The SEND Network Podcast

SENCOs and school leaders are under increasing pressure, but could developing the skills of existing staff help ease the workload and improve support for pupils with SEND?

In this episode of the SEND Network Podcast, host Georgie Green speaks with Dr Andy Hogg about how specialist apprenticeships can help schools build stronger, more confident teams.

Drawing on over 30 years of experience in education, Andy explores the challenges facing SENCOs, the importance of investing in teaching assistants, and how schools can access funding to develop their workforce. Whether you're a SENCO, teaching assistant, school leader or education professional looking to progress your career, this conversation offers practical insights into developing SEND expertise within schools. 

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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How can we better support the wellbeing of education professionals working in increasingly demanding environments?

In this episode of the SEND Network Podcast, recorded live at the Tes SEND Show, host Georgie Green speaks with Ella Savell-Boss, Safeguarding Consultant, Trainer and Speaker, about the growing pressures facing education staff and why protecting their wellbeing is essential to supporting children and young people.

Drawing on her experience in safeguarding and education, Ella shares practical advice on setting healthy boundaries, recognising the signs of emotional burnout and creating supportive workplace cultures. Ella reminds us that looking after ourselves isn't selfish – it's essential if we're to continue supporting others effectively. Subscribe to the SEND Network Podcast for more conversations with experts, educators and professionals working across the SEND sector

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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Every child has different sensory needs, but are we doing enough to understand them?

Recorded live at the Tes SEND Show, Georgie Green is joined by Hannah Jewell, occupational therapist and founder of OT by the Sea, to explore the importance of personalised sensory support for autistic and neurodivergent children.

Hannah shares her personal journey into occupational therapy, inspired by her experiences supporting her own autistic children. After spending £7,000 on private assessments and reports to help secure their EHCPs, she's now determined to make occupational therapy more accessible to families who need it.

Together, they discuss the challenges families face accessing SEND support, why a one-size-fits-all approach to sensory provision doesn't work, and Hannah's ambition to establish the OT by the Sea Foundation, offering free occupational therapy assessments and support.

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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What if the way a child plays isn't something that needs correcting, but something we should be celebrating?

Recorded live at the Tes SEND Show in London, Georgie Green is joined by autistic teacher and SEND consultant Simon Airey to explore the importance of understanding, supporting and embracing neurodivergent play.

Drawing on his own lived experience and his work in the classroom, Simon explains why neurodivergent children may engage with play differently, from repetitive movements and arranging objects to following particular interests and routines.

They also discuss the challenges of waiting for an autism or ADHD diagnosis, why small changes to a child's environment can make a big difference, and the importance of recognising play as a form of regulation, enjoyment and self-expression.

Simon also shares how embracing his own interests and routines helps him decompress after a busy day of teaching.

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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At just 16 years old, Courtney Pemble is challenging the education system and giving a voice to young people who feel unheard.

Recorded live at Tes SEND, Courtney joins host Georgie Green on the SEND Network Podcast to share her personal experiences of growing up with undiagnosed autism and ADHD, struggling with emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), and ultimately leaving mainstream education after her needs went unmet.

Despite missing out on her GCSEs, Courtney has gone on to launch her campaign, Fix the System, Not the Student, inspiring young people to speak out about their experiences. More than 2,500 young people have already shared their stories with her.

In this powerful conversation, Courtney discusses the impact of masking her struggles at school, why listening to young people is so important, and how she's creating her own path to success through campaigning, boxing coaching and public speaking.

Her message is simple: there's more than one path to success, and every young person deserves to be heard.

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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What happens when a child or young person simply cannot attend school, and absence starts to become a legal issue?

In this episode of The SEND Network Podcast, Georgie Green is joined by Emma Tennant, founder of The SEND Law Company, to explore the complex relationship between SEND, school attendance, parental responsibility and the law.

Drawing on her experience as both a SEND parent and a legally trained professional specialising in attendance law, Emma discusses what can happen when a child is unable to attend school because their needs are not being met, and why families can sometimes find themselves facing penalty notices or even prosecution.

Georgie and Emma discuss Section 19 alternative provision, EHCPs, PACE interviews, attendance fines and tribunals, as well as the importance of understanding what may be happening behind a child's absence.

They also explore the role of schools and local authorities, masking and burnout, the difficulties teachers face when a child's needs aren't visible in the classroom, and what better support could look like for children who struggle within mainstream education.

Watch the filmed version on our channel - https://www.youtube.com/@SENDNetwork

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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How can teachers and practitioners identify speech, language and communication needs that aren’t immediately obvious?

In this episode of the SEND Network Podcast, Georgie Green is joined by Kate Freeman from Speech & Language Link to explore how schools and early years settings can recognise communication difficulties, support children through transitions and create classrooms where asking for help feels safe.

Kate discusses why difficulties with understanding can often be harder to spot than speech or expressive language needs, the importance of effective screening and early intervention, and how children can sometimes rely on context, routines and other people to mask gaps in their understanding.

They also explore preparing children for new classrooms and schools, giving pupils more confidence to explain when they don’t understand, supporting speech and language development at home, and finding a healthy balance around screens and face-to-face interaction. 

Find out more about Speech & Language Link 👉 https://speechandlanguage.link/ Speech &
Language Link on SEND Net 👉 https://send-network.co.uk/users/speech-language-link/content

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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In this episode of the SEND Network podcast, Georgie Green welcomes back Dr Tej Samani from MyPerformanceLearning to explore the role that sport, movement and healthy competition can play in children and young people’s development.

Drawing on his experience as a former professional tennis player and a student who struggled within traditional education, Dr Tej explains how being coached helped him approach learning differently. Rather than seeing academic difficulties as personal failures, he learned to view them as individual skills that could be practised, developed and improved.

They also consider what schools can learn from sports coaching, why subjects such as sport, music and the arts deserve a greater place in education, and how movement can offer young people a valuable alternative to social media and excessive screen time during the summer holidays.

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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Writer and comedian Katie Mulgrew joins host Georgie Green to discuss parenting her autistic and ADHD son, Jim, and the journey towards better understanding his needs.

Katie recently explored this experience in her Guardian article, “I was struggling to understand my autistic son – until we watched an episode of Doctor Who.” She explains how he recognised his own energy, emotions and “fizziness” in David Tennant’s portrayal of the Doctor, giving them a new way to talk about how he was feeling.

Katie also reflects on diagnosis, masking, emotional regulation, school attendance and the importance of children feeling safe and understood. The conversation explores the transformative role of television, comedy, music and the arts in helping neurodivergent young people express themselves, find community and see new possibilities.

Discover more expert insights, practical resources and conversations from across the SEND community on the SEND Network at https://send-network.co.uk/

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Practical strategies for creating sensory-inclusive classrooms and supporting communication, regulation and independence.

In this episode of the SEND Network Podcast, pda dad is joined by Olly Elm-Robinson, Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, and Dionne Nmai, Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist from Seashell Trust.

Together, they explore the growing importance of sensory processing and sensory inclusion within education, discussing how sensory differences can affect communication, behaviour, attention, learning and emotional regulation. Drawing on their experience working with children and young people with complex needs, they explain why understanding the reasons behind behaviour is often the key to providing effective support.

The conversation covers practical adaptations that can be made in both specialist and mainstream settings, including classroom environments, movement breaks, self-advocacy tools, sensory-friendly learning spaces and approaches to school uniforms. Olly and Dionne also share examples of simple strategies that can benefit entire classrooms while still meeting individual needs.

Special thanks to pda dad for producing and editing this episode.

🎧 Available to listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch the full episode now on the SEND Network at send-network.co.uk

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