Puberty is a topic that is rarely discussed and when taught at school the feelings and emotions are often not explained in detail. It can be seen as an embarrassing subject for both parents/carers and young people, therefore conversations can be avoided and when young people start puberty they can feel unprepared. Puberty brings a lot of physical changes, especially for girls, including body growth and menstruation.  

Victoria Ellen joins Dale today for ‘Girls on the Spectrum: Autistic experiences of Puberty’ which is an open discussion on the experience of puberty for girls with autism, covering:

• Sensory issues
• Overwhelming choice of products
• Conforming
• Giving young people space at home

Victoria highlights not only the physical aspects of puberty, but also navigating emotional and social development. Listen to understand an autistic girl’s experience of puberty and the impact it has on all aspects of everyday life, especially at school.

Victoria Ellen is a late diagnosed Autistic adult. She is an online content creator who shares her experiences of Autism via cute aesthetically pleasant graphics and striking captions.

She is an Autistic researcher and public speaker, who uses her knowledge of research and her own personal experiences to educate and inform others, as well as providing resources and advice.

Website - Actuallyaspling.wordpress.com

Twitter - @actuallyaspling

Instagram - @actuallyaspling

Facebook - Facebook.com/actuallyaspling

https://personal-eyes-education.com/swrnir

https://www.robynsteward.com/the-autism-friendly-guide-to-periods

https://wuka.co.uk/

• 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

Schools are notoriously difficult environments for children with autism to function in, let alone thrive in. We need to support them with understanding, and effective impactful tools to help them to navigate the challenges that they experience in life.

Jyoti Jo Manuel joins Dale in today’s episode ‘Supporting Autism in Schools with Yoga’. Jyoti discusses the value and need for yoga as a therapeutic intervention for children and young people with autism.  Having worked with children across the autism spectrum, she shares how and why practising yoga supports them.

Breathing techniques are proven to calm the nervous system, which in turns helps to enhance the quality and quantity of sleep, improve digestion, and improve mental and emotional health and resilience.  Jyoti highlights the importance of adults taking care of themselves in order to support children “I don't believe that you can help a child to regulate if you're not regulated”.

Listen to find out how yoga can support your pupils with autism and help them to manage the sensory complexities of the classroom. 

Jyoti has been practising yoga since 1974 and teaching since 1989. She is one of the leaders in the training and application of yoga as a therapeutic intervention for children with special and additional needs. She pioneered children’s yoga in the UK. She set up the global training school, Special Yoga in 2002 to provide sustainable and accessible training programmes and to support practitioners delivering the work . She works with local education authorities, NHS, academies and individual schools, arents/carers and paediatric professionals. She has travelled globally to extend Special Yoga in Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Australia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and many countries in Europe. She is currently training 45 psychologists in the Ukraine to support their traumatised children.

Website - www.specialyoga.co.uk

Email - [email protected]

Instagram - @Specialyogaglobal

Facebook - Special Yoga | Facebook

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/yoga-schools

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32677240/

https://themindedinstitute.com/yoga-stress-anxiety-children-autism/

• 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

95% of schools have seen an increase in pupil anxiety, which makes anxiety and mental health evermore important topics. We need to support student’s well-being so they can get the most out of their learning and fully engage in school life, but it doesn't always require big changes.

Our new special guest, Sue White, joins Dale for the first time on the SENDcast to discuss ‘How schools can build positive well-being among students’. We process visuals much faster than we process language, so when anxious, a visual can enable more effective communication. Sue comes from a background of visuals and symbols so she highlights how we can give students the tools they need to be able to express their emotions.

Listen to this episode to hear how you can use visuals and symbols to enable students to communicate their feelings and build positive well-being in your setting.

“We're making everything inclusive, we're reducing the anxiety, we're giving everybody access and hopefully having a positive and happy classroom in the process.”

A qualified primary teacher, Sue’s passion for building children’s vocabulary came after teaching a child with specific learning difficulties. Sue could see that the child’s behaviour in class was borne from a frustration of not being able to fully participate in lessons. Determined to help, Sue started a long journey of learning how to help children who process learning differently. She first became a SENCo and later specialised in a range of developmental disorders where lack of vocabulary development impacted on attainment.   

Sue discovered that symbols – visual representations of words – can help all children comprehend spoken and written text, communicate better, as well as build confidence, independence and vocabulary. She has been with Widgit since 2018 where she has advised hundreds of schools on how to use symbols to improve learning and support delayed language development.  

Website - https://www.widgit.com

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @Widgit_Software

Instagram - @widgitsoftware

Facebook - facebook.com/widgitsoftware26/

Sue recently co-authored a report: Walking the talk: A vocabulary recovery plan for primary schools.

30 day free trial of Widgit Symbols software to helps schools improve children’s language and literacy skills https://www.widgit.com/language  

• 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

Needing to use sign language can be very isolating for a child and they are often excluded from natural conversation. The use of signing (both BSL and Makaton) has increased in popularity, but are we using this tool to its maximum effect for children with language and communication needs? 

Sarah Billingham joins Dale in this episode ‘Should everyone learn to sign?’ and highlights that a great deal of time and emphasis is spent teaching modern foreign languages, but how much time is spent teaching children how to communicate with peers that have communication needs? Are we equipping them for all of the interactions they may have as adults? 

Some schools and settings are doing a great job of introducing signing to support basic communication but are not embedding this across the setting. This therefore limits some of the communication and social opportunities for the children in their settings. Listen to hear Sarah emphasize the need to change cultures in schools so that signing is seen as a more integral part of learning and how everyone can benefit.

Sarah Billingham is a specialist teacher, she runs Confident Kids, a unique Early Years service.

She equips parents, carers and practitioners with expert knowledge and the practical tools they need to offer their little people the very best communication support they can.

Sarah has been working with children with speech and language needs for over 16 years in mainstream and specialist settings.

Website - www.confidentkids.co

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ConfidentTransitions

https://www.facebook.com/confidentkids.co

https://makaton.org/

• 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’re starting the year off with this first episode ‘I can’t go to school’ with Suzy Rowland.

It is a long and winding road from late diagnosis and support, unsuccessful placement, social isolation and mental health to school non-attendance. School avoidance is a big issue that intersects education, mental health and disability. The impact is felt widely in the community and can impact young people’s life for a considerable time.  

In this episode we examine the journey of school avoidance and where we are currently:

• Parent/carer perspectives
• Teacher perspectives
• Young people’s POV
• Government positioning – currently
• Fines from some local authorities
• Complexity of individual families/family settings

Listen to find out how school avoidance starts, the impact of stress levels and fears have, and the polarised views from school and family. How is this big issue resolved with minimum collateral damage?

Suzy Rowland is the author of S.E.N.D. in the Clowns, a poetry collection and  “I can’t go to school!”  - a children’s workbook for school non-attenders, an ADHD & Autism Spectrum Condition Specialist, Mindful Cognitive Behaviour Therapist & Speaker.

She founded the #happyinschool project to provide interactive, bespoke training and consultancy, rooted in lived experience.  In this capacity, she works as an agent of change with families and young people, mental health professionals, educators, local authorities, charitable and corporate organisations, to build knowledge, connections and positive narratives about educating and employing neurodivergent thinkers.  Suzy is also a presenter for Women’s LIK UltravisionTV.  

Website – www.happyinschoolproject.com

Email – [email protected]  

Twitter – @SchoolHappyin

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/milknosugarcomms/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/happyinschool

Instagram – @happyinschool

www.happyinschoolproject.com  

I can’t go to school published by JKP in December 2022.  

S.E.N.D in the Clowns published by Hashtag Press.  

Anna Freud Centre 

• 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

In this last episode of 2022, Abigail Hawkins joins Dale to discuss ‘What are outcomes and why do they matter?’.

Abigail takes us through the 3 types of outcomes:

1. Academic outcomes – exam results – the one mostly talked about, reported on and the ones everyone seems to care most about.
2. Soft outcomes – attendance, behaviour – collected and often used as an excuse for academic data. The one often moaned about.
3. Life outcomes – socialising, food, washing, travel – the most valuable to our most vulnerable. The underdog, hardly mentioned, often side-lined, not valued and not reported.

We’re all expected to know about mental health, self-care, importance of sleep, mindfulness, personal finances, nutrition, time management and much more but we’re not teaching children these things at school. Listen to this impassioned discussion about outcomes.

We will be bringing you more new content in 2023 with 52 episodes covering all the latest in SEND. Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Abigail runs SENDCOSolutions, an SEN consultancy and SENsible SENCO CIC, a not-for-profit networking support group.  She has been a SENCO for over 25 years and has taught a multitude of subjects across all phases from 2-year-olds to adults. 

She works with software companies developing supportive software for SEN and Safeguarding purposes, has developed and delivers on a teaching assistant apprenticeship programme, authored several books on SEN and exclusions and runs a support network for over 9000 SENCOs. 

Until recently, she was the Chair of Governors for 3 schools in the East Midlands and she still works as a SENCO for part of her week.  Abigail has a no-nonsense, practical approach to SEN issues faced by schools.

Abigail was one of the three lead voices on a series of SEN webinars delivered over the lockdowns amassing an audience of over 12000 viewers and she uses modern approaches to share SEN-related information including a successful YouTube channel. 

Website - www.sendcosolutions.co.uk www.sensiblesenco.org.uk  

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @sendcosolutions

Facebook - Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sensiblesenco 

Facebook - Page: https://www.facebook.com/SENsibleSENCO 

Weekly SEN Network/CPD meetings for the SENsible SENCO community.  Details available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sensible-senco-33587615959

Books: 

• Approach It, Map It, Manage It - https://amzn.to/3ab59Do 
• The SENDCO - https://amzn.to/3yFCYGt 
• School Exclusion - https://amzn.to/3by6ULj  

A discussion based on neurodiverse learners and strategies to help them cope with the run up to Christmas. Susie talks about strategies and solutions she has discovered whilst working in the classroom setting at The Sixth Form College, Farnborough as well as in Curriculum Support at The Oratory School. 

It is always useful to have a toolbox of strategies for teachers, parents/carers to use with SEND students in the run up to Christmas, to alleviate the worries and stresses of the festive season. Listen to help children with SEND to prepare for this weekend.

Dr Susie Nyman is passionate about discovering how children learn and supporting them in ways which enable them to succeed. She was appointed as a Biology teacher at The Sixth Form College Farnborough in 1995, and subsequently as Curriculum Manager for Health and Social Care where she has worked ever since. 

Susie strives to raise students’ achievements and support them in ways which enables them to succeed.  She works with her students deploying a range of innovative and Multi-sensory teaching techniques to assist their learning including her ‘Equality and Diversity Tree’ and famous puppets! 

Additionally, she has provided training to PGCE students at Kingston University, and in a number of local schools and colleges on teaching strategies. Since February 2017, Susie has presented seminars on ‘Multi-sensory Techniques’ at The Learning Differences Conventions in Australia, Richmond College, The Helen Arkell Centre, Bell House, The Oratory School, The National Education Show and The Tes SEN Shows in London and Manchester.   

Recently, she was filmed ‘in action’ for The British Dyslexia Association as well as Oaka Books, and the footage is available on YouTube. Subsequently, she has written a chapter about ‘Multi-sensory Teaching’ in the BDA Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide and ‘The Multi-sensory Teaching Toolkit’ by Oaka Books. 

In recognition of over 21 years continued service at The Sixth Form College Farnborough, Susie has been nominated three times by the College for the ‘Tes FE Teacher of the Year Award’. This is an honour of which she is immensely proud. 

Website – drnymanconsultancy.co.uk

Email – [email protected]

Twitter – @DrSusieNyman

• Eastap, L. and Gregory, J. (Ed’s) (2018) Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide 2nd Edition, British Dyslexia Association. 
• Nyman, S. (2020). How to become a Grade Riser. Chichester: Oaka Books: https://www.oakabooks.co.uk/collections/revision-extras/products/how-to-be-a-grade-riser-by-dr-susie-nyman-teacher-must-have 
• Nyman. S. (2019) The Exam Question Task Board.  Chichester: Oaka Books: https://www.oakabooks.co.uk/products/task-board-by-dr-susie-nyman?_pos=1&_sid=cf1663598&_ss=r   
• Nyman, S (2019).  Sensory Support for Dyslexia. Retrieved from The SEN Magazine issue 103: https://issuu.com/senmagazine/docs/sen103   
• Nyman, S (2020). How to get an A* in English.  Retrieved from The Studying with Dyslexia Blog: https://studyingwithdyslexiablog.co.uk/blog/oakabooks-bambi-gardiner-how-to-get-an-a-in-english-dr-susie-nyman-confirmed-for-the-bda-good-practice-in-dyslexia-and-literacy-conference 
• Nyman, S (2022) ‘Student Icebergs with Dr Susie Nyman’. SENDcast Special Needs Podcast: https://www.thesendcast.com/student-icebergs/ 
• Nyman, S (2021). Scanning Pens: ‘Live Literacy Strategies with Julia and Susie’: ‘https://youtu.be/vlgw2O2-SPg 
• Nyman, S (2022). OCR: Preparing students for exams tips for teachers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch3JuRQsyVo 

Away in a Manger, Holly & the Ivy, We three kings, Jingle Bells and Silent Night are all traditional Christmas Carols, but have you ever considered the connection they have with SEND? In Part 2 of ‘SEND Christmas Crackers’, Susie bases her discussion on a range of topics linked to a variety of Christmas carols, connecting fascinating stories to neurodiverse case studies.

Dr Susie Nyman is passionate about discovering how children learn and supporting them in ways which enable them to succeed. She was appointed as a Biology teacher at The Sixth Form College Farnborough in 1995, and subsequently as Curriculum Manager for Health and Social Care where she has worked ever since. 

Susie strives to raise students’ achievements and support them in ways which enables them to succeed.  She works with her students deploying a range of innovative and Multi-sensory teaching techniques to assist their learning including her ‘Equality and Diversity Tree’ and famous puppets! 

Additionally, she has provided training to PGCE students at Kingston University, and in a number of local schools and colleges on teaching strategies. Since February 2017, Susie has presented seminars on ‘Multi-sensory Techniques’ at The Learning Differences Conventions in Australia, Richmond College, The Helen Arkell Centre, Bell House, The Oratory School, The National Education Show and The Tes SEN Shows in London and Manchester.   

Recently, she was filmed ‘in action’ for The British Dyslexia Association as well as Oaka Books, and the footage is available on YouTube. Subsequently, she has written a chapter about ‘Multi-sensory Teaching’ in the BDA Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide and ‘The Multi-sensory Teaching Toolkit’ by Oaka Books. 

In recognition of over 21 years continued service at The Sixth Form College Farnborough, Susie has been nominated three times by the College for the ‘Tes FE Teacher of the Year Award’. This is an honour of which she is immensely proud. 

Website – drnymanconsultancy.co.uk

Email – [email protected]

Twitter – @DrSusieNyman

• Eastap, L. and Gregory, J. (Ed’s) (2018) Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide 2nd Edition, British Dyslexia Association. 
• Nyman, S. (2020). How to become a Grade Riser. Chichester: Oaka Books: https://www.oakabooks.co.uk/collections/revision-extras/products/how-to-be-a-grade-riser-by-dr-susie-nyman-teacher-must-have 
• Nyman. S. (2019) The Exam Question Task Board.  Chichester: Oaka Books: https://www.oakabooks.co.uk/products/task-board-by-dr-susie-nyman?_pos=1&_sid=cf1663598&_ss=r   
• Nyman, S (2019).  Sensory Support for Dyslexia. Retrieved from The SEN Magazine issue 103: https://issuu.com/senmagazine/docs/sen103   
• Nyman, S (2020). How to get an A* in English.  Retrieved from The Studying with Dyslexia Blog: https://studyingwithdyslexiablog.co.uk/blog/oakabooks-bambi-gardiner-how-to-get-an-a-in-english-dr-susie-nyman-confirmed-for-the-bda-good-practice-in-dyslexia-and-literacy-conference 
• Nyman, S (2022) ‘Student Icebergs with Dr Susie Nyman’. SENDcast Special Needs Podcast: https://www.thesendcast.com/student-icebergs/ 
• Nyman, S (2021). Scanning Pens: ‘Live Literacy Strategies with Julia and Susie’: ‘https://youtu.be/vlgw2O2-SPg 
• Nyman, S (2022). OCR: Preparing students for exams tips for teachers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch3JuRQsyVo 

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental difference with the key traits of Hyperactivity, Impulsivity and Inattention. Medication can be prescribed to support these traits for both adults and children, but in the UK, historically, medication is often used as the last resort – is that a good or bad thing?

In this episode ‘Medication for Supporting children with ADHD: Chemical cosh or reset button’, Fintan O’Regan joins Dale to discuss the:

• range of medications available
• pros and cons of medication
• possible side effects
• attitudes and opinions
• national and international differences

There is no doubt that the issue of medication divides opinions amongst professionals and parents. It’s always a personal decision to be made by the child and family, based upon what is right for them.

Fintan was the Head teacher of the Centre Academy from 1996 -2002, which was the first specialist school in the UK for students between the ages of 7-19 specialising issues related to ADHD, ASD and ODD.

He is an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, the Institute of Education, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and the former Vice Chairman of the UK ADHD Network and of the European ADHD Alliance.

Fintan now works as trainer and consultant for schools and school support systems including, Social Services, Health, the Police and Foster carers with regards to providing behaviour management strategies for children and families struggling with SEND and behaviour issues. 

Website – www.fintanoregan.com

Email – [email protected]

Twitter – @fintanoregan

When people are ‘triggered’ they often enter what’s known as fight or flight, their ability to reason and respond pragmatically to situations evaporates and it can feel as if you’re left with no way to communicate with them. What they still have is their senses. Knowing about sensory communication can offer you ways of reaching across that seemingly insurmountable divide. 

But do you know what sensory communication is? Joanna Grace joins Dale in this episode ‘Sensory Communication’ to explain everything you need to know about what it is, how it’s relevant across the board and how we can use it.

All of us will have unknowingly been implementing sensory communication in stressful situations by offering a cup of tea (taste) or putting a hand on another’s (touch). Communication is so much more than words and gestures, having sensory strategies up your sleeve to support communication, particularly in a crisis situation can be a game changer.  

Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects.  

Joanna has worked with people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent conditions aged from 0-100 (well 1 day old – 87 years old to be precise) in a range of settings and context. 

Through all she does Joanna is seeking to contribute to a future where people are understood in spite of their differences. 

Website - www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @Jo3Grace

Facebook - www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP 

I run a course called Exploring the Impact of the Senses on Behaviour both online and as an in person event. www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk has more details.