The SENDcast

We released a great introduction to Tourette's a few weeks ago with Ione, but what impact does having Tourette Syndrome (TS) have within a school? There are still huge amounts of misconceptions out there about TS and a general lack of awareness of the condition. It's really important to increase knowledge and understanding of TS so that students feel supported, understood and accepted in their educational provision. Lucy Toghill, Education Manager for Tourettes Action joins Dale in this episode to discuss 'Tourette's in the Education System'. We discuss how tics can manifest in school, the barriers to learning for students with TS and go through strategies to best support students with Tourette's in an educational provision. "Every child is different. Triggers are a massive key to understanding how to support the children and avoid those triggers where possible." Lucy Toghill About Lucy Toghill Lucy is a Teacher by trade and has worked in both mainstream and SEN schools for over 20 years. She is also a Mum of two SEN children and has a son with TS. Contact Lucy Website – https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/ Twitter – @tourettesaction Facebook – www.facebook.com/TourettesAction/ Email - lucy@tourettes-action.org.uk Useful Links https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk – support groups, free online training, resources, blogs and more. https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/160-our-training-offer.html - Training Offer https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/62-teachers.html - For Teachers https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/151-tourettes-awareness-2023.html - Tourette's Awareness 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

ADHD, ADD, AGT, ASC, ASD, DME, DSD, EBD, PDA, SEMH, SPD… There is an A to Z of SEND labels/terms and there are 9 under 'A' alone!! Labels change and some have more credibility than others. With so many increasing terms how can teachers feel prepared to meet the expectations of parents? Fintan O'Regan, Behaviour and SEN Consultant, joins Dale this week to discuss 'Venn diagrams and Icebergs: How to negotiate the A to Z of SEND'. They debate the use or misuse of labels and outline how some terms come and go. Fintan highlights overlapping traits (Venn diagrams) and understanding the underlying needs (Icebergs) beneath the label/term being used. Listen to hear the terms demystified and a pragmatic approach to addressing traits and needs rather than labels/terms. 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 Website - www.fintanoregan.com Email - fjmoregan@aol.com Twitter - @fintanoregan Useful Links A to Z of SEND, Gemma Corby The SEND code of Practice The Inclusive classroom, Daniel Sobel and Sarah Alston Key issues in SEND and Inclusion , Alan Hodkinson Dual and Multiple Exceptionality, Adam Boddington The DSMV 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

How can you do yoga with children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD)? For many years the potential for yoga to be helpful for children who have limited or no voluntary movement, or cannot sit unaided, or cannot speak has been questioned. Jyoti Jo Manuel, founder and director of Special Yoga, joins Dale this week to discuss 'Helping children with PMLD thrive with yoga'. Yoga for children and young people with PMLD doesn't look like the usual bending/stretching that are synonymous with yoga. Jyoti tells us what it looks like and the impact it can have on the children - which can be life changing! "I think we can never underestimate how impactful a millimetre of change is for a child like that." "I go in with no expectation, just an intention to help this child. To help this child feel the best that they can feel in this moment." Jyoti Jo Manuel Listen to hear why bringing yoga as a therapeutic intervention to children and young people with PMLD has such great value. Jyoti shares her real-life experiences, the benefits and how yoga can help improve the quality of their lives. 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. 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 Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk https://www.peacefulpathwaysyoga.com/articles-and-research.html

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is an inherited, neurological condition, the key features of which are tics, involuntary and uncontrollable sounds and movements. Tourette's is not a rare condition; it impacts an estimated 300,000 people in the UK and 1 in 100 school aged children. As it's Tourette's Awareness month, 15th May to 15th June, we want to destigmatise Tourette Syndrome by showing the general public what the reality of TS looks like. Dispelling some of the myths that surround it such as all people with Tourette's swear (coprolalia), it's a rare condition and tics can be controlled. Ione Georgakis, Occupational Therapist and Advocacy Lead for Tourette's Action, joins Dale this week to discuss 'Tourette's?'. Ione gives an introduction to tics and Tourette's, including myth busting common misconceptions and exploring how you can best support those living with the condition. Ione tells her personal journey living with the condition, talking about the different types of tics, how to identify them and the difference between stimming and tics. Listen to understand, support and advocate for individuals with Tourette's. About Ione Georgakis Ione Georgakis is an Occupational Therapist who works part time as the advocacy lead for Tourettes Action. Ione uses her professional and lived experience of Tourettes, ADHD and Dyslexia to educate employers, schools and healthcare providers on the characteristics of Tourette Syndrome, seeking to highlight best practices, myth bust, and reduce barriers to engagement and wellbeing. Contact Ione Website – www.tourettes-action.org.uk Twitter – @tourettesaction (Charity) / @Neurodiverse_OT (Personal/professional) Facebook – www.facebook.com/TourettesAction/ Useful Links https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk – support groups, free online training, resources, blogs and more. 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 teaching of reading is something that is relevant to all our learners including those with severe and complex learning difficulties but the questions is… Where does phonics fit in? Why should we include this within our reading framework and what will it look like? How will learners with the most significant complex needs gain from an inclusive reading curriculum? These are all questions that Dr Sarah Moseley addresses in today's podcast 'Teaching Phonics to ALL learners - what about SLD and PMLD pupils?'. Sarah is an Educational Consultant and joins Dale to talk about the process of learning to read and the importance of including accessible, meaningful, and engaging phonics instruction in this. Recent publications by the DfE and Ofsted have placed a renewed focus on the teaching of reading for all learners, which includes the teaching of phonics. This has caused much discussion and some concern amongst special schools. There is a lack of support in terms of professional development and how to ensure that the teaching of phonics is relevant, accessible, and engaging for all learners. We discuss: how to ensure approaches are accessible to all the importance of barriers to learning how to make phonics relevant and meaningful for older learners why engagement is the key to understanding how understanding of the alphabetic principle is the key to learning to read Listen to strategies for working with learners with diverse learning needs, including pre/nonverbal learners and those with more complex Special Educational Needs. Ensure everyone has the opportunity to unlock the door and enter the incredible world of literacy. About Dr Sarah Moseley Dr. Moseley has over 30 years' knowledge and experience within special and mainstream education from teaching assistant to Headteacher, as well as a solid research background rooted within the psychology of learning. Her Masters and PhD were in Special Education and focused specifically on the teaching of reading and self-esteem and she has presented nationally and internationally on raising outcomes for learners with SEND and am a published author of my research. Sarah has just finished writing a book on the teaching of reading to all learners for Routledge Publishers. Now an independent Educational Consultant at www.drsarahmoseley.com, Sarah provides face to face and online training, coaching, keynote presentations, information and support for professionals and families from all sectors, specialising in SEND focused school improvement and raising outcomes for all learners. She is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives, attitudes, and outcomes of those who may struggle to learn, based on a belief that every action can make a difference and aims to bridge the gap between theory and learning, to create a culture where high expectations thrive, improving outcomes for all pupils. Contact Dr Sarah Moseley Website - www.drsarahmoseley.com Email - send@drsarahmoseley.com Twitter - @drsarahmoseley Facebook - Facebook.com/Drsarahmoseley 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 Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

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