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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.  About Joanna Grace 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.  Contact Joanna Grace Website - www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk Email - sensorystory@gmail.com Twitter - @Jo3Grace Facebook - www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP  Useful Links 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 About Alison Knowles 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.  Contact Alison Knowles Website - www.ollieandhisuperpowers.com Email - Ali@subconquest.co.uk or info@ollieandhissuperpowers.com Twitter - @bemoreollie Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OllieandhisSuperPowers Useful Links 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. About Ginny Bootman 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.  Contact Ginny Bootman Website – www.ginnybootman.com Twitter – @sencogirl For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/ Useful Links

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. Contact Rachel Jackson: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAspergerThing/  Useful Links 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 

About Sarah-Jane Critchley 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. Contact Sarah-Jane: Twitter: @SarahJaneCritch Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahjanecritchley/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/differentjoy/ Useful Links 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. About Lorraine Petersen OBE 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 Contact Lorraine 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. About Katie White 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.   Contact Katie White 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/ 

Research shows that it takes 3 times as long for a student with ADHD to do the same piece of work at home as in school. The school day alone can be exhausting for pupils with SEND and then they might be expected to attend clubs, interact with family, eat their meal AND complete their homework when they get home. Are we expecting too much? The result could be detrimental to their mental health: “I think it's disadvantaging more in terms of self-esteem and attitude, because when they go in next day, they haven't been able to do the same thing in the same way as other people, and they're often getting penalised for it.” Fintan O’Regan In this episode Fintan O’Regan, one of the leading Behaviour and Learning specialists in the UK, discusses homework and issues relating to pupils with SEND. Is the risk worth the return when it comes to children with SEND? In this podcast we consider a range of alternative options to complete schoolwork, listen to hear some innovative ways of approaching homework with your pupils. About Fintan O'Regan 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.    Contact Fintan O'Regan Website – www.fintanoregan.com Email – fjmoregan@aol.com Twitter – @fintanoregan Useful Links The Bullying Problem by Alan Train The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/contact.html For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/

7.6% of all children have got developmental language disorder, that's two or three in every classroom. The Bercow Review (2018) highlighted ongoing and significant challenges for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in terms of available support and diminishing resources. More than ever, it is important we maximise what we have available for the greatest impact.  In this week’s podcast we discuss how to make best use of resources to meet the needs of pupils with SLCN. Wendy Lee, speech and language therapist, joins me in this episode to look at: evidence of what works for children with SLCN what parents see as important aspects of best practice to support their children experiences of teachers and support staff the challenges of translating evidence into practice practical solutions for implementing strategies and support Listen to find out some great free resources and advice you can implement straight away in your classroom. About Wendy Lee Wendy has worked as a speech and language therapist for over 30 years, in clinical practice, higher education and the third sector. She was Professional Director at The Communication Trust until 2015 where she led on a number of projects, as well as inputting on national policy and research.   Wendy is currently the Director of LINGO, which provides consultancy, professional development, resources and speech and language therapy. She works with academics, academy trusts, schools and settings and in partnership with local and national organisations supporting speech, language and communication. Contact Wendy Lee Website - www.lingospeech.co.uk   Email - wendy@lingospeech.co.uk  Twitter - @Lingo_speech Useful Links https://www.bercow10yearson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/337644-ICAN-Bercow-Report-WEB.pdf Teaching and Learning Toolkit | Education Endowment Foundation | EEF  Reports | Early Intervention Foundation (eif.org.uk)  https://www.eif.org.uk/report/language-as-a-child-wellbeing-indicator Home | LuCiD  RADLD | Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder  NAPLIC | Developmental Language Disorder  What works database (ican.org.uk)  https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/tools/guidance-reports/a-schools-guide-to-implementation/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLuf7qPH8gIVxLHtCh21ywM8EAAYASAAEgLWJPD_BwE

Do you remember many of your lessons at school? If you do, they’re likely to be memorable due to a multisensory element such as a Bunsen burner. When you have a sensory experience the different processes in our brains are activated and you are then more involved and invested in learning. Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects. Joanna joins Dale on today’s episode to discuss ‘Sensory Stories’, an amazing resource that can be used to engage learners of all abilities. “Sensory stories have long been a hidden gem within special schools and its time they got out into the open, they’re such a simple tool, but used with a little insight and creativity they can be super inclusive and engaging.” Joanna Grace Listen to find out what sensory stories are, what they consist of and how they can make a difference in your classroom. About Joanna Grace 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.  Contact Joanna Grace Website - www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk Email - sensorystory@gmail.com Twitter - @Jo3Grace Facebook - www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP  Useful Links 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  

  This week's episode ‘Finding your Tribe’ with Alison Knowles, is a discussion about how important it is for young people to find their tribe and their place in the world. We all strive to feel accepted, normal and fit in, but this can be especially challenging for children with additional needs. About Alison Knowles 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.  Contact Alison Knowles Website - www.ollieandhisuperpowers.com Email - Ali@subconquest.co.uk or info@ollieandhissuperpowers.com Twitter - @bemoreollie Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OllieandhisSuperPowers Useful Links 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/   For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/

Does resisting ordinary day-to-day demands, such as putting shoes on, sound familiar? This is a common objection from children, however it can be to the extreme often causing obstructive, disruptive and explosive behaviour. In this episode we discover ‘What on earth is PDA?’ with Rachel Jackson. Rachel is a Mum, Author and Director with an academic and professional background in psychology.   Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is thought of as a profile on the autism spectrum and is a demand resistance driven by an anxiety-based need for control. PDA is not well known, in fact the diagnosis itself remains controversial and yet many parents/carers describe behaviours from their children with Autism diagnoses that simply don’t line up with what they’ve been told to expect. Listen to understand PDA and support these children to learn and grow. 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. Contact Rachel Jackson: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAspergerThing/  Useful Links 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/

Have you ever had a Sparkling Suzie, Freddie Thorne or Danny Whizzbang in your classroom? Perhaps not the cocktail but most likely some pupils with similar characteristics. In this fun filled episode with Dr Susie Nyman, we discuss the similarities between cocktails and children with SEN. Susie even brought her cocktail making kit along with her to the studio! The podcast is a lively discussion of different types of neurodiverse learners. Susie discusses a range of case studies and solutions she has discovered whilst working in the classroom setting at The Sixth Form College, Farnborough and Curriculum Support at The Oratory School.  Listen to find out how an inclusive individualised personal learning approach can help you make a breakthrough with neurodiverse learners: About Dr Susie Nyman 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.  Contact Dr Susie Nyman: Website – drnymanconsultancy.co.uk Email – drsusienyman@drnymanconsultancy.co.uk Twitter – @DrSusieNyman Useful Links 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 

Little did we know when launching the SENDcast 2 years ago, that the world as we knew it was about to drastically change. We hope that you’ve enjoyed listening to the episodes through the highs and lows and have kept you company whether you’ve been walking, running, driving, painting etc. In this 2nd birthday episode Sarah-Jane Critchley joins Dale in the studio to celebrate creating podcast number 87! They reflect on their favourite episodes, significant events and changes in SEN from their perspective. Sarah-Jane is an Author, Speaker, Consultant and Coach from Different Joy Partnership – most importantly she is a top fan of The SENDcast! With over 73k downloads, 87 episodes, 2 awards and 100+ hours of content we are going from strength to strength. We just wanted to say a big thank you for listening from the SENDcast team here at B Squared. It’s an honour to meet such fascinating speakers and produce these fun, interesting and thought-provoking episodes About Sarah-Jane Critchley 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. Contact Sarah-Jane: Twitter: @SarahJaneCritch Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahjanecritchley/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/differentjoy/ Useful Links 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/

About Fintan O'Regan 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.    Contact Fintan O'Regan Website – www.fintanoregan.com Email – fjmoregan@aol.com Twitter – @fintanoregan Useful Links The Bullying Problem by Alan Train The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/contact.html For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/

Spoken language is core to learning and has a significant impact on children who find it difficult understanding language or putting their sentences together. In this SENDcast episode ‘Language for Learning’, we discuss the importance of supporting and promoting language and its impact on learning in the classroom. Dale's guest is Wendy Lee, a speech and language therapist with over 30 years’ experience in a wide range of settings. “We all bring those different perspectives, and if we can utilise our language to get the best out of the discussion, something else will come out of it that none of us could do on our own. And that's what we want to teach children to be able to do.” Wendy Lee A focus on Oracy, the ability to express oneself fluently in speech, is growing in many schools in the UK. Wendy explores what this means for children and young people with Speech, Language, Communication Needs (SLCN). Find out how to teach children and young people how to utilise their own talk skills to develop their thinking and their learning. With the right approaches and adaptions your pupils can benefit enormously from a focus on oral language skills in your classroom. Hear proven strategies you can put in place in your classroom to: Enable productive group discussion Develop reasoning skills Improve collaboration Ensure compromise Build confidence to talk Support conversational practise About Wendy Lee Wendy has worked as a speech and language therapist for over 30 years, in clinical practice, higher education and the third sector. She was Professional Director at The Communication Trust until 2015 where she led on a number of projects, as well as inputting on national policy and research.   Wendy is currently the Director of LINGO, which provides consultancy, professional development, resources and speech and language therapy. She works with academics, academy trusts, schools and settings and in partnership with local and national organisations supporting speech, language and communication. Contact Wendy Lee Website - www.lingospeech.co.uk   Email - wendy@lingospeech.co.uk  Twitter - @Lingo_speech Useful Links http://www.dfes.gov.uk/listeningtolearn/downloads/LearningtoListen-CorePrinciples.pdf  Exploring the involvement of children and young people with SLCN (ican.org.uk)  Clark A, Quail S, Moss P, (2003) Exploring the field of Listening to and consulting with Young Children Thomas Coram Research Unit DfES  Owen, Hayett and Roulstone (2004) Children’s views of speech and language therapy in school: consulting with communication difficulties CLTT   SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  Bercow-Ten-Years-On-Summary-Report-.pdf (bercow10yearson.com)  Evidence – Bercow: Ten Years On (bercow10yearson.com)  https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/media/449470/involving_cyp_with_slcn_toolkit.pdf  

Everyone will meet an autistic person in their lives, and autistic people are in every classroom and every work force. Having a clearer understanding of difference can give us practical insight into how to better support and engage neurodivergent learners, and perhaps more importantly how to improve their mental health. Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects. Joanna joins me in this episode to talk about how her son came to write a book called ‘My Mummy is Autistic’. She also takes us through her personal journey of being diagnosed and the pressures of trying to conform and ‘fit the mould’ growing up.   In this podcast we cover: Autism as a difference not a deficit The importance of role models for neurodivergent children The language processing differences experienced by autistic, and other neurodivergent people About Joanna Grace 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.  Contact Joanna Grace Website - www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk Email - sensorystory@gmail.com Twitter - @Jo3Grace Facebook - www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP  Useful Links 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  

In this week’s podcast Dale Pickles speaks with Alison Knowles who is an emotional therapist and the creator of the Ollie Model to build the resilience and wellbeing of children.   Resources: 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/  

This week's guest is Fintan O'Regan. 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.  Contact Fintan O'Regan Website – www.fintanoregan.com Email – fjmoregan@aol.com Twitter – @fintanoregan For more podcast episodes from the SENDcast click below… https://sendcast.wpengine.com/sendcast-episodes/