In this episode, Leslee shares with Sophie, her frustrations with slow-moving education reform, the lack of focus on children’s holistic and emotional development, and the undervaluing of the early years profession.

They also explore her transformative Think Equal programme — a global initiative launched in 2016 that’s already reaching over 582,000 children across the world, with an ambitious mission to bring social and emotional learning to every corner of the planet.

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

Learn more about Think Equal and Leslee Udwin

https://thinkequal.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesleeudwin/

Learn more about Mindfulness for learning and Sophie Smith-Tong

https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-smith-tong-7b3891207/

Buy Sophie's debut book published by Routledge

Teacher Autonomy. Where Has It Gone And Why We Need It Back

https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/teacherautonomybook

The final episode of our Autonomy Mini-Series! Sophie is joined by the incredible Greg Bottrill.

This is a conversation that goes beyond the usual — they dive straight into the heart of educational change. From questioning things like pen licenses and rigid seating rules to exploring the power of play, true autonomy, and something even more profound - reconnecting with the educator’s inner child.

Because finding true autonomy in teaching often begins with rediscovering that sense of wonder we once had, peeling back the layers of expectation, and letting our authentic selves guide our practice.

And here’s something special - Greg has written the foreword for Sophie's upcoming book, Teacher Autonomy. His insights here are nothing short of transformative, and this episode might just change the way you see education.

Discover Greg - https://www.canigoandplaynow.com/

Learn more about Mindfulness for learning - Mindfulnessforlearning.com

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

In this episode, Sophie is diving into child autonomy with an approach that Headteacher, Tina Farr says is not "progressive or maverick".

We’re talking practical changes that put children at the heart of learning - like flexible seating options, OPAL play, and true curriculum freedom.

Sophie and Tina explore how these ideas work in school, the challenges of balancing them with accountability, and why letting go of total control can make these changes actually doable.

Get ready for an exciting, idea-packed conversation that could transform your practice.

Connect with Tina Farr and St Ebbes.

Learn more about Mindfulness for learning - Mindfulnessforlearning.com

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

In this episode, Sophie is joined by Laura Henry-Allain MBE - an international award-winning early education specialist, writer, and children's media creator.

Laura is the brilliant mind behind the much-loved JoJo and Gran Gran on CBeebies, where she works as creator and associate producer. She’s also the Vice-President of The British Association for Early Childhood Education and works as a consultant across major brands in children’s media, television, and publishing - championing inclusion, racial equality, and diversity.

In this conversation, Laura shares her inspiring journey from a school-leaver with no qualifications to a powerful voice in education and media. We dive into the realities of navigating the current education system, the vital importance of play, especially outdoor play, and her insights into the ongoing SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) crisis. Plus, she gives us a glimpse into her exciting upcoming projects.

Laura asked us to share that she experiences verbal dyslexia, which may shape how she communicates in parts of the conversation. We're grateful for her openness and insight.

In this episode, Sophie is joined by the talented restaurant critic, writer, and Good Food Guide columnist, Jimi Famurewa.

Jimi and Sophie share a unique connection, having both attended the same secondary school in the suburbs, and together they dive into their experiences.

The conversation delves into a powerful topic from Jimi's book Settlers, where he addresses the pressures Black African families face to perform academically and how systemic biases and structural barriers can impact a child's sense of autonomy.

Additionally, Jimi introduces his new book Picky , a deep exploration of identity and eating.

Discover Jimi Famurewa - https://www.jimifamurewa.com/

Find Jimi on Instagram - instagram.com/jimfamished

Find our more about us at Mindfulness for learning - https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

In this episode, we’re joined by inspiring guest—Headteacher Annabelle Kapoor, who shares her insights on what it truly means to run a school in today’s ever-evolving educational landscape.

From funding pressures to policy shifts, the role of a school leader has never been more complex. But amidst the challenges, Annabelle champions something powerful: autonomy.

Learn more about us at Mfl HQ: www.mindfulnessforlearning.com

Find Annabelle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabellekapoor/

Instagram: @draytonparksch and @annabellekapoorcoachingWebsite: www.annabellekapoorcoaching.com

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

In this episode Kamalagita and Sophie explore Kamalagita's book 'The Mindful Teacher's Handbook'.

They chat about the changing landscape of mindfulness and the power of mindfulness to manage some of the larger challenges in education including the SEND crisis.

https://www.crownhouse.co.uk/the-mindful-teachers-handbook

- Breathworks - www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk

- MYRIAD project - https://myriadproject.org/

- Women's Hour - Is the SEND system working for children with special educational needs and disabilities? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0022ss7

Mindfulnessforlearning.com

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

In this episode Sophie and Adrian introduce and explore autonomy in education. They discuss why autonomy is vital for wellbeing, the challenges we face with autonomy in the current system and speak about ways we might approach change. 

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett

Kate Parish is a qualified primary school teacher, mindfulness and neuro-linguistic practitioner as well as an emotional freedom technique practitioner, trained in understanding mental health, understanding autism, challenging behaviour, life coaching and is a growth mindset advocate with over 20 years’ experience working within the education and training sector.

In this episode Kate and Sophie talk about The Mind Gig (https://www.themindgig.com/ ), how it came to be and explore how their courses are effectively supporting children in primary education. 

Find out more about Kate Parish and The Mind Gig:

https://www.themindgig.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-parish-0404a8256/

Find out more about us:

https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett

Bounce Together is “A game-changing digital platform for measuring and continually monitoring wellbeing and mental health in your school.”

In todays educational landscape we are challenged by the increasing mental health crisis with wellbeing becoming more and more focused on.

In this episode Sophie speaks to Katie O'Brien, Head Of Marketing and Communication at Bounce Together who explains why it's vital to find surveys that fit the unique needs of different schools or communities and who can interpret the data and explore  trends or patterns.

Mindfulness for learning (https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/)

Bounce Together

( https://www.bouncetogether.co.uk/)

This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.