The SENDcast Life's Ups and Downs of Having or Not Having a Special Needs Assessment with Dr Susie Nyman
In recent years, we have seen increasing requests for diagnoses related to autism, dyslexia, and other neurodiverse conditions. Often parents may feel that having a diagnosis is a golden ticket to access support, but this is merely a step in a long journey of understanding and support.
Dr Susie Nyman joins Dale in the studio to discuss 'Life's ups and downs of having or not having a special educational needs assessment', bringing her wealth of experience as a teacher and curriculum manager for Health and Social Care at Farnborough Sixth Form College. She highlights the emotional complexities parents face when deciding whether to pursue an assessment, including concerns about stigma and the impact of labels.
Susie elaborates on neurodiversity, explaining that it recognises neurological differences as valid human variations. She notes that specific learning difficulties (SpLD) affect how information is processed and can present across various abilities. The conversation touches on the potential strengths of neurodiverse individuals, such as unique problem-solving abilities and creativity.
Susie stresses the importance of creating supportive environments for neurodiverse students, emphasising that challenges often arise from mismatches between individuals and their surroundings rather than the individuals themselves. Susie advocates for understanding each student's unique needs and finding strategies that work for them.
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 Susie
drsusienyman@drnymanconsultancy.co.uk
Useful Links
Listen to Susie's other podcasts
- 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 – dale@bsquared.co.uk
- Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.