When supporting children with SEND, parents and practitioners must work collaboratively and compassionately.

In this episode of the SEND Network Podcast, India and Jo speak about how practitioners can best support parents and carers at each point of their journey.

Jo's parent/carer journey:

1. Realisation
2. Information gathering
3. Enquiries
4. Empowered Parents

Jo's 3 main takeaways:

1. There are action taking and non action taking stages of the parent/carer journey and all journeys are different and not necessarily linear.

2. The key to successful collaboration with parents and carers sits within validating experiences and releasing 'professional armour'.

3.  Practitioners should guide parents by always striving for more, even when faced with barriers.

About Jo:

Jo is a specialist pediatric physiotherapist as well as the founder and director of SENStory CIC which is a team of specialises who deliver fun, play based therapy, leisure and learning opportunities in nature. She is determined to re-write the SEND narrative and provide inclusive environments for children to learn and develop.

Links: 

Order Jo's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Equipping-SEN-Children-Life-Neurodiversity-ebook/dp/B0B8CSZHKT
Read Jo's blog here: https://jomcmeechan.com/blog/
Order Jo's online services, including her toolkit builder here: https://jomcmeechan.com/shop-2/

Contact Jo:

Website: https://jomcmeechan.com/
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: (1) Jo McMeechan SENStory CIC (@JoMcSENStory) / Twitter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo_mc_physio/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-mcmeechan/

By having regular, meaningful experiences with language, a child is given the opportunity to make choices, express themselves, and better communicate how they feel.

Reading is an access point to a world of potential and in this episode, Dr Sarah Moseley talks to India about how we can best encourage children to engage with language by creating an inclusive reading framework for all children. 

Sarah's 3 main takeaways from this episode are:

1. We must diversify our understanding of reading to include more ways children can engage with language.

2. Go with the learner: start with what interests them and gradually introduce more reading as their interest and confidence builds.

3. Keep the fun in reading! Make reels, write rap, act out the story, built Lego words - keep the child engaged!

About Sarah:

Sarah is a consultant, trainer and author with over 25 years of experience working in both mainstream and specialist settings, filling roles from a teaching assistant to head teacher.  Sarah has spent nearly 20 years researching special educational needs and has a masters and PhD which focuses on the teaching of reading to all learners.

Her ethos is that every action, no matter how small, can make a difference and she aims to bridge the gap between theory and learning, to create a culture where high expectations thrive, improving outcomes for all pupils.

Her book, 'Teaching reading to all learners, including those with complex needs' is linked below.

Contact Sarah:

Website:  https://www.drsarahmoseley.com/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07740391970
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drsarahmoseley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drsarahmoseley/?locale=en_GB
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sarah-moseley-a7a32646/

Links

Order Sarah's book: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003220046/teaching-reading-learners-including-complex-needs-sarah-moseley
 
Read Sarah's blog: https://www.drsarahmoseley.com/blog

Attend Sarah's webinar 'Empowering Minds' here: Empowering Minds live online | Dr Sarah Moseley Edu

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The SEND Network is an online community for SEND practitioners. Register here free to access hundreds of resources and connect with your peers: SEND Network | An online community for SEND professionals (send-network.co.uk) 

How can educators create a culture of strength based, neuro-affirming practice?

In the final part of our 'supporting neurodivergent children' series with Cheryl Bedding, India and Cheryl discuss the importance of consistency within a setting and throughout the unique journey of each child.

Cheryl's 3 main take aways from this conversation are:

1.  Ensure that there is a whole-team approach, and that all staff are signing from the same hymn sheet when supporting children
2. Understand and consider the needs of children, staff and parents
3. Ensure that there is consistency in your narrative that children are unique, capable and competent learners   



About Cheryl:

Cheryl is an award winning SEND consultant and trainer who has nearly 3 decades of experience working in early years. In her consultancy, Aperion Training, Cheryl practices  a strength based, neuro-affirming approach which serves to create inclusive and inspiring environments.

Links:

Aperion Training: Home | Aperion (aperiontraining.co.uk)
Download Cheryl's FREE environmental audio here: Shop | Aperion (aperiontraining.co.uk)

Contact Cheryl:

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: Cheryl Jean (@cherylBedding) / Twitter
Instagram: Cheryl | Early Years Neurodiversity Trainer & Consultant (@aperion_training) | Instagram
LinkedIn: Cheryl Bedding | LinkedIn  

Vicarious trauma is sometimes referred to as secondary trauma and it is understood to be the emotional residue felt from forming empathic relationships. Working in SEND can mean being exposed to high levels of trauma and in this episode, Dr Asha Patel talks to India about how the cost of caring can be managed.

Asha's main takeaways from this episode are...

1.  No one is immune to vicarious trauma
2. It is a bodily based response so we should not ignore physical signs of vicarious trauma
3. Settings can embed practices within the school to minimise the impact it has on staff

About Asha:

Asha is a clinical psychologist, with over 15 years experience working in clinical settings. She is also the founder and director of Innovating Minds which is an award winning social enterprise providing  support for children and young people with mental health needs to access specialist psychological support so they can engage in education, training or employment opportunities. Innovating minds offer a world where children and young people are educated in trauma-informed mentally healthy environments, where emotional and mental health needs are supported at the earliest point possible.

Links:

Innovating Minds: Innovating Minds | Home (innovatingmindscic.com)
Watch Asha's Tes SEND Show talk here: Supporting the emotional and mental health of the education workforce | SEND Network (send-network.co.uk) (available to premium members)

Continue the discussion in the Podcast Room on the SEND Network: Podcasts | SEND Network (send-network.co.uk)

Contact Asha Patel:

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: Innovating Minds (@InnovatingM) / Twitter & Dr Asha Patel (@LeenaAsha) / Twitter
Instagram: Innovating Minds CIC (@innovatingmindscic) • Instagram photos and videos 
LinkedIn:  Dr Asha Patel I CEO, Founder, Clinical Psychologist | LinkedIn   & Innovating Minds: Overview | LinkedIn

The SEND Network:
 
New to the network? Register here for free access to hundreds of resources: SEND Network | An online community for SEND professionals (send-network.co.uk)
 




 

In Part 2 of our conversation with Cheryl Bedding, discussing 'The 3Cs of supporting neurodivergent children', we are discussing the importance of consideration.

Cheryl speak to India about what we need to consider when creating inclusive and supportive spaces. This includes the look and feel of environments, the creation of visual routines, the power of our language and the importance of celebrating all wins, however big or small.

Cheryl's 3 main takeaways from this conversation are:
 
1. Audit your environment from a neurodivergent perspective
2. Consider where children are on their journey, remembering that all children are unique and that no two journeys are the same
3. Be the advocate for families by supporting the whole family to thrive

About Cheryl:

Cheryl is an award winning SEND consultant and trainer who has nearly 3 decades of experience working in early years. In her consultancy, Aperion Training, Cheryl practices  a strength based, neuro-affirming approach which serves to create inclusive and inspiring environments.

Links:

Aperion Training: Home | Aperion (aperiontraining.co.uk)
Download Cheryl's FREE environmental audio here: Shop | Aperion (aperiontraining.co.uk)


Contact Cheryl:

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: Cheryl Jean (@cherylBedding) / Twitter
Instagram: Cheryl | Early Years Neurodiversity Trainer & Consultant (@aperion_training) | Instagram
LinkedIn: Cheryl Bedding | LinkedIn

The SEND Network

For more information and resources, access the Podcast Discussion Room here: Podcasts | SEND Network (send-network.co.uk)

New to the network? Register here to join the community: SEND Network | An online community for SEND professionals (send-network.co.uk) 

Everything starts with making a connection and in part one of The SEND Network's series on supporting neurodivergent children with Cheryl Bedding, India and Cheryl discuss how practitioners can make these foundational connections to best support children in their care. The episode focuses on: 

1. Getting to know a child and not a diagnosis 

2. Creating a supportive team culture  

3. Meeting a child where they are and not where you want them to be

 
About Cheryl

Cheryl is an award winning trainer and consultant, providing support for SEND professionals to create inclusive and inspiring environments. She has worked in the early years sector for nearly three decades before establishing her own consultancy, Aperion Training.

Links:

Read Cheryl's blog here: Blog | Aperion (aperiontraining.co.uk)
Access Cheryl's website here: Home | Aperion (aperiontraining.co.uk)

Contact Cheryl:

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: Cheryl Jean (@cherylBedding) / Twitter
Instagram: Cheryl | Early Years Neurodiversity Trainer & Consultant (@aperion_training) | Instagram
LinkedIn: Cheryl Bedding | LinkedIn

The SEND Network

For more information and resources, access the Podcast Discussion Room here: Podcasts | SEND Network (send-network.co.uk)

New to the network? Register here to join the community: SEND Network | An online community for SEND professionals (send-network.co.uk) 
 

In this debut episode, Gary and India discuss three practical ways that SENDCOs can increase their whole school impact. These include:

1. Measuring impact and prioritising impactful tasks

2.  Supporting the leadership of others 
 

3. Developing effective SEND systems. 

About Gary Aubin

Gary is the head of SEND for a Multi Academy Trust, and has worked as a SENDCO in both primary and secondary settings. He is also a content specialist for the Education Endowment Foundation and is the author of the Lone SENDCO and the SEND Matters Blog.

Gary's consultancy work has also seen him work with Whole Education, the Church of England’s Foundation for Educational Leadership and with the National Institute of Teaching.

He is currently busy co-writing his second book with Jessica Kingsley Publishers, aimed at supporting parents of children with SEND.

Links:

Read the SEND Matters Blog here: Blog – SEND Matters

Order the Lone SENDCO here: The Lone SENDCO: Questions and answers for the busy SENDCO : Gary Aubin: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Contact Gary:

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: Gary Aubin (@SENDMattersUK) / Twitter
LinkedIn: Gary Aubin | LinkedIn

The SEND Network

For more information and resources, access the  Podcast Discussion Room here: https://send-network.co.uk/rooms/the-send-network-podcast

New to the network? Register here: SEND Network | An online community for SEND professionals (send-network.co.uk)