The SENDcast

Do you have a LEGO® or brick building club in your setting? All children need opportunities to play, make friends and feel accepted. Autistic and neurodivergent children can experience high levels of exclusion and may not have access to the same opportunities to socialise in ways that are supportive and accepting. It has never been more important to actively support them with their social, emotional and communication needs. Dr Gina Gómez de la Cuesta, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Play Included, joins Dale for the first time on The SENDcast to talk about 'LEGO® play - social and emotional wellbeing'. Gina highlights the importance of learning through play, following a child-led approach and the ways in which the Brick-by-Brick® programme positively impacts the development of children's social and communication skills and their emotional wellbeing. Listen to hear how LEGO® play supports children to communicate, collaborate and connect. Gina also takes us through what running a brick club looks like, from what the role of the adult/teacher is in facilitating the sessions, to the top 5 things you should and shouldn't be doing. About Dr Gina Gómez de la Cuesta Gina is a Clinical Psychologist and founded Play Included® (formerly Bricks for Autism) in 2018. Gina studied LEGO® based therapy for her PhD at Cambridge University Autism Research Centre and is co-author of the LEGO based therapy manual. Gina has published several academic papers on LEGO based therapy, including the I-SOCIALISE randomised control trial. Play Included's Brick-by-Brick® programme is the latest update to LEGO based therapy and the only programme of its kind to be endorsed by the LEGO Foundation. Contact Dr Gina Gómez de la Cuesta Website – playincluded.com/ Twitter - @GinaGDLC @playincluded Facebook – facebook.com/playincluded 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

Labels tell you a lot and yet nothing at the same time. They can lead to stereotyping, discrimination and negative attitudes but they also facilitate support and understanding of a child's needs. Labels have their uses, but they also have a checklist tick box type mentality attached to them. "It is somewhere to start from as long as it doesn't get boiled down to a checklist of five items because we still need to recognise that everybody is an individual within that possibility of that label." Abigail Hawkins In this week's podcast Abigail Hawkins, join Dale to discuss 'The Labelling Lurgy' where we highlight the pros and cons of labels. During our discussion we cover the 3 levels of labels: Census 4 broad areas of need Diagnostic Labels can be useful tools in understanding and supporting neurodiverse children, but they shouldn't be used to define or limit them – listen to find out more… About Abigail Hawkins Abigail runs SENDCOSolutions, an SEN consultancy and SENsible SENCO CIC, a not-for-profit networking support group. She has been a SENCO for over 25 years and has taught a multitude of subjects across all phases from 2-year-olds to adults. She works with software companies developing supportive software for SEN and Safeguarding purposes, has developed and delivers on a teaching assistant apprenticeship programme, authored several books on SEN and exclusions and runs a support network for over 9000 SENCOs. Until recently, she was the Chair of Governors for 3 schools in the East Midlands and she still works as a SENCO for part of her week. Abigail has a no-nonsense, practical approach to SEN issues faced by schools. Abigail was one of the three lead voices on a series of SEN webinars delivered over the lockdowns amassing an audience of over 12000 viewers and she uses modern approaches to share SEN-related information including a successful YouTube channel. Contact Abigail Website – www.sendcosolutions.co.uk www.sensiblesenco.org.uk Email – enquiries@sendcosolutions.co.uk Twitter – @sendcosolutions Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sensiblesenco Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SENsibleSENCO 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

Multisensory rooms have become increasingly popular. They typically occupy considerable space, require substantial financial investment, and consume significant amounts of time and human effort. However, there is a mismatch between expectation and experience of sensory rooms, which is underpinned by some fundamental misunderstandings from their conception. People may feel disappointed and that the equipment is insufficient, or that they need to try something different. Joanna Grace, sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, joins me in today's episode 'Myth busting the Magic of Sensory Rooms'. In 2019 Joanna conducted research into the use of multisensory rooms which looked into effective practice and identifying key features and barriers. In this podcast Joanna highlights: the history of sensory rooms her research findings evidence based practice that effectiveness is not related to the price having every single classroom as a sensory room the importance of understanding why and who you're doing it for 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 Website – www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk Email – sensorystory@gmail.com Twitter – @Jo3Grace Facebook – www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP 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

Did you know that children from ethnic minority groups are excluded at a rate that's 4 times greater than their white peers? Adding neurodivergence into the equation further increases the chance of being excluded. "When you know you're already different, and then you're different within different, that's something that I feel acutely aware of." Suzy Rowland Today Suzy Rowland, Lauren Fernandez and Keisha Swaby join Dale for this podcast 'Black and Autistic or Neurodivergent'. Listen to hear the first-hand experiences of 3 black women and how neurodiversity affects different ethnicities and cultures in unique ways. About Suzy Rowland Suzy Rowland is the author of S.E.N.D. in the Clowns, a poetry collection and "I can't go to school!" – a children's workbook for school non-attenders, an ADHD & Autism Spectrum Condition Specialist, Mindful Cognitive Behaviour Therapist & Speaker. She founded the #happyinschool project to provide interactive, bespoke training and consultancy, rooted in lived experience. In this capacity, she works as an agent of change with families and young people, mental health professionals, educators, local authorities, charitable and corporate organisations, to build knowledge, connections and positive narratives about educating and employing neurodivergent thinkers. Suzy is also a presenter for Women's LIK UltravisionTV. About Keisha Swaby Keisha is a wife and mother to four beautiful children. She is an International Inspirational Speaker and a Presenter on Radio Diamond. Keisha gave up her job of 12 years in 2016 to continue her education and pursue her dreams. Keisha completed a 3-year degree and achieved a First-Class BSc (Hons) Degree in Applied Sport and Exercise Science. During the last few weeks of her studies, she was diagnosed with severe Dyslexia and Dyspraxia at the age of 41. Keisha went on to achieve Merit in her master's degree in health psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University. Keisha is passionate about helping others and creating more awareness of Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Her eldest daughter was also diagnosed with Dyspraxia making her mission even closer to her heart. As part of her awareness work, she has given several people with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia the opportunity to share their own stories on her radio show. Keisha is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Jamaica Dyslexia Association. Her lived experience of these conditions has given her several opportunities to share her story on various platforms and events. She is a regular speaker at events for international women's day and was a speaker at the recent Dyslexia Show 2022. Keisha has been chosen as one of the top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women in 2022. Keisha launched Empowering Dyslexics to inspire and be an example to others that they too can achieve anything her motto is "If I CAN do it so CAN you". About Lauren Fernandez Lauren is a Neurodivergent Consultant and Trainer with a focus on Autism amongst marginalised communities. Late diagnosed, she found a lack of services, support, and representation available. Lauren's experience highlighted changes that desperately needed to be made, after spending brief time as an inpatient and struggling to navigate access to appropriate services, she founded Mask Off C.I.C. Through her organisation, she advocates as an ambassador for Neurodiversity, providing her own training and hosting discussions across several mainstream services and organisations. Lauren endeavours to be the representation that is often missed, and to provide experience informed solutions. Contact Suzy Website - www.happyinschoolproject.com Email - hello@happyinschoolproject.com Twitter - @SchoolHappyin Facebook - www.facebook.com/happyinschool LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/milknosugarcomms/ Instagram - @happyinschool 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

Children are needing more support than ever with their language skills. The Education Endowment Foundation reported a staggering 76% of primary schools said pupils starting school in September 2020 needed more support with communication than in previous years. Coupled with an increase in pupil anxiety, 95% of schools have seen an increase in pupil anxiety since the start of the school year. Anyone supporting young people will want to find ways to help them express their feelings. In this week's episode 'How to help pupils understand and express how they feel', Sue White, Senior Educational Specialist, joins Dale to discuss: Why children have challenges expressing their emotions: vocabulary gaps, Covid impact, feeling overwhelmed. Recognising and expressing anxiety: Encouraging pupils to share how they feel when they are overwhelmed can be difficult. Instead, they could hold up an emotion fan or point to a visual to show how anxious they are without having to speak out loud. Coping strategies: Allowing students who feel anxious to show a card explaining what they need can be helpful, whether that is going to a safe quiet place or getting out their calm box with reassuring items like photos from home or a fidget toy. Listen to hear how you can use symbols to support your pupils to understand and express how they feel. About Sue White A qualified primary teacher, Sue's passion for building children's vocabulary came after teaching a child with specific learning difficulties. Sue could see that the child's behaviour in class was borne from a frustration of not being able to fully participate in lessons. Determined to help, Sue started a long journey of learning how to help children who process learning differently. She first became a SENCo and later specialised in a range of developmental disorders where lack of vocabulary development impacted on attainment. Sue discovered that symbols – visual representations of words – can help all children comprehend spoken and written text, communicate better, as well as build confidence, independence and vocabulary. She has been with Widgit since 2018 where she has advised hundreds of schools on how to use symbols to improve learning and support delayed language development. Contact Sue Website – www.widgit.com Email – Sue@widgit.com Twitter - @Widgit_Software Instagram – @widgitsoftware Facebook - @widgitsoftware26 Useful Links Sue recently co-authored a report: Walking the talk: A vocabulary recovery plan for primary schools. 30 day free trial of Widgit Symbols software to helps schools improve children's language and literacy skills https://www.widgit.com/language 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

Do you love Excel or avoid it? If conditional formatting, VLOOKUP, freezing panes, formulas and filtering send you into a spin. Look no further! In this week's show, we're discussing Excel. Ginny Bootman, a SENCO across 4 schools, joins Dale for 'We need to talk about Excel'. You may have listened to Ginny's other podcast (Paperless SENCO) and know that she is currently on a technology journey. Excel saves SENCOs time by automating data management, analysis, and reporting processes, allowing them to focus on making informed decisions and providing effective support for students with special educational needs. Listen to hear how and why Ginny started using Excel, and the top tips and tricks you need to make your life easier. If you have avoided Excel thus far, after listening to this episode you will be inspired to give it a go and see how it will save you time! Dale's Excel Tips and Tricks Dale has put together this guide to help you feel more confident using Excel and covers all the features he discussed in the podcast. Download the guide below: https://www.thesendcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Excel-Tips-and-Tricks.pdf Live online training session Ginny is joining us again on Tuesday 25th April to host 'Making meetings work for children, parents, SENCOs and schools'. SENCOs spend a lot of time in meetings. But how can you ensure this is time well spent? Ginny shares simple, tried and tested ways to make your meetings more collaborative and more effective. Register now for just £10 for your whole school! About Ginny Bootman Ginny has been a teacher longer than she hasn't, as a Headteacher, Senior Manager and Class Teacher and now as a SENCO of 4 Primary schools in Northamptonshire. Her 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. Ginny is an Associate of Undiscovered Country a team who help individuals manage change. Contact Ginny Website – www.ginnybootman.com Email – ginnybootman10@gmail.com Twitter - @sencogirl Instagram – @ginnybootman 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

Have you heard of compassionate co-regulation? It means that when we calm and regulate ourselves as the adults, we create an energetic circle of safety that supports the children around us to regulate themselves. It's hard to be truly compassionate and kind when we are stressed out. In this week's episode, Jyoti Jo Manuel, the founder and director of Special Yoga, joins Dale to discuss 'The what and why of compassionate co-regulation'. We talk about how we underestimate the impact that we have as the adults around children and that children learn best from how we are and how we model behaviour. "The energy field that we create inside and outside creates a compassionate, caring space for another." Jyoti Jo Manuel Listen to hear the importance of looking after ourselves first. Balancing our autonomic nervous system (the part that controls involuntary actions, such as the beating of your heart) changes our thoughts, reduces our worries and anxieties, and helps us to become more heartfelt and kinder. Jyoti tells us that if teachers and parents/carers are balanced and calm then children can thrive. About Jyoti Jo Manuel Jyoti has been practising yoga since 1974 and teaching since 1989. She is one of the leaders in the training and application of yoga as a therapeutic intervention for children with special and additional needs. She pioneered children's yoga in the UK. She set up the global training school, Special Yoga in 2002 to provide sustainable and accessible training programmes and to support practitioners delivering the work . She works with local education authorities, NHS, academies and individual schools, parents/carers and paediatric professionals. She has travelled globally to extend Special Yoga in Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Australia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and many countries in Europe. She is currently training 45 psychologists in the Ukraine to support their traumatised children. Contact Jyoti Website – www.specialyoga.co.uk Email – info@specialyoga.co.uk Instagram – @Specialyogaglobal Facebook – Special Yoga | Facebook 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

The nature vs nurture debate in mental health and behaviour refers to the extent to which genetics (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) influence the development of mental health conditions and behaviours. Both genetics and environment play a role in shaping mental health and behaviour, but the exact extent of each factor is still not fully understood. A DfE report on mental health and behaviour cited 4 sets of risk factors that are believed to be associated within: The child themselves The family The community Schools themselves Fintan O'Regan, Behaviour and SEN Consultant, joins Dale in this week's podcast to discuss 'Mental Health and Behaviour: Nature or Nurture? Risk and Resilience'. In this episode we consider the complex nature vs nurture debate, and risk and resilience factors to offset and support children and families. Find out from Fintan how both genetics and environment play important roles in shaping mental health outcomes. About Fintan O'Regan MA, PGCE BSc He 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 Behaviour and Mental Health: a new approach. www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk O'Regan F (2005) Surviving and Succeeding in SEN Continuum International O'Regan F (2006) Challenging Behaviours Teachers Pocketbooks O'Regan F (2006) Troubleshooting Challenging Behaviours Continuum International O'Regan F (2018) Successfully Managing Children ADHD Second edition :Routledge Falmer Press O'Regan F (2020) Supporting behaviour in the classroom: Sage publications limited MH and Behaviour in schools 2018. Available at : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools- 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 live in a digital age, so where do we see or use joined up writing nowadays? Everything has moved on since putting pen to paper and writing letters! Most adults tend to type a lot more than they write, however handwriting is still a big focus in schools. "Handwriting is so much more complicated than a lot of people necessarily give it credit for." Kim Griffin, Occupational Therapist The DfE released new guidance in the Research Review Series which looks at handwriting as a separate skill. Kim Griffin joins Dale in today's podcast to discuss 'Dyspraxia and Handwriting', listen to find out what this new guidance says and what is best practise for teaching. Kim talks about the various skills and elements involved in handwriting: Motor skills – physically holding the pen Visual perception – getting letters in the right order Composition – spoken language, vocabulary If a student has dyspraxia, the planning element of how to actually form letters is really tricky. Listen to top tips on making handwriting easier and how you can support students in your setting. About Kim Griffin Kim is an occupational therapist with 20 years' experience supporting children, young people, their families and teachers to participate successfully in their daily lives. Her interest areas are sensory processing and autism. Kim provides online training for those who want to learn more about sensory processing, motor skills and handwriting along with programmes that show you have to help children improve their skills. Contact Kim Griffin Website - www.GriffinOT.com Email - Training@GriffinOT.com Twitter - @Griffin_OT Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GriffinSensoryOT/ Useful Links https://twitter.com/profamandakirby/status/1362306501130485764?lang=ar https://www.griffinot.com/how-to-help-children-with-dyspraxia/ 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

Last summer we were all asked for our input as part of the SEND Review Green Paper consultation. Having reviewed thousands of responses, last week the government published their 101-page 'SEND and AP Improvement Plan'. Today Dale is delighted to be joined by Claire Coutinho, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education, for a special episode 'Discussing the SEND and AP Improvement Plan'. Dale had this great opportunity to ask Claire questions and share her responses with you. In their discussion they cover: The EHCP process Getting the right support early on Accountability Workload SENCO role National standards LA change Reasonable adjustments "If you look at the entirety of the plan, we're really talking about systemic change to try and make sure that everyone's got what they need to deliver for children and young people with SEND." Claire Coutinho, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State We hope you find this special episode useful, if you'd like to find out more about the SEND and AP Improvement Plan, Lorraine Petersen OBE will be joining us for a SEND briefing on 22nd March. Lorraine will be giving her response and breaking down what it really means for young people, SENCOs and schools – sign up for FREE. About Claire Coutinho Claire Coutinho was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education on 26 October 2022. She was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions from 21 September to 27 October 2022. Clare was elected Conservative MP for East Surrey on 12 December 2019. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing) The minister's responsibilities include: special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including high needs funding alternative provision children's social care children in care, children in need and child protection adoption and care leavers early years and childcare family hubs and early childhood support disadvantaged and vulnerable children children and young people's mental health policy to protect against serious violence freedom of speech in education online safety and preventing bullying in schools Useful Links 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 Assessing Progress for Pupils Working out of Year Group - https://www.bsquared.co.uk/2022/09/27/assessing-progress-for-pupils-working-out-of-year-group/ Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk What is in the SEND and AP Improvement plan briefing – 22nd March - https://www.trainingforeducation.com/product/whats-in-the-send-and-alternative-provision-improvement-plan/ What is in the SEND and AP Improvement plan briefing – 22nd March - SEND and AP Improvement Plan - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139561/SEND_and_alternative_provision_improvement_plan.pdf SEND and AP Improvement Plan (easy read) - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139607/SEND_and_alternative_provision_improvement_plan_easy_read.pdf Independent Analysis of the consultation responses - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139719/Independent_analysis_of_the_consultation_responses_to_the_SEND_review_right_support__right_place__right_time.pdf 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