TTS Talking Early Years

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.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (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.)  

Michael Surr, Head of Education at NASEN, shares insights from his extensive background in primary teaching. He discusses the essential planning role of Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and stresses the importance of collaboration among educators in supporting all students. The conversation highlights the critical contributions of teaching assistants and their need for effective communication with teachers. Michael also addresses the challenges faced in deploying support staff and suggests strategies for enhancing their impact in the classroom.

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.  📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (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 engaging discussion, Michael Surr, Head of Education at NASEN and former primary teacher, delves into the complexities of special educational needs. He highlights the different SEND categories, emphasizing a strengths-based approach for effective education. Listeners learn valuable strategies for inclusive teaching and how to navigate the tricky transition from primary to secondary schooling. Michael also stresses the importance of building collaborative communities with parents, aiming for a holistic educational experience that supports every child's unique journey.

Emma Jordan, a seasoned speech and language therapist with over 30 years in the NHS, shares her insights on the vital role of play in children's language development. She stresses the importance of high-quality play and adult involvement in fostering communication skills. Emma highlights the need to limit screen time and encourages letting children lead their play experiences. She also offers budget-friendly activities that can be implemented at home and in learning settings, enriching children's imaginative exploration and social interactions.

Emma Jordan, a speech and language therapist and joint service lead for Worcestershire's Children's Service, shares her expertise on technology's role in enhancing children's communication. She discusses the power of visual learning and sequencing during the transition from early years to primary school. Emma delves into effective strategies for using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools to support children with special educational needs and highlights the importance of creating distraction-free environments to foster language development.

Mark Loveday is joined again by Emma Jordan to discuss the understanding around social communication skills. Emma highlights the challenges that practitioners face and offers insights about actions to take.  Emma and Mark talk about the role of play in language development and practitioners can learn how to support support children in primary years. Emma also touches on pre-teaching language skills and resources to support practitioners.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (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, a specialist speech and language therapist and co-service lead for the children's speech and language therapy service in Worcestershire.  In this episode, Emma explains the role of early intervention in education and identifying speech and language needs early. Emma also highlights the impact of communication on social and emotional health.  Practitioners can learn more about the tools for early identification of communication needs, being aware of children’s hearing capabilities and creating effective learning environments.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (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 Beccie Hawes for a final episode, to focus on building inclusive environments for children with autism. Beccie discusses how crucial it is to support children at the earliest opportunity and the role of “inclusive by design” in a classroom setting.  The episode highlights asking children what they really need, rather than making assumptions as adults, and finding out what are non-negotiables to make every learner comfortable in their learning. Practitioners will learn about different ways to equip a room and make sure that choice is available to help foster independence, offering a “buffet of sensory tools rather than a menu”.   Teachers will understand that the way they teach rather than what they teach is equally as important. Beccie gives a real-life example of a teacher being brave and changing up a lesson that was going wrong, and how they fixed it, as well as what small things might put autistic children off in a classroom.  📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (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, host Mark Loveday is joined by Beccie Hawes to talk about the boundaries of social interaction in autistic children. They discuss the assumption that children must have friends where in fact that they may prefer being alone to self-regulate and be comfortable as observers.  Mark and Beccie discuss collaborate play based approaches so children can interact in their natural way whilst interacting in meaningful, real-life situations. Beccie gives an example of how she teaches “reading the room” and giving a child the space to step back and assess their environment via a more therapeutic approach.   Practitioners can learn how “wondering aloud makes the invisible visible” and “what do do if”, to help offer tailored approaches to autistic children, whilst finding ways to get them to engage with the world around them.  📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (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.