and settings and in partnership with local and national organisations supporting speech, language and communication. Contact Wendy Lee Website - Email - Twitter - @Lingo_speech Useful Links
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Sensory Stories with Joanna Grace
04/21/2022
Sensory Stories with Joanna Grace
Do you remember many of your lessons at school? If you do, they’re likely to be memorable due to a multisensory element such as a Bunsen burner. When you have a sensory experience the different processes in our brains are activated and you are then more involved and invested in learning. Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects. Joanna joins Dale on today’s episode to discuss ‘Sensory Stories’, an amazing resource that can be used to engage learners of all abilities. “Sensory stories have long been a hidden gem within special schools and its time they got out into the open, they’re such a simple tool, but used with a little insight and creativity they can be super inclusive and engaging.” Joanna Grace Listen to find out what sensory stories are, what they consist of and how they can make a difference in your classroom. About 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 Joanna Grace Website - Email - Twitter - @Jo3Grace Facebook - Useful Links Aside from the obvious, my son’s book My Mummy is Autistic, I have a FREE training series on YouTube aimed at mainstream SENCOs (but it has been accessed far more widely than that) that explores issues that crop up in schools around autistic students My facebook is also a resource for insight into neurodivergence, with the photo albums acting as resource banks: people are welcome to connect with me, and my LinkedIn profile has many free to access articles that I have written on the topic of neurodiversity
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Finding your Tribe
03/31/2022
Finding your Tribe
This week's episode ‘Finding your Tribe’ with Alison Knowles, is a discussion about how important it is for young people to find their tribe and their place in the world. We all strive to feel accepted, normal and fit in, but this can be especially challenging for children with additional needs. About Alison Knowles Ali is a practising emotional therapist, author of the Ollie and his Super Powers series of books, public speaker, NLP trainer and creator of the Ollie Model. Ali’s strength is the unique way she views the world and her instinctive ability to empower you or your child to find the solutions from within. Contact Alison Knowles Website - Email - or Twitter - Facebook - Useful Links For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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What on Earth is PDA with Rachel Jackson
03/24/2022
What on Earth is PDA with Rachel Jackson
Does resisting ordinary day-to-day demands, such as putting shoes on, sound familiar? This is a common objection from children, however it can be to the extreme often causing obstructive, disruptive and explosive behaviour. In this episode we discover ‘What on earth is PDA?’ with Rachel Jackson. Rachel is a Mum, Author and Director with an academic and professional background in psychology. Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is thought of as a profile on the autism spectrum and is a demand resistance driven by an anxiety-based need for control. PDA is not well known, in fact the diagnosis itself remains controversial and yet many parents/carers describe behaviours from their children with Autism diagnoses that simply don’t line up with what they’ve been told to expect. Listen to understand PDA and support these children to learn and grow. About Rachel Jackson Rachel combines her experience raising two young boys – one with a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD and his younger sibling, with her academic and professional background in psychology, developing adults in Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. This has lead to the successful self-publishing of 3 short books for children on the spectrum and their siblings as well as a number of articles published In the UK, US and Australia. She has now sold over 2000 copies of her books worldwide. Contact Rachel Jackson: Facebook: Useful Links The PDA Society – SENBooks who sell all my books with better print quality than Amazon print on demand and are also awesome independent booksellers who have really helped me along the way For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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Inclusive Learner Cocktails with Dr Susie Nyman
03/17/2022
Inclusive Learner Cocktails with Dr Susie Nyman
Have you ever had a Sparkling Suzie, Freddie Thorne or Danny Whizzbang in your classroom? Perhaps not the cocktail but most likely some pupils with similar characteristics. In this fun filled episode with Dr Susie Nyman, we discuss the similarities between cocktails and children with SEN. Susie even brought her cocktail making kit along with her to the studio! The podcast is a lively discussion of different types of neurodiverse learners. Susie discusses a range of case studies and solutions she has discovered whilst working in the classroom setting at The Sixth Form College, Farnborough and Curriculum Support at The Oratory School. Listen to find out how an inclusive individualised personal learning approach can help you make a breakthrough with neurodiverse learners: About Dr Susie Nyman Dr Susie Nyman is passionate about discovering how children learn and supporting them in ways which enable them to succeed. She was appointed as a Biology teacher at The Sixth Form College Farnborough in 1995, and subsequently as Curriculum Manager for Health and Social Care where she has worked ever since. Susie strives to raise students’ achievements and support them in ways which enables them to succeed. She works with her students deploying a range of innovative and Multi-sensory teaching techniques to assist their learning including her ‘Equality and Diversity Tree’ and famous puppets! Additionally, she has provided training to PGCE students at Kingston University, and in a number of local schools and colleges on teaching strategies. Since February 2017, Susie has presented seminars on ‘Multi-sensory Techniques’ at The Learning Differences Conventions in Australia, Richmond College, The Helen Arkell Centre, Bell House, The Oratory School, The National Education Show and The Tes SEN Shows in London and Manchester. Recently, she was filmed ‘in action’ for The British Dyslexia Association as well as Oaka Books, and the footage is available on YouTube. Subsequently, she has written a chapter about ‘Multi-sensory Teaching’ in the BDA Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide and ‘The Multi-sensory Teaching Toolkit’ by Oaka Books. In recognition of over 21 years continued service at The Sixth Form College Farnborough, Susie has been nominated three times by the College for the ‘Tes FE Teacher of the Year Award’. This is an honour of which she is immensely proud. Contact Dr Susie Nyman: Website – Email – [email protected] Twitter – Useful Links Eastap, L. and Gregory, J. (Ed’s) (2018) Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide 2nd Edition, British Dyslexia Association. Nyman, S. (2020). How to become a Grade Riser. Chichester: Oaka Books: Nyman. S. (2019) The Exam Question Task Board. Chichester: Oaka Books: Nyman, S (2019). Sensory Support for Dyslexia. Retrieved from The SEN Magazine issue 103: Nyman, S (2020). How to get an A* in English. Retrieved from The Studying with Dyslexia Blog:
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Happy Birthday, We are 2! Let's look back over the last 2 years.
03/10/2022
Happy Birthday, We are 2! Let's look back over the last 2 years.
Little did we know when launching the SENDcast 2 years ago, that the world as we knew it was about to drastically change. We hope that you’ve enjoyed listening to the episodes through the highs and lows and have kept you company whether you’ve been walking, running, driving, painting etc. In this 2nd birthday episode Sarah-Jane Critchley joins Dale in the studio to celebrate creating podcast number 87! They reflect on their favourite episodes, significant events and changes in SEN from their perspective. Sarah-Jane is an Author, Speaker, Consultant and Coach from Different Joy Partnership – most importantly she is a top fan of The SENDcast! With over 73k downloads, 87 episodes, 2 awards and 100+ hours of content we are going from strength to strength. We just wanted to say a big thank you for listening from the SENDcast team here at B Squared. It’s an honour to meet such fascinating speakers and produce these fun, interesting and thought-provoking episodes About Sarah-Jane Critchley Sarah-Jane is an Author, Speaker, Consultant and Coach from Different Joy Partnership. She was previously the Programme Manager for over 10 years at the Autism Education Trust. Pupils with autism often struggle with attending school for a number of reasons. Her daughter Beth is autistic and also suffers from migraines which meant from Year 3 onwards she missed a lot of school and missed over 50% of her GCSE classes, eventually dropping out of school in year 12. Contact Sarah-Jane: Twitter: @SarahJaneCritch Instagram: Facebook: Useful Links 0-5 Developmental milestones: Jim Sinclair – Don’t mourn for us - Growth mindset – Carol Dweck - For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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What Makes a Great Teacher of SEN with Fintan O'Regan
03/03/2022
What Makes a Great Teacher of SEN with Fintan O'Regan
About Fintan O'Regan Fintan was the Head teacher of the Centre Academy from 1996 -2002, which was the first specialist school in the UK for students between the ages of 7-19 specialising issues related to ADHD, ASD and ODD. He is an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, the Institute of Education, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and the former Vice Chairman of the UK ADHD Network and of the European ADHD Alliance. Fintan now works as trainer and consultant for schools and school support systems including, Social Services, Health, the Police and Foster carers with regards to providing behaviour management strategies for children and families struggling with SEND and behaviour issues. Contact Fintan O'Regan Website – Email – Twitter – Useful Links The Bullying Problem by Alan Train The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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Language for Learning with Wendy Lee
02/24/2022
Language for Learning with Wendy Lee
Spoken language is core to learning and has a significant impact on children who find it difficult understanding language or putting their sentences together. In this SENDcast episode ‘Language for Learning’, we discuss the importance of supporting and promoting language and its impact on learning in the classroom. Dale's guest is Wendy Lee, a speech and language therapist with over 30 years’ experience in a wide range of settings. “We all bring those different perspectives, and if we can utilise our language to get the best out of the discussion, something else will come out of it that none of us could do on our own. And that's what we want to teach children to be able to do.” Wendy Lee A focus on Oracy, the ability to express oneself fluently in speech, is growing in many schools in the UK. Wendy explores what this means for children and young people with Speech, Language, Communication Needs (SLCN). Find out how to teach children and young people how to utilise their own talk skills to develop their thinking and their learning. With the right approaches and adaptions your pupils can benefit enormously from a focus on oral language skills in your classroom. Hear proven strategies you can put in place in your classroom to: Enable productive group discussion Develop reasoning skills Improve collaboration Ensure compromise Build confidence to talk Support conversational practise About Wendy Lee Wendy has worked as a speech and language therapist for over 30 years, in clinical practice, higher education and the third sector. She was Professional Director at The Communication Trust until 2015 where she led on a number of projects, as well as inputting on national policy and research. Wendy is currently the Director of LINGO, which provides consultancy, professional development, resources and speech and language therapy. She works with academics, academy trusts, schools and settings and in partnership with local and national organisations supporting speech, language and communication. Contact Wendy Lee Website - Email - Twitter - @Lingo_speech Useful Links Clark A, Quail S, Moss P, (2003) Exploring the field of Listening to and consulting with Young Children Thomas Coram Research Unit DfES Owen, Hayett and Roulstone (2004) Children’s views of speech and language therapy in school: consulting with communication difficulties CLTT
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My Mummy is Autistic with Joanna Grace
02/17/2022
My Mummy is Autistic with Joanna Grace
Everyone will meet an autistic person in their lives, and autistic people are in every classroom and every work force. Having a clearer understanding of difference can give us practical insight into how to better support and engage neurodivergent learners, and perhaps more importantly how to improve their mental health. Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects. Joanna joins me in this episode to talk about how her son came to write a book called ‘My Mummy is Autistic’. She also takes us through her personal journey of being diagnosed and the pressures of trying to conform and ‘fit the mould’ growing up. In this podcast we cover: Autism as a difference not a deficit The importance of role models for neurodivergent children The language processing differences experienced by autistic, and other neurodivergent people About 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 Joanna Grace Website - Email - Twitter - @Jo3Grace Facebook - Useful Links Aside from the obvious, my son’s book My Mummy is Autistic, I have a FREE training series on YouTube aimed at mainstream SENCOs (but it has been accessed far more widely than that) that explores issues that crop up in schools around autistic students My facebook is also a resource for insight into neurodivergence, with the photo albums acting as resource banks: people are welcome to connect with me, and my LinkedIn profile has many free to access articles that I have written on the topic of neurodiversity
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How is the Pandemic affecting young people's mental health? with Alison Knowles
02/10/2022
How is the Pandemic affecting young people's mental health? with Alison Knowles
In this week’s podcast Dale Pickles speaks with Alison Knowles who is an emotional therapist and the creator of the Ollie Model to build the resilience and wellbeing of children. Resources:
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Bullying, Victims, & Bystanders with Fintan O'Regan
02/03/2022
Bullying, Victims, & Bystanders with Fintan O'Regan
This week's guest is Fintan O'Regan. Fintan was the Head teacher of the Centre Academy from 1996 -2002, which was the first specialist school in the UK for students between the ages of 7-19 specialising issues related to ADHD, ASD and ODD. He is an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, the Institute of Education, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and the former Vice Chairman of the UK ADHD Network and of the European ADHD Alliance. Fintan now works as trainer and consultant for schools and school support systems including, Social Services, Health, the Police and Foster carers with regards to providing behaviour management strategies for children and families struggling with SEND and behaviour issues. Contact Fintan O'Regan Website – Email – Twitter – For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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Talking to Parents about SEN with Sarah-Jane Critchley
01/27/2022
Talking to Parents about SEN with Sarah-Jane Critchley
In this week’s podcast Dale Pickles from B Squared is joined by Sarah Jane Critchley. Sarah-Jane was previously the Programme Manager for over 10 years at the Autism Education Trust. Pupils with autism often struggle with attending school for a number of reasons. Her daughter Beth is autistic and also suffers from migraines which meant from Year 3 onwards she missed a lot of school and missed over 50% of her GCSE classes, eventually dropping out of school in year 12. Useful Links How to contact Sarah-Jane: Twitter: @SarahJaneCritch Instagram: Facebook: For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below…
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Listening to pupils with SEN with Wendy Lee
01/20/2022
Listening to pupils with SEN with Wendy Lee
Listening to and valuing their views has implications for children’s confidence and attitude to learning, this is true for all children including those with SEN/SLCN. However, research suggests that there are inherent challenges in effectively listening to and gathering views of children with communication needs. In this episode our guest is Wendy Lee, is a speech and language therapist with over 30 years experience in a wide range of settings. We will be discussing the importance to involve and listen to children with SEN.
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Student Icebergs with Dr Susie Nyman
01/13/2022
Student Icebergs with Dr Susie Nyman
Have you ever thought your students are like icebergs? If not then you will after listening to this episode! We all know what icebergs are and we all know that the largest part of an iceberg is hidden underwater. Comparing students to icebergs is a great analogy. Our special guest for this episode is Dr Susie Nyman, the Curriculum Manager at The Sixth Form College, Farnborough. Susie takes us through innovative tried and tested techniques she has used in the classroom setting and even brings her very own iceberg and pick to the studio! We discuss how students are like icebergs and how we need to support the whole child, not just what we see on the surface. There are a lot of factors hidden under that iceberg that we need to consider, particularly for students with SEND. An awareness of the background information about a student can help educators and parents breakthrough to individual pupils, particularly those with SEND or mental health issues. Contact Dr Susie Nyman Website – Email – [email protected] Twitter – For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… Useful Links: Nyman, S (2021). Nyman, S (2021).
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What makes a great INSET with Fintan O'Regan
01/06/2022
What makes a great INSET with Fintan O'Regan
School INSET is definitely a topic that divides staff in terms of whether they believe it adds value or is a waste of time and money. In this podcast we will consider what makes a great INSET in terms of not just the content and presentation but whether the INSET provided should achieve in both short term and long term Impact. This week's guest is Fintan O'Regan. Fintan was the Head teacher of the Centre Academy from 1996 -2002, which was the first specialist school in the UK for students between the ages of 7-19 specialising issues related to ADHD, ASD and ODD. He is an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, the Institute of Education, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and the former Vice Chairman of the UK ADHD Network and of the European ADHD Alliance. Fintan now works as trainer and consultant for schools and school support systems including, Social Services, Health, the Police and Foster carers with regards to providing behaviour management strategies for children and families struggling with SEND and behaviour issues. Resources: The teachers toolkit: Paul McGinnis When the adult changes everything changes Paul Dix Successfully Managing Children ADHD Second edition : Fin O'Regan Supporting behaviour in the classroom: Fin O’Regan The Defiant Child: Dougles Riley Mood Mapping Liz Miller Mindset Carol Dweck SEN L. Peer and G. Reid
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The Use of Mindfulness to Support Emotional Literacy with Dr Trisha Waters
12/16/2021
The Use of Mindfulness to Support Emotional Literacy with Dr Trisha Waters
The practise of mindfulness has become increasingly popular over the last few years. With the ever-increasing challenges we are facing and busy lifestyles we rush through life without stopping to notice the world around us. Mindfulness allows us to pay attention to our thoughts, sounds, reconnect with our bodies and the sensations they experience. Basically it’s about becoming aware of the present and living in the moment, which can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. In a school environment learning has to take place in the moment and often children are unable to focus on the task. So how can you use mindfulness to benefit your pupils? In this week’s podcast, we're discussing the use of mindfulness to support emotional literacy with my guest Dr Trisha Waters. Trisha is an educational therapist who began her career supporting pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. After that she led the MA in SEN & Inclusion at the University of Chichester and is now a director of the Centre for Therapeutic Storywriting. Listen now to find out how to help children come into the present, help them let go of their worries and improve their wellbeing and emotional literacy as a result. Resources: Therapeutic Storywriting: A Practical Guide to Developing Emotional Literacy in Primary Schools by Trisha Waters Research papers: Video: Introducing Therapeutic Storywriting Groups - (video on home page) ‘Therapeutic Storywriting: A Practical Guide to Developing Emotional Literacy in Primary Schools’ by Trisha Waters - Therapeutic Storywriting Research Papers - Contact Trisha: Website: Twitter: Facebook:
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Lessons from Lockdown with Wendy Lee
12/09/2021
Lessons from Lockdown with Wendy Lee
The lockdowns imposed during the pandemic have presented immense challenges for all, especially teachers. Everyone has been affected in a multitude of ways and it has had a profound impact on children, particularly those that are vulnerable. A lot of lessons have been learnt along this rollercoaster of a journey and in this week’s episode, my guest Wendy Lee, discusses the impact of school disruption due to COVID, on children’s speech, language and communication skills. It has a significant impact on children’s learning and future outcomes, but there is also a very high correlation with mental health. Wendy is a speech and language therapist with over 30 years’ experience in a wide range of settings. We explore her experiences, looking at how speech and language therapists worked together with schools during the past 18 months and share what she has seen in terms of children’s language and communication and what has worked to support children with language difficulties. Useful Links
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Do You Need to be an Expert in Every Area of SEND? with Clare Ward and Dr Jamie Galpin
12/02/2021
Do You Need to be an Expert in Every Area of SEND? with Clare Ward and Dr Jamie Galpin
Over the next few years, over 25% of the school population is projected to be on the SEN register! Teachers are under increasing pressure to be experts in multiple diagnoses, and many are feeling overwhelmed. This is unsustainable and this pressure can result in a retreat from inclusion, with an increasing number of children being positioned outside an ever-shrinking idea of a ‘mainstream child’. Dale Pickles is joined by Clare Ward and Dr Jamie Galpin in this week’s podcast. Clare has worked in the world of SEN for the last 30 years in a variety of roles and Jamie also has a long career in SEN. They have both come along to discuss this burning question - how do you become an expert in every area of SEND? Is it even possible? Resources: – published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers 21st April 2021.
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Supporting Pupils with Autism to Self-Regulate with Tessa Morton
11/25/2021
Supporting Pupils with Autism to Self-Regulate with Tessa Morton
A classroom can be a terrifying place for a child with autism, but you might not know this and instead witness a child that's aggressive, defiant, and disruptive or a child that's passive and not engaging. Anxiety and Autism go hand in hand. Helping an autistic child understand what is happening in their body helps them gain self-control and self-awareness. Working with your own heartbeat rhythms can reduce anxiety for you and your pupil as your energy levels can directly affect them. This week my guest is Tessa Morton, a founder of Act for Autism and is the passionate mum of an autistic boy. She has spent over 15 years supporting autistic children in her community through drama workshops. Tessa talks about autism and anxiety and how to help children to self-regulate. Listen to this episode to discover the power of the heartbeat as a therapeutic approach to support your pupils and find out how to enable them to thrive in an educational setting. Resources For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… Contact Tessa Morton: Website: Twitter:
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Story Metaphor and Its Use in Supporting Emotional Literacy with Dr Trisha Waters
11/18/2021
Story Metaphor and Its Use in Supporting Emotional Literacy with Dr Trisha Waters
We enjoy listening to and telling stories, they often reflect our own experiences or emotions and we use metaphors to express ourselves. Particularly so in young children, it's almost as though metaphor is their natural language. Very young children tend to imitate the adults around them and they try to make sense of their experience through their make believe play. Pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties need to be able to share their personal narrative in a safe way in order to make sense of their experiences. Story metaphor is ideal for doing this whilst supporting the pupils’ literacy skills. During today’s episode I discuss the use of metaphors within stories to support emotional literacy with my guest Dr Trisha Waters. Trisha is an educational therapist who began her career supporting pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. After that she led the MA in SEN & Inclusion at the University of Chichester and is now a director of the Centre for Therapeutic Storywriting. Listen to find out how you can support your pupils’ emotional literacy and wellbeing through story metaphors. Resources: Therapeutic Storywriting: A Practical Guide to Developing Emotional Literacy in Primary Schools by Trisha Waters Research papers: Video: Introducing Therapeutic Storywriting Groups - (video on home page) ‘Therapeutic Storywriting: A Practical Guide to Developing Emotional Literacy in Primary Schools’ by Trisha Waters - Therapeutic Storywriting Research Papers - Contact Trisha: Website: Twitter: Facebook:
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He Doesn't Do That at School with Ginny Bootman
11/11/2021
He Doesn't Do That at School with Ginny Bootman
Joining Dale today is Ginny Bootman. Ginny is currently a SENCO of 2 Primary schools, but has been a teacher for a very long time (in her own words), a senior manager and headteacher. She has also found time to write articles for TES and speak at a number of events. There is often a huge divide between how a child with additional needs presents themselves at school compared to how they are at home. This discussion looks at this ‘seesaw’ situation. Too often there is a breakdown of communications between home and school as the child is presenting themselves so differently in these different environments. Resources: Contact Ginny Bootman Website – Twitter –
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Desperately Seeking Certainty with Clare Ward and Dr Jamie Galpin
11/04/2021
Desperately Seeking Certainty with Clare Ward and Dr Jamie Galpin
Did you know that our brain is actually a kind of prediction making machine? We essentially see the world by guessing it. What we're constantly trying to do is to stay one step ahead and the sensory information we're going to receive. We do this in order to conserve energy so this predictive processing takes less effort. The moment where learning happens is when you come across a prediction error, when you’re surprised by something you weren’t expecting – this is uncertainty. We don't like it because we don't know what to do and over the past 18 months we have all lived through uncertainty with the pandemic and all the new challenges this has brought us. In this week’s episode we're discussing whether we need to support every pupil in every need differently, or are there approaches that support everyone? My guests this week are Clare Ward and Dr Jamie Galpin. Clare has worked in the world of SEN for the last 30 years in a variety of roles and Jamie also has a long career in SEN. They talk about a growing move towards transdiagnostic approaches to mental health and SEN and their development of a new model to support all children and young people. Resources: – published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers 21st April 2021.
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Neurodiversity in Schools: A Whole School Approach with Fintan O'Regan
10/28/2021
Neurodiversity in Schools: A Whole School Approach with Fintan O'Regan
Neurodiversity is a term which describes conditions such as Dyslexia, Autism and ADHD as variations or differences of the human brain, not deficits or disorders. Neurodiversity is a term that everybody in the school community should be aware of, not just the teachers but the students and the parents as well. There can be a lot of misunderstanding, because the wider community is unaware and this can cause issues, such as bullying. Our guest this week is Fintan O’Regan. Fintan is one of the leading Behaviour and Learning specialists in the UK. He is currently an ADHD, Neurodiversity and Behaviour Consultant for number of schools and organisations and an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, The Helen Arkell Charity and the Institute of Education. Listen to this podcast to find out how to open up conversations and create awareness of how and why students think and act differently. By creating an open minded, more tolerant and understanding school for neurodiversity, you will improve learning and socialisation. Fintan is a regular here in our studios, he has recorded a number of episodes of the SENDcast, he is a regular speaker at our Virtual SEND Conferences and has recorded a training course for us around Exclusion. Find out more about the CPD certified sessions Fintan has hosted with us: Virtual SEND Conference 5 - Session - Neurodiversity ‘traits’ for children and adolescents with learning, behaviour and socialisation – challenges and opportunities Managing Behaviour and Reducing the Risk of Exclusion Training Course - Is Persistent Disruptive Behaviour causing problems for staff and pupils at your school? Behaviour expert, Fintan has a proven strategy to manage PDB in the classroom. His online course explains this strategy and how to implement it at your school. This course is CPD certified. It includes 4 videos specifically tailored for different groups at your school: - Senior Leadership Teams - Teachers and support staff - Parents and Carers - School Governors
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Songwriting with Children with Al Start
10/21/2021
Songwriting with Children with Al Start
Children always write stories and poems, but have you thought about songwriting? It can be a fantastic activity to enhance speech and language skills, communication and literacy. It makes a great alternative to creative writing as it’s more inclusive and collaborative. Singing songs and music in school engages children in a different way. It levels the playing field with children with different abilities and is a really accessible way to get into a topic. Al Start is a singer-songwriter who specialises in music for children and schools through her company Go Kid Music. Al joins Dale Pickles to show us how you can write songs for your own topics and class to reinforce concepts, behaviours and learn basic skills.
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Story Links with Dr Trisha Waters
10/14/2021
Story Links with Dr Trisha Waters
In this week’s podcast, Dale Pickles from B Squared is joined by Dr Trisha Waters. Trisha is an educational therapist who began her career supporting pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties, after that she led the MA in SEN & Inclusion at the University of Chichester and is now the director of the Centre for Therapeutic Storywriting. Story Links is a parent partnership intervention to support vulnerable pupils at risk of exclusion. It uses therapeutic storywriting to address emotional and behaviour issues and, in particular, supports pupils with attachment difficulties and improves pupils’ reading. It encourages parents’ to think in story metaphor about their child’s emotional concerns and to engage in regular sessions with their child. The needs of pupils with attachment anxiety can be hard to address in the school environment. By engaging parents in this solution-focused intervention that uses stories co-created by pupil and parent, pupils feel more settled and develop their reading skills. Resources: Therapeutic Storywriting: A Practical Guide to Developing Emotional Literacy in Primary Schools by Trisha Waters Research papers: Video: Introducing Therapeutic Storywriting Groups - (video on home page) ‘Therapeutic Storywriting: A Practical Guide to Developing Emotional Literacy in Primary Schools’ by Trisha Waters - Therapeutic Storywriting Research Papers - Contact Trisha: Website: Twitter: Facebook:
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Connecting and Communicating with students with autism with Tessa Morton
10/07/2021
Connecting and Communicating with students with autism with Tessa Morton
In this week’s podcast, Dale Pickles from B Squared is joined by Tessa Morton, one of the founders of Act for Autism, to discuss an approach she uses to help you connect and communicate with your autistic students. Tessa is the passionate mum of an autistic boy, and before founding Act for Autism, she had spent over 15 years supporting autistic kids in her community through drama workshops. Tessa is a trained counsellor, and has been supporting parents of autistic kids, helping them to manage their emotions and anxieties. Resources For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… Contact Tessa Morton: Website: Twitter:
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