In this special episode, Natalie Hay discusses her recognition as a highly commended change maker for her advocacy in changing the UK government's free school meals policy. Over three years, she raised £8,000 for her campaign, which aimed to make the policy inclusive for children receiving education other than at school (EOTAS), aligning with the Equality Act 2010.

Natalie shares her personal journey as a parent carer for her son, who suffers from chronic fatigue and Lyme disease. She highlights the struggles faced by many families, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns when disparities in support for disabled children became evident.

The conversation covers Natalie’s journey from the creation of a Facebook group that grew to 4,500 members, to engaging with legal experts. Which led to ultimately initiating a legal challenge that pressured the government to revise its policies.

The episode emphasises the emotional and logistical challenges parents face while advocating for their children's rights and the importance of community support. Natalie also shares a poem reflecting the struggles of parent carers and the need for empathy and understanding from educational institutions.

[email protected]

Parent Carer group: TIGERS

(The Inclusion Group: Education, Rights & Support)

nasen website

nasen events and CPD

nasen live conference 

nasen Awards 2025

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Many schools face challenges in demonstrating progress for pupils with SEND, and I know assessment can often feel a bit mundane. However, it’s a crucial aspect of our educational practice, especially as it will remain a key element of Ofsted requirements for the foreseeable.

In our latest episode, I’m joined by Jordan, an experienced special needs teacher who works in a specialist provision attached to a mainstream school. With 15 years of experience using our assessment software, Connecting Steps by B Squared, Jordan shares her insights on what effective assessment looks like in the classroom and its impact on staff, pupils, and parents alike.

Jordan highlights the importance of showing the small steps of progress for pupils and the need to adapt assessments to fit individual learners, understanding each child's unique context and experiences.

Listen to hear practical tips on how to effectively assess in your classroom:

“Assessment is literally embedded and interwoven into every single decision I make in my classroom.”

Jordan

Jordan is an experienced Specialist Education Teacher in the UK. She shares daily ideas, support and resources to support supporting adults of non-speaking children with SEN. 

https://sensoryclassroom.org/

https://www.facebook.com/share/z4JM3rfbXWsuw2Kb/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://www.instagram.com/sensoryclass

https://www.tiktok.com/@sensoryclass

Sensory Curriculum

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Happy New Year! As we prepare for a new term, I wanted to share the first episode of 2025 with you.

In this episode ‘Sensory Uncertainty’, my guests Clare Ward and Dr. Jamie Galpin, Speech and Language Therapist and Developmental Psychologist respectively, provide invaluable insights. They discuss their new book, My Senses Are Like Cups, which uses a compelling metaphor to help listeners understand how sensory experiences impact emotions and behaviour.

This engaging metaphor illustrates how our sensory experiences - everything we see, hear, feel, smell, touch, and taste - can be understood as water filling or emptying cups of various sizes.

Clare and Jamie emphasise the importance of recognising our internal body sensations (interoceptive sense) and how this awareness can significantly ease school-based anxiety for young people. They also introduce their 3S framework, with sensory uncertainty at its core, highlighting how our senses shape our experiences in the world.

Listen now to gain a deeper understanding of how we can support ourselves and those around us in recognising and managing sensory uncertainty.

Clare Ward has been working in the world of SEN for the last 30 years as a teaching assistant, Speech and Language Therapist, specialist social worker, researcher, NHS manager, education advisor and CBT Practitioner.  She specialises in working with young people with social communication difficulties, some of whom have a diagnosis of autism. 

Jamie is a chartered developmental psychologist with over 20 years of experience in inclusion, psychology, innovation, and learning. He builds frameworks around which practice can sit, bringing coherence and connecting disparate or fractured notions and concepts. as a founding member of special networks, Jamie challenges traditional hierarchies of evidence and co-creates solutions for social inequalities as well as addressing universal needs. 

Clare and Jamie met when they both started working for the same inner London multidisciplinary outreach team  – supporting teachers and young people with a diagnosis of autism.  

Clare and Jamie released a new book 'My senses are like cups: What to do when everything feels too much or not enough' in summer 2024. Think about our senses being like cups and everything we see, hear, feel, smell, touch, and taste as we move about is like water going into our cups. Some of our cups might be big and some might be small. Whether big or small, we like it best when our cup is filled enough so that it's just right for us! We are all different. We need just the right amount of information to feel good! Help your child aged 7+ think about, explore and develop ways to manage sensory overload and feeling under stimulated with quirky cartoons that visually illustrate the approach. Sections on each of the eight senses (including your internal 'body signals' like hunger) feature noticing and knowledge-building activities to help kids get their own, unique, senses cups feeling 'just right' for them. Get going on some sensory experiments!

www.specialnetworks.co.uk

[email protected]

https://x.com/UniversalSuppo3

My Senses Are Like Cups 

The Anxiety Workbook for Supporting Teens Who Learn Differently

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Before announcing the final episode of 2024, I just wanted to say a big heartfelt thank you to you, our wonderful listeners! It has been another remarkable year with 51 episodes recorded, 19 new guest speakers, 100,000 downloads and a nasen award to celebrate our achievements. Thank you for being part of this journey!

This week, we dive into the concept of relational practice - a powerful approach that emphasises treating others as we wish to be treated, fostering equality, and mutual respect. I'm thrilled to welcome two new guests to the podcast: Beth Elkins, Headteacher, and Ian Thorsteinsson, Executive Principal of Gretton School.

In this episode, ‘The power of relational practice in an autism setting’, Beth and Ian discuss how changing the culture of a school can support the reduction of behaviours of concern and create a thriving learning environment. They share insights on the essence of relational practice and discuss the implementation.

Key takeaways include:

• The significance of shifting away from traditional hierarchical models in education.
• Strategies for creating a supportive environment that encourages intrinsic motivation.
• Insights on managing behaviour through understanding rather than punishment.

Accommodations for autism are not always clear for professionals, listen to this episode to hear how relational practice allows connection, communication and change in the most powerful of ways.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a well-deserved break! I look forward to returning in the New Year with an exciting lineup of guest speakers and more great content.

Beth Elkins has worked in SEN for more than 25 years with a breadth of experience of working with learners with unique learning profiles and a need for education to be different. A parent of a young man with PDA, Beth’s passion for specialist education runs through both her personal and professional life, with the aim of making a positive difference in the lives of as many young people as possible. 

Ian Thorsteinsson joined the Cavendish Group in August 2018.  He has a long senior management history in specialist education, particularly in autism schools and services. He has even opened a school for autism in Saudi Arabia. He is passionate about delivering a strong, effective and well resourced provision, which is planned individually, to ensure the best short- through to long-term outcomes.

grettonschool.com

[email protected]

http://Facebook.com/@grettonschool

http://instagram.com/@grettonschool

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Tigger Pritchard, a neuroaffirming advocate, consultant, and trainer joins Dale in today’s episode to discuss ‘Why do so many professionals believe they are right?’. The discussion delves into why many professionals hold rigid beliefs about autism and the implications this has on neurodivergent individuals and their families.

Tigger emphasises that while many professionals are well-intentioned, a significant number are stuck using outdated training from decades ago. This can lead to harmful assumptions and practices that negatively impact the lives of autistic individuals.

In their discussion, Tigger highlights how families often feel dismissed or invalidated by professionals who are unwilling to consider new perspectives and the emotional toll this can take on both parents and children.

Listen to Tigger’s advice on why we need to listen and learn from each other, with professionals engaging with the autistic community to gain authentic insights and improve practices.

My name is Tigger Pritchard, awesomely Neurodivergent and passionate about reducing anxiety for all. To help all Neurotypes understand each other, to bridge the Neurodivide. 

Self-Identifying Neurospicy, working with individuals, families, education, cooperate organisations across the UK! Face to face and by Zoom.  

www.tiggerpritchard.com

[email protected]

facebook.com/Neuroaffirming

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Two days ago, we celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Dale recently had the pleasure of recording a podcast with Chloe Plummer, she shared her insights on living with cerebral palsy and the ‘Assumptions around physical disabilities’.

In our conversation, Chloe explains what cerebral palsy is and shares her personal experiences navigating daily life. She addresses common misconceptions about physical disabilities and emphasises the importance of open dialogue and self-advocacy.

Chloe uses a walking frame, she discusses how this impacts her social interactions and encourages listeners to engage with individuals with disabilities without preconceived perceptions.

“You should always assume someone can until they disclose otherwise, or ask for help”

Chloe Plummer

Listen to gain an insight into living with a physical disability and adopting a more inclusive mindset.

Chloe Plummer is the Events and Programme Coordinator (South) at MOVE Europe and is responsible for supporting both new and existing schools in the South of the country on their MOVE journey.  

Chloe has a background working with various disability organisations both locally and nationally over the last 8 years. As a result of her own lived experience of physical disability Chloe has a real passion for improving outcomes for all disabled people and also has first hand experience of the importance of providing movement opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities ensuring they are able to live fulfilled and independent lives. Chloe combines her experience and passion in her role at MOVE and is excited to be speaking on the SEND Cast! 

MOVE Europe are a small charity working with over 160 special schools in the UK, enabling children with physical disabilities and complex needs to gain independent movement skills through the MOVE Programme.  

Our vision is for every disabled young person to have choice and opportunities by learning independent movement. We work towards this by training education and therapy professionals in the MOVE Programme and providing ongoing support so that they can achieve the best outcomes possible for the disabled young people they support. 

www.moveeurope.org.uk 

[email protected] 

http://x.com/@MOVEprogramme

https://x.com/Chloe_Plummer_

http://facebook.com/@MOVEprogramme

https://www.instagram.com/chloe_plummer_95/

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/chloeplummer

Chloe's blog

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

The results of a recent study on the widely used Zones of Regulation have come as quite a shock to many in education. Despite its widespread use, the evidence does not seem to support the use of Zones of Regulation, especially with students with SEND.

In today’s episode we dive into the implications of this new research with Kerry Thalia discussing ‘Emotional Regulation Resources for SEND.’ Emotional regulation is a critical aspect of working with children and young people, significantly impacting their ability to access other areas of education. However, the literature review by Mason et al. in 2023 raises important questions about the use of Zones of Regulation with SEND students.

One of the key concerns is the use of colours to label and categorise emotions and states. In the SEND context, colours often have different meanings in various areas, which can be confusing for the child or young person.

Additionally, the Zones of Regulation approach does not seem to provide adequate support for the adults working with these students. In contrast, research from CASEL (The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), suggests that supporting the adults can have positive effects on the students as well.

Understanding our own emotions and emotional states can be challenging as adults. Expecting children, especially those with SEND, to identify and regulate their emotions using a colour-coded system may not be the most effective approach. Join us for this thought-provoking discussion!

Kerry is an Autistic ADHD business owner who works to close the gap between research and practical teaching in classrooms by creating resources that support SEND children and young people access learning, communication and play. She has experience working in specialist and mainstream schools as well as directly with families.

discoverinclusion.co.uk/

[email protected]

http://x.com/@DiscoverIncl

Bumper Book of Creative Learning

Access to Academic Learning Conference (October 2024)

Discover Inclusion Training

Zones of Regulation 

Mason et al study 

CASEL guide on schoolwide SEL 

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

SENCOs have a notoriously busy role spinning many plates. Ginny Bootman, a SENCO working across four schools, joins Dale in this episode ‘Time saving tips for SENCOs’ to provide insights on how to work smarter, not harder.

“We want to actually be with the children, so by saving time in other ways, we get to spend more time with them, which is what it's all about.”

Ginny Bootman

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

• Maximising efficiency: Ginny’s experience of going paperless, which allows her to access vital information anytime, anywhere - essential for managing multiple schools.
• Tech tips: The benefits of using dual monitors for increased productivity, and how organising your digital files can save you time in the long run.
• Email management: Strategies for keeping your inbox organised with rules and folders, as well as the importance of using unread and flagged email search folders.
• Note-taking techniques: How live notetaking in meetings can enhance transparency and streamline your workflow.

Whether you're a seasoned SENCO or just starting in the role, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you reclaim your time and enhance your effectiveness.

I have been a teacher longer than I haven't, as a Headteacher, Senior Manager and Class Teacher  and now as a SENCO of 2 Primary schools in Northamptonshire. My passion lies within all things concerned with empathy and the role which empathy plays in ensuring that all of those in school settings feel valued and listened to. I am an Associate of Undiscovered Country a team who help individuals manage change. 

www.ginnybootman.com 

[email protected]

https://x.com/sencogirl

Ginny joined Dale live in our studio to present 2 CPD training sessions:

1. Making meetings work: for children; parents; SENCOs and schools 2. How SENCOs working across more than 1 school can benefit: children; parents; schools and SENCOs

Register your place now for just £10 per session which can be shared with your whole school.

Ginny's Book - Independent Thinking on Being a SENDCO: 113 tips for building relationships, saving time and changing lives

https://amzn.eu/d/b373B4P

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

**Please note this podcast covers sensitive topics, including suicide, and carries a trigger warning.**

Psychosis, hallucinating, depression, mania…..did you know these are all symptoms of bipolar disorder? Living with this condition can be terrifying, not just for those who experience it, but also for their family and friends.

Catrina Lowri joins Dale today for a candid discussion on her journey with bipolar ‘I’m bipolar, but don’t call me crazy’. Catrina starts by explaining what bipolar is and the profound impact it has had throughout her life, from her studies and career to her experiences with fertility treatment. The conversation delves into the complexities of medication management. Catrina outlines her struggles with various medications, highlighting the importance of finding the right treatment plan while managing side effects and the impact on daily life.

“I don't want to not be bipolar; I just don't want it to scare the living daylights out of me.”

Catrina Lowri

Don’t miss this insightful episode that sheds light on the realities of living with bipolar. 

Catrina is a neurodivergent former SENCO and Advisory Teacher with a dual diagnosis of bipolar and dyslexia. She created her company; Neuroteachers to support schools and businesses with simple solutions to improve Neuro-inclusion. 

www.neuroteachers.com

[email protected]

@neuroteachers

Neurodivergent Teachers Network:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001669034065988

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

The current Ofsted inspection frameworks acknowledge the vital responsibility educational leaders have for the wellbeing of their staff. However, anecdotal evidence from SENCOs in schools and settings suggests they are at particular risk of poor mental health, and that increasing workload over the pandemic has exacerbated this.

Angela Scott, Regional Lead for SEND, joins Dale again to discuss ‘Reflections on how to promote positive mental health for SENCOs’. Angela tells us that gaining an awareness of the risks and protective factors linked to the role of SENCO is necessary to ensure stability and job-satisfaction within this important workforce. Angela discusses:

• What is mental health? International and national research.
• Mental health in times of crisis; for example, during a pandemic: current research.
• Mental health risks and protective factors for SENCOs
• Strategies for promoting positive mental health for SENCOs.

Listen in for a deeper understanding of mental health and to discover practical strategies that can empower SENCOs to fulfil their leadership roles in SEND while protecting their own mental well-being.

Angela Scott is the Regional Lead for SEND for the Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) and is programme lead for the National Award for SEN Coordination, Advanced SENCO and SENCOs as Leaders Awards. She is steering the development of the SLCN and SEMH level 4 qualifications and is author of the transformative audit and planning tool known as aptGO; designed to help schools work within Ofsted judgements Good and Outstanding. She is a member of a number of national working groups for SEND and has created and delivered the professional development programme for the introduction of SENCOs into Hong Kong primary and secondary schools.  

www.easternpartnership.co.uk

www.regionalsendforum.co.uk

[email protected] 

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk 
• Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast 
• Email Dale – [email protected] 
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.