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The SENDcast

Dale Pickles
The SENDcast
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  • Neurodiversity – Building Connections and Building Confidence with Marlon Huggins
    Gaming often gets a bad reputation, but it offers numerous benefits, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Many neurodiverse young people spend their lives in survival mode, navigating challenging environments - not just physically, but socially. The pressure to fit in, the fear of making mistakes, and the constant effort to mask can be exhausting. It's crucial for them to find spaces where they can relax and be themselves. In our latest episode, Marlon Huggins shares his inspiring story and the founding of SHYNNE. Last year, Marlon launched gaming events for neurodiverse children and young adults in Barnet, and thanks to a National Lottery grant, these community events can continue to thrive. Marlon’s experience caring for his neurodiverse sisters motivated him to create this vital support network outside of school. These gatherings help build connections, confidence, social skills, and overall well-being, all in a pressure-free environment where everyone shares a common interest. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Marlon Huggins I’m 40, live in Barnet, London and am the founder of SHYNNE. An organisation who works in the Neurodiversity community to bring programs such as community gaming and speed dating events.    Contact Marlon www.shynne.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561148863424 https://www.instagram.com/shynnecic [email protected]   Useful Links News article   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.
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  • How Can Schools Support Parents of SEN Children More Effectively with Sarah Billingham
    SENCOs, school leaders & class teachers are currently spending large amounts of time supporting or responding to the concerns of parents of SEN children. However, much of this support is reactive and can feel like constant firefighting. A strategic approach to parental support is needed. Sarah Billingham, a specialist teacher with over 18 years of experience, returns to the studio to discuss ‘How can schools support parents of SEN children more effectively’. Sarah highlights the importance of effective communication between schools and parents. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: Clear and timely communication: Helps prevent misunderstandings. Schools should proactively inform parents about the support being provided, rather than waiting for issues to arise. Understanding parent perspectives: Both parents and school staff often bring their own frustrations and expectations into interactions. Recognising this can help foster a more collaborative environment. Building Community: Establishing support networks for parents can alleviate feelings of isolation and empower them to engage positively with the school. The importance of positive feedback: Frequent negative communication can create an adversarial atmosphere. Schools should strive to balance this by sharing positive achievements and experiences. Proactive strategies: Implementing standard operating procedures for communication can streamline processes and reduce workload for staff while keeping parents informed. I hope you find these insights valuable in improving the support provided to families of children with SEN. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Sarah Billingham Sarah Billingham is a specialist teacher, she runs Confident Kids,   a unique Early Years service. She equips parents, carers and practitioners with expert knowledge and the practical tools they need to offer their little people the very best communication support they can.   Sarah has been working with children with speech and language needs for over 16 years in mainstream and specialist settings.   Contact Sarah www.confidentkids.co https://www.facebook.com/confidentkids.co [email protected]     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.
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  • The Stories We Tell About Autism with Joanna Grace
    I expect you’ve come across controversial headlines such as ‘cause for autism discovered’, which suggest that autism is a disease. You may have also heard narratives claiming that autism results from bad parenting or is merely a form of behaviour. Some of these stories have been repeated for so long that they continue to shape our understanding without us even realising it. We are delighted to welcome back the newly appointed Dr. Joanna Grace, a sensory and inclusion specialist, to discuss ‘The stories we tell about autism’ in our 250th episode. “I've repeated that story to parents, there's been somebody in the room who has been approached by a stranger, usually in supermarkets, sometimes on trains, and told that if you just hit your child more, they wouldn't be autistic.” Dr Joanna Grace The stories we embrace shape our actions. If we frame autism as a sickness, we seek a cure; if we see it as a behavioural issue, we look for consequences. By recognising the stories we tell and the narratives surrounding us, we can question their foundations and, when necessary, shift to a more supportive perspective. Autism has been described in various ways over the years, and many of the old ways of talking about autism survive in our current day conversations. These can be misleading. When we look to better support autistic people, we need to be sure of the foundations we build from. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   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 www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP https://x.com/Jo3Grace [email protected]   Useful Links Autism: behaviour or neurotype? session with Jo Grace  Books    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.
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  • Bridging the Gap with Parent Carers with Rachel Wright
    I wanted to share our latest episode featuring Rachel Wright, founder of Born at the Right Time and a parent of neurodiverse children discussing ‘Bridging the Gap with Parent Carers’. While schools, social care, and health services may believe they are partnering effectively with parents, the reality can be quite different. Rachel shares her personal journey navigating the healthcare system for her eldest son, who has complex needs. Her story highlights the frustration many parents feel when they are directed by professionals while lacking agency in decisions affecting their children. This episode emphasises the importance of making every interaction as beneficial as possible and build positive relationships with parent carers. It is understandable that relationships between professionals and parents/carers is more fraught than ever, the experience of trauma coupled with implementation gaps can cause the heat to quickly rise in conversations. Often the little things really do make a difference. Listen to Rachel’s incredible story and the vital need for genuine communication and partnership between parents and professionals to ensure that the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities are met effectively. “The single most important you can do to improve my life on a day-to-day basis is talk to me with respect. And work with me and collaborate with me. So that connection and that communication is where the power and the empathy lies.” Rachel Wright About Rachel Wright Rachel is the Founder/Director of Born at the Right Time, a qualified nurse and the parent of neurodiverse and profoundly disabled sons. She’s the author of The Skies I’m Under, an award-winning blogger and the host of the popular The Skies We’re Under Podcast. Holding the lived experience of families at its heart, Born at the Right Time supports families, delivers CPD certified training to practitioners and influences policy makers and providers.    Useful Links •             Parent Carer trauma https://respond.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Parent-Career-Trauma-May-2024.pdf •                 Luke Clements work on systems generated trauma https://www.lukeclements.co.uk/systems-generated-trauma/ •                 The Skies We’re Under podcast https://www.bornattherighttime.com/the-skies-we-are-under-podcast/ •                 The negative impact professionals can have on parents - https://www.instagram.com/p/DHbijz9O69d/ •                 Skies I’m under book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skies-Im-Under-Rachel-Wright-ebook/dp/B075ZHHYRR 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.
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  • *Special Episode* nasen live 2025
    nasen live 2025 preview We are delighted to welcome Michael Surr, Head of Education at nasen to the SENDcast.  We are excited to be exhibiting at nasen live 2025 on Friday 4th July at the VOX in Birmingham! It is nasen’s flagship conference dedicated to supporting education for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). In this special episode, Michael Surr, Head of Education at nasen, joins Dale to tell us what’s on at this year’s event and why you should be there! The one day conference is filled with engaging sessions covering vital topics and this year’s theme is ‘Preparation for life’. Hear from esteemed speakers including Ginny Bootman and Joe Fautley, alongside students sharing their lived experiences. This event offers invaluable networking opportunities with educators, school leaders, and SEND professionals, as well as a showcase of innovative products and resources from various exhibitors. Be among the first to learn about nasen’s exciting new Continuous Professional Development (CPD) initiative. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to gain fresh perspectives and share best practices within a community dedicated to improving outcomes for children with SEND. We look forward to seeing you there!   About Michael Surr Michael has worked for nasen since 2016 and is currently Head of Education. His background is in primary education both in the UK and abroad.  He has worked as a class teacher, SENCo and Deputy Head. Since beginning his career in education, he has had a keen interest in SEND, equalities issues, and mental health. Before joining nasen, Michael worked for a Local Authority as part of the leadership team of a SEND advisory service which gave him the opportunity to broaden his experience into early years, secondary and further education. This role involved working with schools and settings to help them develop their provision for children and young people with SEND.   Useful Links  Book your tickets to nasen live now - https://nasen.org.uk/nasenlive/   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.
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About The SENDcast

The SENDcast is a weekly podcast focusing on Special Educational Needs, it is an amazing way to keep up to date with all the different areas within SEN, best practices and to improve your knowledge around SEND.
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