Listening is a fundamental skill to be able to develop language and to access learning in the classroom. There are a number of foundation skills which build a child's ability to listen in the classroom.

We spend a lot of time expecting or telling children to listen, but do they actually know what 'listening' is?

Sarah Billingham joins Dale in this week's episode to discuss helping children to listen. This podcast is one that everyone can relate to whether it's children not listening to parents or partners not listening to each other. We discuss the factors that can impact the ability to listen such as distractions, emotional state and surroundings.

Listen to understand what good listening is and how to listen. Find out the elements that help children to listen and various strategies to be able to support their listening.

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.

Sarah has recently decided to focus on Confident Kids full time. She most recently ran a multi-disciplinary assessment centre for children with SLCN in the charity sector. In 2020 & 2021 she ran an online focus week for parents and practitioners sharing videos on supporting young children transitioning into school (or back into school following lockdown).

Website - www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk

Email - www.confidentkids.co

Facebook - www.facebook.com/confidentkids.co

www.facebook.com/groups/ConfidentTransitions

Phonics have been around for years and are successful, BUT they don't work for all pupils, and they aren't the only way to teach reading.

Only 75% of children leave KS1 able to read well enough to access KS2 effectively (91% passed the phonic screen by Y2) *

The ultimate goal is for children to have a bank of words in their long-term memory that they can read fluently when they see them, and phonics is a part of that journey. If you don't 'get phonics' by the end of year one the chances of phonics supporting reading attainment by the end of KS1, no matter how much quality Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) is provided, is slim.

Charlie Pitt Miller joins Dale for today's podcast to discuss 'Reading, Phonics and the Dyslexic Profile'. Charlie takes us through the characteristics of persistent literacy difficulties and how they are a barrier to applying phonic knowledge.

Listen to this episode to support your pupils with additional needs to become successful readers.

*gov.uk Phonics screening check and key stage 1 assessments in England 2019

From the start of Charlie Miller's career in 1991, SEN has been foremost; she trained for a BEd in Sheffield 87-91, and was a SENCO from 2002-2012. She is currently a specialist assessor and advisory teacher - mainly advising on identification of needs and next steps for learning for children with SEN – including dyslexia / dyscalculia.

She constantly questions the impact of phonics and how it jars against the characteristics of dyslexia, and often checks in on data linked to phonics and reading attainment.

Her 2015 MA professional enquiry and research led to the development of the Top Triangle Reading Intervention for children who have not responded well to phonics and have disengaged from learning to read.

Email - [email protected]

2019 Reading / Phonics end KS1 data

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/851296/Phonics_screening_check_and_key_stage_1_assessments_in_England_2019.pdf

2019 Reading / Phonics end KS2 data

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/830285/KS2_Provisional_publication_text_2019.pdf

The Reading Framework (2021)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-reading-framework-teaching-the-foundations-of-literacy

Reading Wars or Reading Reconciliation – Alison Bradbury; Dominic Wyse (2022)

https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/rev3.3314

Top Triangle Reading Intervention- not a published intervention - being edited to stand alone … and piloted – not yet available except in Leicestershire schools. Happy to share when final edit available.

Our senses are fascinating. A particularly interesting area to explore is the development of the sensory systems and how this effects cognition, engagement and mental health.

Today, Joanna Grace joins Dale for our 100th episode to discuss Sensory Development and Sensory Engagement. Having an understanding of sensory development can help you to connect with those who have profound disabilities. It can be another tool in the tool kit of a sensory detective, working out why a particular sensation bothers some but not others.

Listen to hear the impact sensory stimulation has on development and the difference in sensory experiences for neurodiverse and neurotypical people. This insightful podcast gives you a useful lens through which to view classroom design.

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

Aside from the obvious, my son's book My Mummy is Autistic, I have a FREE training series on YouTube aimed at mainstream SENCOs (but it has been accessed far more widely than that) that explores issues that crop up in schools around autistic students https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi1RQR58BHnW5LtJfD0Ph-RIH7EhnrP3t

My facebook is also a resource for insight into neurodivergence, with the photo albums acting as resource banks: www.facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP people are welcome to connect with me, and my LinkedIn profile has many free to access articles that I have written on the topic of neurodiversity www.LinkedIn.com/In/JoannaGraceTheSensoryProjects

Trigger warning – this podcast discusses self-harm which is a difficult subject, but has never been more important to address. Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves as a way of dealing with very difficult feelings, painful memories or overwhelming situations and experiences. They may feel a short-term sense of release but the cause of the distress is unlikely to have gone away.

In this emotive podcast Alison Knowles joins me to discuss 'What drives our youngsters to self-harm'. During the conversation we talk about why children are self-harming in all its forms, including eating disorders.

Listen to the podcast to find out how to:

• identify the signs
• spot the difference between a cry for help and a fad/trend
• support children to allow them to deal with their emotions
• use techniques and approaches used in therapy to help

For support contact Mind

Ali is a practising emotional therapist, author of the Ollie and his Super Powers series of books, public speaker, NLP trainer and creator of the Ollie Model. Ali's strength is the unique way she views the world and her instinctive ability to empower you or your child to find the solutions from within.

Website - www.ollieandhisuperpowers.com

Email - [email protected] or [email protected]

Twitter - @bemoreollie

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OllieandhisSuperPowers

https://www.facebook.com/OllieandhisSuperPowers

https://twitter.com/bemoreollie

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWDj-PRjboIg2cu-KZsEMVA

https://www.instagram.com/ollie_and_his_super_powers

https://www.ollieandhissuperpowers.com/

Are you one of those making their annual pilgrimage to WHSmith to choose your new diary?

Gone are the days of having to lug a filing cabinet's worth of paperwork to each meeting or locating the right USB. We are all creatures of habit but there's no better time to make the move to digital, otherwise you risk getting left behind.

Ginny Bootman joins Dale in this week's episode 'Paperless SENCO' to take us through her journey as a SENCO from being paper heavy to become paperless. This podcast will unpick simple ways to save your time and make everything run more smoothly in your SENCO world. Listen to hear easy ways to slimline systems and help others become part of the data collection process when completing HNF or EHCP.

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.

Website – www.ginnybootman.com

Twitter – @sencogirl

For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/

Whilst there is significant research and discussion around the psychological and behavioural aspects of autism, most parents/carers have little information around what might be happening at a physiological level.

Rachel Jackson joins the podcast today to discuss her first-hand experience of the physical aspects of autism and their implications. Rachel has researched and explored theories that have helped to support her son, including those that tackle some of the sensory experiences that often accompany autism.

Listen to this episode to find out about sensory needs, vagus nerve theories, rhythmic movement, retained reflexes, gut health and chemical imbalances in autism - even lunar cycles and the weather have an impact! The science maybe imperfect but many parents/carers talk passionately and with confidence about the anecdotal evidence.

About Rachel Jackson

Rachel combines her experience raising two young boys – one with a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD and his younger sibling, with her academic and professional background in psychology, developing adults in Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. This has lead to the successful self-publishing of 3 short books for children on the spectrum and their siblings as well as a number of articles published In the UK, US and Australia. She has now sold over 2000 copies of her books worldwide.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAspergerThing/

• The PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/What-is-PDA-booklet-website-v2.1.pdf
• SENBooks who sell all my books with better print quality than Amazon print on demand and are also awesome independent booksellers who have really helped me along the way https://www.senbooks.co.uk/product/it-s-a-panda-thing-

For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/

About Gary Aubin

Gary Aubin is the SEND Content Specialist for the Educational Endowment Foundation and Director of SEND for a multi-academy trust, having worked as a SENDCO in mainstream primary and secondary schools. With a strong mindset of inclusion, his work as Director of SEND has supported schools out of Special Measures and towards Outstanding for their SEND provision. Alongside SEND duties, he has written The Lone SENDCO: questions and answers for the busy SENDCO and writes the SENDMatters.co.uk blog. He tweets @SENDMattersUK. He is a contributing author to Great Expectations by David Bartram OBE and wrote the Understanding the SENDCO role course for Guide Education. A former pastoral leader and still a practising secondary teacher, Gary completed his Masters in Special and Inclusive Education at the UCL Institute of Education.

Useful Links

Contact Website: www.educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk

Twitter: @SENDMattersUK

Sarah-Jane is an Author, Speaker, Consultant and Coach from Different Joy Partnership. She was previously the Programme Manager for over 10 years at the Autism Education Trust. Pupils with autism often struggle with attending school for a number of reasons. Her daughter Beth is autistic and also suffers from migraines which meant from Year 3 onwards she missed a lot of school and missed over 50% of her GCSE classes, eventually dropping out of school in year 12.

Twitter: @SarahJaneCritch

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahjanecritchley/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/differentjoy/

• 0-5 Developmental milestones: Development Milestones (justonenorfolk.nhs.uk)
• Jim Sinclair – Don't mourn for us - Don't Mourn for Us (ucsc.edu)
• Growth mindset – Carol Dweck - https://youtu.be/_X0mgOOSpLU

For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/

Last week Lorraine Petersen OBE joined Dale in the studio to deliver a presentation on the SEND Green Paper. It was a fantastic summary of the 104 page document which has helped SENCOs save time and understand the key points and implications for schools.

We've turned the session recording into a special edition podcast so that you can listen anytime, anywhere. A chance to listen to the presentation, discussion and the questions and answers - it is around 2 hours long, so be prepared!!!

If you want to watch the session instead, it is still available, you just need to register for FREE and watch on demand.

Lorraine has 25 years' experience in mainstream and special school environments as a Teacher and Headteacher.

From 2004 – 2013 Lorraine was CEO of nasen, a charitable organisation supporting all those who work with children and young people with SEND. She worked on a number of projects with various agencies including the Department for Education, the National College of Teaching and Leadership and UKTI. She has also been a chair, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at numerous national and international events and conferences. In 2009 Lorraine was awarded an OBE for her services to education.

Lorraine now runs LPEC an educational consultancy dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with mental health needs. www.lpec.org.uk/SEND Review

Website: www.lpec.org.uk

Facebook: @LorrainePetersenEC

Twitter: @lorrainep1957

When it comes to mental health we often feel like we need the support of a professional. Of course, some children do require specialist support from counsellors, psychologists, or social workers, but for children who are experiencing low levels of anxiety - play may be the answer.

This Mental Health Awareness week I am joined by a new guest on the podcast, Katie White! Katie is an Embodied Wellness Practitioner and founder of The Best Medicine. In this episode we discuss How Laughter and Playfulness Can Be Used to Help Reduce Anxiety, covering:

• What is anxiety and how does laughter and play fit in?
• Laughter as a tool for managing panic attacks
• How we can support children to identify and recognise their anxiety using play
• Games and techniques for lowering anxiety
• What it requires to support an anxious child

Simple games, strategies and techniques can go a long way in empowering children to understand, express and reduce their anxiety, listen to find out more.

Katie is an Embodied Wellness Practitioner and founder of The Best Medicine. She specialises in laughter and playfulness; teaching interactive games, practical strategies and mindfulness based tools that help to reduce stress and anxiety.

Website - https://thebestmedicine.co.uk/

Twitter - @bestmedicine1

Facebook - @bestmedicinecornwall

Useful Links

Superpower Bootcamp - https://the-best-medicine.teachable.com/p/superpower-bootcamp-intermediate

Parenta Blogs - https://www.parenta.com/2021/05/01/a-playful-approach-to-difficult-emotions/