Limitless

Unauthorised Absence had an unprecedented amount of interest, with 4 million trailer views even before it launched.

The experience of thousands of families across the UK and beyond has been brought to the screen in this 15-minute short film that shows the reality of what it's like for an autistic 9-year-old who struggles to attend school. Between an expertly written script and some excellent creative decisions throughout casting and filming, Unauthorised Absence is a hard-hitting insight into what causes the persistent absence of so many young people from mainstream education.

In this episode, you can hear from Jo Clayton (scriptwriter) and Natalie Lauren (filmmaker), who brought this film to life. The interview explores how they created the film, what changes they hope to see off the back of its popularity, and advice they would give to people who want to share their own story to make change.

Check out the film here:

• Watch for free on YouTube
• Visit the website to find a local screening
• Follow on Facebook and Instagram

Come say hi

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Education Start-Ups Community: educationstartups.org

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

Laura loved her work as a mainstream school teacher, but after seeing what learning opportunities could be available to young people, she created her online platform, Nellie B's Learning Hive.

In this episode, we chat about what it takes to create a child-centered, interest-led learning platform for home-educating families, the challenges, and what drives Laura to do the work she does.

She has created a space that puts children's interests at the heart of her online learning experience so they can really enjoy it, not just make do.

Come and find out more about Laura and the Learning Hive!

• Nellie B's Learning Hive website
• Nellie B's on Facebook

Come say hi

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

I remember when I first met Daisy and thinking, she's got a lot of energy and I can't help feeling she is going to create something great!

And she has - Cultivate School is currently a small learning community based for young people that follows their interests, allows plenty of time to learn through play, and has a focus on connection and community.

But Daisy doesn't want to stop there. She wants to grow Cultivate into a registered school that does things differently, and show the system that there is another way!

Come on in to listen to Daisy's inspiring story and find out more about Cultivate School using the links below.

Check out more about Cultivate School here:

• ⁠Cultivate School website⁠
• ⁠Cultivate on Facebook⁠
• Cultivate on Instagram
• Cultivate on LinkedIn

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

Finally, I'm so excited to bring my Education Start-Ups business partner to the Limitless Podcast!

Jo Symes is the founder of Progressive Education, a website and Facebook group aimed at providing support and community for those who are looking for alternative education options. As well as being an awesome person, she is now so widely knowledgeable and connected, and together we've built the Education Start-Ups community for those who are running or launching their own education venture!

In this episode, we discuss what people can look out for in terms of other options of schools or education providers their children can attend, and how you can find out more through her Progressive Education work. We also talk about why this is so important and why this is EXACTLY the right time to be seeking or creating alternative schools.

Check out Jo's stuff here:

• Progressive Education website
• Progressive Education Facebook group
• Introduction to Alternatives online course
• Education Start-Ups community membership

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

What if you have more choice than you think about how to educate your kids?

If you've grown up in the traditional education system in the UK or elsewhere in the world, you may feel like there isn't a huge amount of choice available to you other than to pick a different school. We feel like this is a genuine choice because there are so many schools available to us, and don't get me wrong, some schools really do feel different, but many still have the same restrictions - large classes, 50-minute lessons, working towards tests, curriculum focus, and little time to learn in your own way or on your own terms.

But, there are a lot of other alternative options available to us outside of a school building, and in this episode and for the rest of the series, I will be sharing, alongside some of my Education Start-Ups founders, what options are available for you out there.

Check out this episode for an overview of the choices, and then we will dig into more detail in future episodes up until Christmas!

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ || ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

The internet is now full of stories about people finding out more about autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse differences, but this episode is my story on how to advocate for your neurodiverse child in school and in life.

It's very easy as a parent to assume that the education and health systems are working as they should and that the experts will provide everything you need.

Unfortunately, at the moment, this isn't the case. The understanding around neurodiversity is growing, but the knowledge is still sporadic and inconsistent, and the systems to support it have not yet caught up with how to manage the vastly increasing number of young people and adults who are getting assessed and diagnosed.

So, for now, there is one person in your child's life who is in the absolute best place to advocate for them and ensure they are getting what they need - you! In our current society, it is up to parents to push for the right care and education, and this starts with expanding your own knowledge and making sure you are putting your child's needs at the heart.

Have a listen to this episode as I talk through my personal experience and what educational options there are for you if you don't feel like the mainstream education system suits your neurodivergent child.

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ || ⁠Facebook⁠ || ⁠Instagram⁠

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

Are you or your children autistic? Have you struggled to be understood and fit in at school or in life in general?

Chris Bonnello is an autistic speaker, trainer, teacher, author, and all-round advocate for all autistic people and their families. He began life not really fitting in at school, both as a student and then as a teacher, and began to wonder how he could help the children he could see struggling in the classroom, and himself.

In 2015, he launched the Autistic Not Weird network for those who wanted to join an autistic community. He now brings his wealth of personal and professional experience to schools and stages and is a Speaker Award winner for his work.

I love Chris' down-to-earth style, his very individual stories, and his honesty and reflections about his own life and experiences. It was a joy to speak to him about his work, so if you're an autistic person who would love to be more of a campaigner and advocate for other autistic people, come and have a listen!

Find out more about Chris:

• Website: https://chrisbonnello.com
• Autistic Not Weird network: https://autisticnotweird.com
• ⁠Connect with Chris on LinkedIn⁠

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn || Facebook || Instagram

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

Does your child have ADHD or autism and struggle to fit in at school?

Jessie Hewitson is an author, writer for The Times and The Sunday Times, and a neurodivergent mother to two neurodivergent sons.

In this episode, she talks about her experience with understanding her sons' diagnoses, getting diagnosed herself, and the tireless work it takes to find a way through the current education system to get the support required for a child with SEND.

She draws from research and her own personal experiences to discuss the real-life challenges in the current system and suggests ways we might improve it to work for everyone.

Find out more about Jessie:

• Connect with Jessie on LinkedIn
• Buy her books (ADHD: How to Raise a Happy ADHD Child, Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child)
• Read her columns in The Times

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ || ⁠Facebook⁠ || ⁠Instagram

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

Are you interested in home education for your family, or are you already doing it?

I feel like every home education journey has a story behind it. Often a deep and meaningful one, a story with passion or fire or heartbreak or challenge. In most countries, the road to home ed is rarely easy, because it's still not seen as a standard option, parents often know very little about it, there's a lot of stigma still around it, and there is often no funding and not much support from local authorities. Plus, in many countries it's completely illegal.

I would love to see a future where home education is delivered to parents as one (of many) different educational options for their child, with the proper support, financing, and resources available as is offered through mainstream schools.

In this episode, I share my own personal home education story, how I discovered it, and our COVID lockdown trial, before finally taking the leap as my daughter entered secondary school.

I've never looked back!

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ || ⁠Facebook⁠ || ⁠Instagram

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠

Who knew that when you provide great stuff to people, for free, they decide to pay you for it anyway?!

Lara Stafford was a science teacher, and then she started something in lockdown which is still running now - free, livestreamed science lessons for home-educated kids (of which there were a lot in lockdown) through her Facebook group and YouTube channel, Theatre of Science. We all did crazy things in that strange two month period didn't we... and this was Lara's.

Except, she didn't want to stop! So many people seemed to be enjoying her lessons, and so many home educated kids stuck around past the lockdown period, that she wondered if she could ask people for a few pounds to support her work... and that turned into a full-time income.

So, she now still streams free lessons to the internet, that anyone can watch each week (including recordings), but she now makes her living out of the donations from those who appreciate her work.

What a way to change the world, and make sure you can put food on the table!

Check out this episode to hear the full story, to meet the lovely Lara, and to be inspired to do your own thing for free, too.

Meet Lara:

Theatre of Science website: ⁠https://www.theatreofscience.co.uk/⁠

Facebook group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTheatreofScience/⁠

YouTube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/theatreofscience⁠

Come say hi and join the Limitless Community!

Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ || ⁠Facebook⁠ || ⁠Instagram

Mailing list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.limitlesscommunity.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠limitless.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

The episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Walker Audio⁠