Early Excellence Podcast A Guide to SEND in the Early Years with Kerry Murphy
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May 2, 2025 
Kerry Murphy, an Early Years Lecturer and Consultant, discusses her expertise in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She highlights common misconceptions and the importance of a personalized, inclusive approach in early education. Kerry advocates for celebrating developmental differences through positive language and holistic practices. She introduces 'inchstones' to recognize small achievements, emphasizing the need for adaptive teaching strategies and creating supportive, language-rich environments for all learners.
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Kerry's SEND Journey
- Kerry Murphy started in early years without qualifications and was inspired by a non-speaking child with developmental needs.
- Her passion grew through roles from SENCO to local authority work and later academia with a focus on inclusive practice.
SEND Expertise Requires Training
- The statement that every teacher is a teacher of SEND can be misleading and cause guilt in undertrained practitioners.
- Understanding children’s neurodiversity deeply is essential rather than relying on simplistic or inaccurate preconceptions.
Diagnosis Isn't a Support Guarantee
- Diagnosis is important for understanding identity but does not guarantee effective support access.
- Families and teachers often face disappointment when diagnosis doesn't unlock expected support resources.
