TTS Educators' Podcast

Dr. Shaddai Tembo is joined by Mike Gardner for a final episode, to discuss embedding oracy in school culture by integrating into policies, practical steps for teachers and the role of parents in collaborative oracy education.  

Mike highlights the everyday opportunity that pick-up and drop-off times can offer educators to engage and collaborate with parents to demonstrate what good social interaction looks like to the child. Teachers can also consider their own communication skills and how to model manners in day-to-day life when speaking with other teachers. 

Practitioners can consider looking beyond the classroom for opportunities to develop language and communication skills. Shaddai and Mike touch on “non-academic” time and the use of clubs and extracurricular activities to encourage use of language and communication, as well as getting to know children more so they feel listened to and seen. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.

In this episode, Dr. Shaddai Tembo and Mike Gardner discuss the role of oracy in building self-efficacy and supporting emotional regulation through talk. They touch on how educators can support children to build confidence in the classroom and communicate their thoughts and feelings. 

Mike and Shaddai talk about children’s identity and how this links to oracy, as well as how adults need to help foster positive relationships and allow children to feel they are a part of the environment they are in. 

Practitioners may be interested in the gender differences in oracy development as well as Mike’s real-life experiences, which includes the story of a young girl new to the UK and what strategies were used to make her feel confident. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

Dr. Shaddai Tembo is joined again by Mike Gardner to discuss how teachers can use oracy in their assessment practices. They touch on how oracy helps to model new learning and shifting from teacher talk to learner talk. 

Shaddai and Mike talk about the role of the whole school in supporting and enabling educators to roll out an oracy-rich curriculum, allowing practitioners to think whether their own school values and policies are setting the right standards. 

Practitioners may be interested to learn more strategies for effective learner-centred talk, the influence teachers have on communication, and ways of managing dominant voices in the classroom. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.

Dr. Shaddai Tembo is joined by Mike Gardner to discuss the importance of oracy and the causes of language gaps in classrooms. 

They discuss the challenges of screen time, further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, and how this period in our history and a lack of pedagogy around digital technology has resulted in a lack of ability for children to self-regulate.  

Practitioners can learn more about how oracy cuts across all areas of children’s development and how the way children are taught is more important than the supporting technology used to support them.  

Mike also talks about his upcoming book which will look at the journey of a child from birth through to adulthood through a lens of social mobility with an aim of bridging the oracy gap. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.

Mark Loveday is joined by Michael Surr for a final episode, to discuss partnerships and resources for SEN, as well as the role of technology in education.  

The episode highlights the role that nasen plays in SEN support and Michael discusses the new partnership with TTS, who have agreed to be nasen’s strategic partner for the next two years. They also discuss nasen assured products, like the TTS Developed Calming Cats. 

Practitioners may be interested in listening to Mark and Michael discuss future policy changes for inclusion and why these are needed for better inclusion in schools, as well as why grades are not the only measure of success in education.  

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

In this episode, Mark Loveday is joined by Michael Surr to discuss what a Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) does and how their role is very much planning rather than delivering the provision. 

Michael discusses the role everybody has to play in supporting all children and focuses on the importance of collaboration as well as the effective role teaching assistants have to play. 

Practitioners may be interested by evaluating the impact of support staff and the challenges and strategies that everyone can face, to help them better understand the SENCO role. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.

Mark Loveday is joined again by Michael Surr to talk about SEN in Primary Settings. In this episode, the pair talk about understanding SEN support and funding challenges as well as provision management. 

Mark and Michael talk about the importance of labels versus needs and teacher training, including support for new teachers.  

Practitioners may be interested in learning how to balance SEN needs and resources, as well as the roles of ambassadors and champions within educational settings. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.

Mark Loveday is joined by Michael Surr, Head of Education at nasen. In this episode, Michael breaks down SEND categories and different needs, as well as strategies for inclusive teaching and transition. 

The pair look at common classroom challenges and highlight the importance of evaluating strengths of each child to understand how to deliver effective education. 

Practitioners can get tips for whole school inclusive strategies and building a community approach with parents.  

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.

Mark Loveday is joined by Emma Jordan for a final episode, to discuss the importance that play has on the language development of children. The episode highlights what high quality play really is and how crucial it can be in supporting the development of communication skills. 

Emma and Mark talk about why play should not be taken away too early, keeping the distractions of screens away and letting children lead. Emma also explores different activities that can be done in learning settings and at home, and how to access play without having to spend too much money. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.

In this episode, Mark Loveday is joined by Emma Jordan to discuss how technology impacts communication in children, exploring ways which parents and practitioners can use it to help support child development. 

Emma and Mark talk about the importance of visual learning and sequencing when transitioning from early years to primary, and how this can be used to help support those children who are less confident in a learning setting. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.