The SENDcast

Have you ever listened to a podcast featuring a guest owl? Today, you're in for a treat - twoo! Angela Norwood, Managing Director of Berkshire Birds of Prey, joins Dale in the studio, accompanied by Pumba, a vocal Tawny Owl.
Angela discusses her remarkable journey from working as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant specialising in autism and behaviour to founding Berkshire Birds of Prey. She explains how these majestic birds help children and young people calm and regulate their emotions, making a significant impact on their mental health.
Highlights include:
The calming effects of birds of prey on children with SEND
Personal stories of transformation and healing
Insights into body language and emotional regulation through interactions with birds
The importance of protecting wildlife and understanding their role in our ecosystem
Angela's innovative approach to mental well-being through interactions with birds of prey is both fascinating and inspiring.
View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!
 
About Angela Norwood
Angela Norwood, affectionately known as the "Bird Lady," is the founder of Berkshire Birds of Prey, a venture she started in 2017, which has become a cherished part of the community. In 2023, Angela expanded her impact by establishing a Community Interest Company (CIC), dedicated to providing educational experiences that connect people with nature. 
With a long history in education, Angela has served as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), specialising in supporting children with autism and behavioural challenges - those who often struggle to fit into traditional educational settings. Her passion for nurturing and guiding these children seamlessly translates into her work with birds of prey, where she combines her love for wildlife with her commitment to education and inclusion. 
Through Berkshire Birds of Prey, Angela promotes awareness of these magnificent birds while also facilitating therapeutic and educational programs that empower individuals, inspire curiosity, and foster a deeper connection to the natural world. 
 
Contact Angela
https://www.berkshirebirdsofprey.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/berkshirebirdsofprey
[email protected]
 
 
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 – [email protected] 
Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
 
The SENDcast is powered by B Squared
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.

In our latest podcast, Ali Neal, an occupational therapist specialising in sensory processing, joins Dale to discuss the intriguing concept of sensory profiles, exploring the differences between being a "sensory elephant" and a "sensory mouse." Ali provides valuable insights into how these profiles affect children's experiences in school and everyday life.
Key topics include:
Understanding sensory needs and how they manifest in different individuals.
Practical strategies for supporting children based on their sensory profiles.
Finding a balance and understanding that needs can shift depending on the environment.
The importance of recognising and responding to sensory processing challenges in educational settings.
"You might find it the other way around as well, that if you're worn out, you get overloaded more quickly because your window of tolerance is smaller."
Ali Neal
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in supporting children, especially those with sensory processing difficulties.
View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!
 
About Ali Neal
Ali Neal is a specialist Occupational Therapist with advanced training in sensory processing. She runs School Sensory Solutions which provides regular and cost effective training for all educators supporting SEN and neurodivergent pupils in schools via an online learning platform. Ali prides herself in finding solutions to everyday problems experienced by children and young people at school that actually work and supporting teachers to incorporate these in their already busy days.  
Ali  presents regularly at national level on the topic of Occupational Therapy and sensory processing for a number of organisations across the country including at both The Autism Show and The OT Show. She has written a book on Sensory Movement Breaks and has written an award winning program for developing motor skills for children with special educational needs.  
 
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 – [email protected] 
Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
 
Contact Ali
www.schoolsensorysolutions.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolsensorysolutions/about/
https://www.instagram.com/sensorysolutions_/
ali@schoolsensorysolutions
 
Useful Links
School Sensory Solutions training membership
Sensory movement breaks
101 sensory circuit activities
 
The SENDcast is powered by B Squared
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.

Puberty can be a challenging time, but for neurodiverse girls, it can feel like navigating a storm without a map. As they move from the relative safety of primary school to the larger, more complex world of secondary school, they face heightened challenges - from sensory sensitivities to social pressures, including managing periods.  This crucial phase often makes them vulnerable to anxiety, school refusal, and dips in self-esteem.
This week Kim McCabe, the founder of Rights for Girls CIC, joins Dale to delve into the unique challenges neurodiverse girls face during puberty and their transition to secondary school. Kim, an expert in child development and author of From Daughter to Woman, covers:
The struggles neurodiverse girls encounter during this transformative period.
The importance of proactive support to help them thrive.
Strategies for parents and educators to foster healthy conversations and promote self-acceptance.
With over 30 years of experience working with girls, Kim shares key insights on what truly makes a difference in helping them navigate this time with confidence. With the right support, it can lead to incredible growth and resilience. Open conversations about these challenges help parents and professionals understand what's happening and provide effective responses, rather than leaving girls to struggle alone.
View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!
 
About Kim McCabe
Kim McCabe is the author of From Daughter to Woman, a parenting guide praised for its wise and practical support through the teen years. A child development expert featured on BBC and Sky News, Kim is also the founder of Rites for Girls CIC, an organisation dedicated to making growing up kinder for girls - and saner for parents. With warmth, clarity, and decades of experience, Kim helps parents rediscover their confidence and connection, knowing they hold the key to raising grounded, resilient children.
 
Contact Kim
https://www.ritesforgirls.com
https://www.facebook.com/RitesForGirls
https://www.instagram.com/@ritesforgirls/
[email protected]
 
Useful Links
Rites for Girls Youtube
From Daughter to Woman, parenting girls safely through their teens by Kim McCabe 
Mothers Journeying Together
Parenting Through Difficult Times
Girls' Net 
Parent Pause
 
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 – [email protected] 
Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
 
The SENDcast is powered by B Squared
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.

Inclusion in education isn't working as well as it should. Despite good intentions, many neurodivergent young people are still being left behind, leading to lifelong consequences for their well-being and opportunities.
In our latest SENDcast episode, host Dale Pickles is joined by a record number of guests - five members of the Compass Panel - a passionate group of professionals committed to neuro-inclusion. Featuring Liz Day, Victoria Bagnall, Dr Helen Ross, Fintan O'Regan, and Pete Jarrett the panel explores the pressing need for systemic change in education.
They discuss how current systems often fail neurodivergent individuals and how practical, evidence-informed changes can transform inclusion from an aspiration into an everyday reality. The conversation addresses what's currently happening in schools, the rising exclusion rates as a warning sign of deeper systemic issues, and a roadmap toward a genuinely neuroinclusive society.
Join them for insights on actionable steps that individuals and organisations can take to implement positive change.
View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!
 
About Liz Day
Liz is an experienced trainer and facilitator, passionate about mental health, neurodiversity, and cultivating a safe environment for all. She began her career as a teacher with a specialism in PE, drawing on her background as a former county-level gymnast and lifelong love of sport. This shaped her inclusive teaching approach and continues to influence her work today - sport remains central to her identity and wellbeing. 
​Transitioning into communications, Liz contributed to high-profile projects such as the successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid, focusing on community engagement and stakeholder relationships. This developed her skills in building trust, fostering collaboration, and facilitating meaningful initiatives.​ Over the past decade, Liz has specialised in neurodiversity and education, working with award-winning businesses, families, schools, and national charities, including the British Dyslexia Association. She combines her personal and professional insights to share strategies for creating inclusive living, learning, and working environments.​ Liz regularly appears on BBC Radio 5 Live.  
In 2024, Liz completed a master's in psychology at the University of Exeter, with her thesis exploring mental health literacy in young people. This academic achievement and her practical expertise ensure her training is evidence-based and highly relevant. Liz's engaging style and commitment to empowerment make her a trusted advocate and leader in mental health, education, and neurodiversity. 
 
Contact Liz
www.collectivelydiverse.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572518254058
instagram.com/collectivelydiverseuk
[email protected]
 
About Victoria Bagnall
Victoria is a neurodiverse teacher and mother of 3 girls 
who has dedicated her life to raising awareness of essential brain 
She believes that knowledge of executive functioning helps people to be kinder to themselves and those around them and has the power to change the world.
 
About Victoria
www.connectionsinmind.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/connectionsinmind/
https://twitter.com/VictoriaBagnal2
[email protected]
 
About Fintan O'Regan
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
www.fintanoregan.com
https://www.facebook.com/FintanORegansBehaviourManagementConsultancy/
https://x.com/fintanoregan
[email protected]
 
About Dr Helen Ross
Dr Helen Ross is a fully qualified special needs teacher and former SENCO, working as an independent educational research consultant, specialist assessor and SEND expert. Helen is a Trustee of the British Dyslexia Association, Chair of the Wiltshire Dyslexia Association and is on the board of the US, not-for profit National Coalition of Independent Scholars. She has consulted for the British Dyslexia Association, The Committee for Science and Technology (part of the UK Government), and Wiltshire Local Authority. She also works internationally with various third sector and commercial organisations with evaluation, consultancy and resource development. Helen's research explores stakeholder experiences of SEND provision within the mainstream education sector, focussing on the empowerment of those supporting young people, to help them to take ownership of their own learning. She uses her findings from research to inform her own practice and to support other practitioner in their own work, through CPD webinars and live sessions.
 
Contact Helen
http://helensplace.co.uk/
https://x.com/drhelenross
[email protected]
 
 
Useful Links
EBSA Toolkit for Schools
Compass Panel 
 
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 – [email protected] 
Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
 
The SENDcast is powered by B Squared
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.

With the launch of the new Ofsted framework at the end of last year, you may be wondering what this means for SEND. In today's episode, Ofsted join us to discuss the key elements of the new inspection framework and its implications for SEND.
In this episode, host Dale Pickles is joined by Adam Sproston, a senior His Majesty's Inspector for SEND, AP, and Inclusion. Together, they explore:
The key changes in Ofsted's new framework and what they mean for SEND.
How inclusion is now at the heart of educational inspections.
The collective responsibility of school leaders in supporting neurodiverse students.
Adam brings his extensive experience in school improvement and strategic SEND leadership to the conversation, providing listeners with valuable insights into how schools can create an inclusive environment for all learners.
Whether you're an educator, school leader, or involved in supporting SEND students, this episode offers essential information and guidance on navigating the changing landscape of education.
View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!
 
About Adam Sproston
Adam Sproston is Senior His Majesty's Inspector for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), alternative provision (AP) and inclusion. He is a qualified teacher and has taught across the full primary age range. Before joining Ofsted, Adam gained extensive school improvement and senior leadership experience in primary schools, including specially resourced provision. He has also worked at local authority level in both early years and SEND strategic leadership. Adam holds a NPQH and the national award for SEND coordination. He leads inspections of primary, special and independent schools. Adam also leads and quality assures area SEND inspections.
 
Contact Adam
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted
https://x.com/Ofstednews
http://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-sproston-63872725b
 
Useful Links
Ofsted's latest area SEND thematic report - Beyond the classroom: the experiences of children with SEND who are not in school - GOV.UK
 
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 – [email protected] 
Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
 
The SENDcast is powered by B Squared
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.