SEN Talks

When a child cannot attend school due to severe anxiety, trauma, or complex SEND, the law provides for Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). But securing and sustaining an effective EOTAS package is rarely straightforward.In this episode of SEN Talks, we are joined by Joanna Gibbs, CEO of SENsational Tutors, to explore:The legal framework underpinning EOTAS,Why EOTAS cannot simply be a “parental preference”,The evidential requirements at tribunal,The role of expert reports in shaping provision,Personal budgets vs. local authority-managed funding,The impact of local authority panel decisions,Why relationship-building and trust are central to success,Whether reintegration into school is always realistic.We also examine the wider systemic issues, budget pressures, red tape, and the tension between short-term funding decisions and long-term outcomes.This conversation highlights the human reality behind EOTAS: children who have not left their bedrooms for months, families who have lost trust in the system, and the transformative impact of the right provision at the right time.For professionals and parents alike, this episode offers both legal insight and practical perspective on securing meaningful education when traditional schooling is no longer suitable.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

When a child cannot attend school due to severe anxiety, trauma, or complex SEND, the law provides for Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). But securing and sustaining an effective EOTAS package is rarely straightforward.In this episode of SEN Talks, we are joined by Joanna Gibbs, CEO of SENsational Tutors, to explore:The legal framework underpinning EOTAS,Why EOTAS cannot simply be a “parental preference”,The evidential requirements at tribunal,The role of expert reports in shaping provision,Personal budgets vs. local authority-managed funding,The impact of local authority panel decisions,Why relationship-building and trust are central to success,Whether reintegration into school is always realistic.We also examine the wider systemic issues, budget pressures, red tape, and the tension between short-term funding decisions and long-term outcomes.This conversation highlights the human reality behind EOTAS: children who have not left their bedrooms for months, families who have lost trust in the system, and the transformative impact of the right provision at the right time.For professionals and parents alike, this episode offers both legal insight and practical perspective on securing meaningful education when traditional schooling is no longer suitable.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

Phase transfer is a critical moment in the SEND journey, whether a child is moving from nursery to primary, primary to secondary, or into post-16 education.

In this episode of SEN Talks, our education specialists break down what the 15 February statutory deadline means in practice, what parents should expect from their local authority, and the steps to take if a finalised EHCP is not issued on time.

The discussion covers:

When and how a school must be named in Section I;

Why securing your right of appeal quickly matters;

Tribunal delays and the new triage approach;

Risks around paper hearings and expert availability;

What happens if the deadline is missed — including pre-action protocol letters and judicial review.

With tribunal waiting times increasing year on year, early preparation and clear strategy are more important than ever. This episode provides practical guidance to help parents and professionals navigate phase transfer confidently and proactively.

Credits:

Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/podca....

Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.

Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-thei...

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

The SEND reform agenda has been promised, paused, reshaped and debated, leaving many parents, schools and professionals uncertain about what lies ahead.In this episode of SEN Talks, our specialist education lawyers provide a concise, plain-English update on the current position. Recorded in December 2025, the discussion explores what the Government has said so far, why proposed reforms have been delayed, and how parental engagement and the SEND Review are shaping the conversation.The episode addresses common concerns around EHCPs, inclusion in mainstream education, early intervention, funding pressures and the long-term impact of SEND provision, separating speculation from what is genuinely likely to change.While many questions remain unanswered, this episode offers clarity, reassurance and context for families and professionals navigating an evolving SEND landscape.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/podca.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-thei...Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

Christmas is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but for many children and young people with special educational needs and neurodivergence, it can also be one of the most challenging.

In this Christmas Special episode of SEN Talks, Salise Dourmoush and Adam Friel sit down to reflect on what the festive season really looks like for SEN families. From sensory overload and disrupted routines to school nativities, performances, and festive outings, they explore why Christmas can feel like too much and what can make it more manageable.

Adam shares honest reflections from his lived experience as a parent, comparing last Christmas with this one and discussing how preparation, understanding triggers, and working closely with schools have made a difference. Together, Salise and Adam talk about learning from previous years, adjusting expectations, and recognising that progress does not always mean perfection.

This episode is a gentle reminder that there is no right way to do Christmas and that a calm, regulated child matters far more than traditions, costumes, or appearances.

Whether you are a parent, carer, educator, or professional, this conversation offers reassurance, empathy, and practical insight as we head into the festive season.

🎄 A Christmas episode rooted in realism, compassion, and understanding.

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Credits:

This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP.

Edited by ⁠Dreamlancers⁠.

Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-their-education/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

This episode features Ali Durban, co-founder of Gesher School, who shares the remarkable story of establishing and growing a unique multitherapeutic, faith-based special school that now supports children from primary through to age 16. Ali discusses the early challenges, the move to a larger site, and how Gesher’s innovative project-based curriculum was shaped by global research and community insight .

She also talks about her current work, building employer-ready environments for neurodiverse young people, digitising Gesher’s life-skills curriculum, and leading programmes that help schools embed meaningful inclusion and belonging.

A powerful episode for anyone passionate about SEND education, neurodiversity, or inclusive leadership.

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Credits:

This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP.

Edited by Dreamlancers.

Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-their-education/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram & Facebook.

In this episode of SEN Talks, Salise and Adam are joined by Ali Durban, SEND parent, co-founder of Gesher Special School in Pinner, and a SEND consultant.

Ali shares the personal experience that led her to help create a specialist school for children who were not thriving in mainstream but did not fit existing special school pathways.

They discuss the barriers to setting up provision, why attachment, safety and trust had to be at the centre of the school’s culture, and how integrated therapeutic support helps children feel they belong. The conversation also explores what inclusion really means in practice, why forced inclusion can be harmful, and how wellbeing and friendships can be a foundation for learning.

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This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-their-education/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram & Facebook.

In this episode of SEN Talks, we speak with Dr Mike Hymans, an experienced Educational Psychologist who shares his insight into the diverse ways autism can present in children and young people.

Together we explore the differences in how boys and girls may present, the complexities of masking, and why some children appear fine in school but struggle significantly at home. Dr Hyman also discusses misdiagnosis, the challenges of primary–secondary transition, and the growing issue of autistic children being unable to attend school due to anxiety or demand-avoidant behaviours.

This episode offers practical understanding for parents, carers and professionals supporting autistic young people at all stages of their journey.

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This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-their-education/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram & Facebook.

In this episode of SEN Talks, we welcome Dr Mike Hymans, an educational psychologist with over four decades of experience across local authorities and private practice. Dr Hyman discusses the complexities of ASD diagnosis, why autistic girls often present differently to boys, and how masking can impact children both in school and at home.

He also explores the challenges around primary to secondary transition, the misconceptions around “naughty behaviour” in autistic boys, and the growing number of young people unable to attend school due to anxiety or demand avoidant behaviours. (EBSA)

This insightful conversation is ideal for parents, carers, and professionals supporting autistic children or those awaiting assessment.

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This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-their-education/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram & Facebook.

What should schools do when a child begins questioning their gender?
Education law barrister Alice de Coverley joins us to unpack new government guidance, safeguarding responsibilities, and the balance between rights, privacy, and parental involvement.
🎧 This episode is a must-hear for educators, parents, and SEND professionals.
#SendTalks #EducationLaw #Safeguarding #GenderIdentity

This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-their-education/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram & Facebook.