The SENDcast

• Sensory Struggles With Eating with Joanna Grace

  Can you believe it's already December? With the holiday season upon us, festivities often revolve around food, which can be particularly stressful for families with fussy eaters - something I can relate to with my 7-year-old son at mealtimes. Eating is essential for our health and well-being, yet it can become a source of anxiety for many families. In this episode, Joanna Grace, sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, shares her personal journey as a fussy eater and highlights that sensory issues often relate more to texture than taste. "The emotional tension is there because you really, really love that child and you want them to eat." Jo explains how overwhelming sensory experiences can make mealtimes a stressful challenge for both children and their families. She also offers practical strategies for creating a low-pressure environment at the table, introducing the idea of "graze plates." This approach allows individuals to explore textures and flavours without the pressure to eat, making mealtime a more enjoyable experience. Listen to hear why eating can be such a sensory triggering process and why it can be such a stressful and emotive topic. 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] www.Youtube.com/@TheSensoryProjects   Useful Links Books by Joanna Grace   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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• Adaptive Teaching Through 5 Phases of the Lesson with Sara Alston

  In our latest episode of the SENDcast, we tackle an important topic that often gets lost in the debate over terminology: the practical aspects of differentiation and adaptive teaching. Too much discussion focuses on what to call these strategies, and not enough on how to effectively implement them. Today, Sara Alston, an experienced SEND and Safeguarding consultant, joins Dale in the studio to look at the 5 phases of the lesson and how to implement adaptive teaching strategies across them: "There are two key elements; 1. Involving, engaging and supporting all the children in the class and 2. it's about not working teachers into the grave." Sara Alston In this insightful episode, Sara breaks down the five phases of a lesson and discusses how to apply adaptive teaching strategies at each stage to better engage all students: Preparation – Getting pupils into the room and ready to learn by setting a welcoming tone at the start of the lesson. Instruction – Engaging the class with clear instructions and adapting your communication style to meet diverse needs. Learning – Considering how each child can demonstrate their understanding in a way that works for them. Assessment - Highlighting the importance of formative assessments and adapting your approach based on real-time feedback. Closure – Using the last five minutes for evaluation, summarising what has been learned, and preparing students for a smooth transition to the next lesson. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Sara Alston  Sara Alston has over 38 years teaching experience as a classroom teacher, school leader, SENCO and DSL and is now an independent SEND and Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer. She provides support and training to schools for special needs and safeguarding.   She is the co-author of The Inclusive Classroom: A New Approach to Differentiation (Bloomsbury, 2021) and author of Working Effectively with Your TA (Bloomsbury, 2023). She writes regular articles for SecEd and Headteacher Update.    Contact Sara www.seainclusion.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/seainclusion.co.uk/ [email protected]   Useful Links The Inclusive Classroom book Working Effectively with your TA book   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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• Sensory Processing – Exactly How Does It Impact On Daily Life? with Ali Neal

  It can be difficult to understand exactly how much we use our senses for all daily tasks. Today, Dale discusses the fascinating world of sensory processing with our special guest, Ali Neal, an experienced occupational therapist. She discusses how sensory processing impacts daily life, particularly for children and individuals in educational settings. Ali takes us through a fun and relatable exercise involving sweets, illustrating how sensory processing plays a role in even the simplest tasks. Make sure you grab a sweet before tuning in (a great excuse to enjoy a treat)! Ali breaks down the steps involved in enjoying the sweet, from unwrapping it to savouring the taste. She highlights what can go wrong in this process when sensory information isn't processed effectively. 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.     Contact Ali www.schoolsensorysolutions.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/SchoolSensorySolutions/ ali@schoolsensorysolutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/school-sensory-solutions/   Useful Links School Sensory Solutions training membership Sensory movement breaks 101 sensory circuit activities   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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• Breaking the Cycle: How Informed Parents Can Change the SEND System with Samantha Ryan

  Navigating the SEND system can be overwhelming, and many parents find themselves without essential information until it's too late. Unfortunately, there's no handbook to guide us. Often, parents only begin to understand SEN processes, the graduated approach, and even SEN law when their child is already struggling. This week, we welcome Samantha Ryan, a neurodivergent mother, SEND advocate, and author. In this insightful episode, Samantha shares her journey as a parent navigating the complex SEND system, advocating for her autistic son who has been out of school since March 2024. With her unique perspective, she discusses the emotional challenges faced by parents and the critical importance of being informed about the SEND process. Key highlights from their discussion: The significance of understanding the assess, plan, do, review (APDR) cycle and how it impacts your child's educational journey. Practical advice on how parents can work collaboratively with schools to ensure their children's needs are met. The importance of early intervention and how informed parents can help prevent crises before they escalate. Insight into the emotional toll of navigating the SEND system and the need for a supportive community. Samantha's experiences and insights can empower parents and educators alike to create a more inclusive environment for all children with SEND. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Samantha Ryan I am a neurodivergent mother, informal SEND advocate, and author of SEND Help! and A Parent's Guide to SEND Life and Law (although my day job is Global Process Owner working in Finance process and systems for ITV).   My son is autistic, PDA and probable ADHD. He hit burnout at school in March 2024 and was left with trauma after being restrained during a mental health crisis. He has been out of education since that fateful day. I have been fighting for support and continue to battle through the SEND support system.  I spent a year as co-admin helping to grow the Facebook group SEN Parent Support Group which was setup by Andrea Dixon-Boldy in February 2024 and was at 19,000 members by the time I left the group in May this year. Over that time, I did my IPSEA SEN law training for parents, created hundreds of resources breaking down SEN processes, designed and delivered training to hundreds of parents and offered parent-to-parent support alongside our amazing team of volunteers.  I am passionate about empowering families with the knowledge they deserve before they reach crisis point.   Contact Samantha https://linktr.ee/samantharyansendnd https://www.facebook.com/Sam.MentallyHilariousMum/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sam_mhm   Useful Links Available on Amazon:  Parent's Guide to SEND Life and Law : Amazon.com: PARENT'S GUIDE TO SEND LIFE & LAW: Rights, reality, resilience & resistance: A Parent's Survival Guide to SEND Law, Life, and the Support That Saves Us eBook : Ryan, Samantha: Kindle Store SEND Help! A Parent's Toolkit to Navigating SEND Processes  SEND Help!: A Parent's Toolkit to Navigating SEND Process eBook : Ryan, Samantha: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store   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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• Introducing ITV's Play Time - the groundbreaking new TV show championing SEND children with Céin McGillicuddy and Andy Kinnear

  Have you heard of the TV show The Assembly? I'm thrilled to announce that the series director, Céin McGillicuddy and his creative partner Andy Kinnear, have joined Dale on the podcast to discuss their brand-new pilot show on ITV – Play Time! Play Time features six neurodivergent comedians visiting a primary school and are challenged, in the course of one school day, to create and perform an original stage play that's based entirely on the ideas of a group of 6 to 8 year old school children, many of them from the school's SEND department. Céin and Andy share their behind-the-scenes experience of creating Play Time, their inspiration for the show and why they feel it's important to make inclusive shows like this. Positive representation of SEND in mainstream media, such as Play Time, helps normalise these experiences and reduces the sense of 'other' often associated with SEND. "Play Time is about listening to children that don't usually get heard." The show is now available on ITVX and YouTube and will be broadcast on ITV tonight at 11.15pm. Make sure you watch this heart-warming, feel-good show. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did! Please tell your friends and family and spread the word! View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   Watch the show on ITVx, YouTube or ITV Live on ITV Sunday 9th November at 11.15pm Watch the Trailer here: https://vimeo.com/1122234831/b93216bdcb   Would you like Play Time to come to your school? If anyone listening likes the idea of the comedians visiting their school in a future episode, no matter where in the UK you are, please do feel free to drop Céin an email on [email protected].   About Céin McGillicuddy   Céin McGillicuddy is the comedy writer/director behind comedies Top Coppers, Sexy Murder and Law Man as well as the director of the most recent two series of the BAFTA winning Horrible Histories. Working across both scripted and unscripted, Céin was also the showrunner and series director behind the return of cult hit GamesMaster in 2021 as well as series directing the bold new interview series The Assembly on ITV. Following a late-stage diagnosis for autism, he was inspired to combine his work in comedy and on The Assembly to co-create Play Time; a brand new, charming comedy entertainment format that champions neurodivergent adults and children. Out now on ITVX and YouTube.    About Andy Kinnear Andy Kinnear is a freelance comedy Editor and writer. A 15 year editing career working on Bafta winning Comedy and Entertainment from Facejacker and Derren Brown, through to scripted comedy such as Harry & Paul, Trying, Cuckoo, Here We Go and Smoggie Queens has established him as one of the most sought after Editors in the industry. His writing partnership with Céin Mcgillicuddy includes cult hit Top Coppers, Sexy Murder and Law Man and their most recent collaboration: Play Time - a brand new, charming comedy entertainment format that champions neurodivergent adults and children. Out now on ITVX and YouTube.   Contact Céin http://www.nannycaddie.co.uk/ http://www.cein.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/ceinmcg/ [email protected]   Contact Andy http://www.nannycaddie.co.uk/ http://www.andykinnear.com/ [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.

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