In this episode, Polly is joined by Beccie Hawes, CEO of Cadmus Inclusive and specialist SEN advisory teacher, to explore one of the most overlooked barriers to learning: working memory. Beccie shares insights from her new book on demystifying executive functioning and explains why assumptions about these skills can leave some learners struggling.

From identifying subtle classroom indicators to implementing simple but powerful “teaching tweaks,” Beccie offers practical strategies that lighten cognitive load and help every child thrive. Discover how routines, visuals and adaptive approaches can transform learning experiences - not just for pupils with working memory challenges, but for all learners.

Beccie's new book "Demystifying Executive Functioning: A Practical Classroom Guide and Toolkit" is available now, published by Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Find out more about Recall, our working memory assessment: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/Recall2026

If you’d like to get in touch, please email us at: [email protected]