The SENDcast

As we approach the end of 2025, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks to you - our wonderful listeners! It has been another remarkable year with 52 episodes recorded, 35 new guest speakers and 100,000 downloads. Thank you for being part of this journey! I'm excited to share our latest episode of the SENDcast, where we explore the concept of "sticky learning" with the legendary Dr. Susie Nyman! A recently retired curriculum manager with 29 years of experience, Susie shares her insights on how to make learning truly resonate with students, especially those with special educational needs. In this episode, Susie discusses: Multi-Sensory Teaching: Learn how utilising different senses can enhance understanding and retention. The Onion Teaching Model: Discover how layering knowledge can help students grasp core concepts more effectively. Practical Strategies: Susie shares engaging techniques, like using props and stories, to make learning interactive and memorable. She emphasises the importance of simplifying information, allowing students to connect new concepts to what they already know. This episode is packed with valuable strategies that can transform classroom practices and support inclusive learning. We hope you find it as inspiring as we did, and if you enjoy it, please share it with your colleagues and friends! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a well-deserved break! We look forward to returning in the New Year with an exciting lineup of guest speakers and more great content. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Dr Susie Nyman  Dr Susie Nyman is passionate about discovering how children learn and supporting them in ways which enable them to succeed. She was appointed as a Biology teacher at The Sixth Form College Farnborough in 1995, and subsequently as Curriculum Manager for Health and Social Care where she has worked ever since.  Susie strives to raise students' achievements and support them in ways which enables them to succeed.  She works with her students deploying a range of innovative and Multi-sensory teaching techniques to assist their learning including her 'Equality and Diversity Tree' and famous puppets!  Additionally, she has provided training to PGCE students at Kingston University, and in a number of local schools and colleges on teaching strategies. Since February 2017, Susie has presented seminars on 'Multi-sensory Techniques' at The Learning Differences Conventions in Australia, Richmond College, The Helen Arkell Centre, Bell House, The Oratory School, The National Education Show and The Tes SEN Shows in London and Manchester.    Recently, she was filmed 'in action' for The British Dyslexia Association as well as Oaka Books, and the footage is available on YouTube. Subsequently, she has written a chapter about 'Multi-sensory Teaching' in the BDA Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide and 'The Multi-sensory Teaching Toolkit' by Oaka Books.  In recognition of over 21 years continued service at The Sixth Form College Farnborough, Susie has been nominated three times by the College for the 'Tes FE Teacher of the Year Award'. This is an honour of which she is immensely proud.    Contact Susie www.drnymanconsultancy.co.uk https://x.com/DrSusieNyman [email protected]   Useful Links Nyman S. (2024). Oaka Digital. 'Dr Susie Nyman Multi-sensory Techniques.' Oaka Digital Susie's other podcast recordings   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.

Despite being central to support for children with SEND, the Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) process is often overwhelming and confusing for families. Ekaterina Harrison, a solicitor and author of the EHCP Handbook, joins Dale to discuss 'How to Make an Effective Education, Health and Care Plan'. Ekaterina offers vital legal insights and personal strategies to help listeners take informed, confident steps - whether reviewing an EHCP for the first time or requesting changes to an existing plan. "It's quite a sad state of affairs to have trickery going on in this sector". Ekaterina Harrison In this insightful episode, Ekaterina highlights:   The complexities of the EHCP process and how to navigate it effectively. Key sections that are crucial and how they interconnect. Common pitfalls parents face and how to avoid them. That it's a living document that must evolve with your child. Listen to a practical and empowering guide for anyone looking to transform paperwork into meaningful support. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!     About Ekaterina Harrison  Ekaterina Harrison is a solicitor qualified to practise law in England and Wales. She is an author of "The EHCP Handbook: How to Make an Effective Education, Health and Care Plan".  Her expertise in education law has developed through advocacy work for her children's needs and volunteering with the charity SOS!SEN.  As a mother to three neurodivergent children, Ekaterina brings a unique perspective to her writing on special needs and legal entitlements.   The illustrations in the book were created by Ekaterina Harrison's son, James, who was 11 at the time. A different piece of his artwork was selected for exhibition at the Royal Academy Young Artists' Summer Show in 2023.      Contact Ekaterina https://pavpub.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterinaharrison/     Useful Links The EHCP Handbook In England, more than half a million children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are provided with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). However, merely having one does not guarantee a smooth education journey. If not properly written, an EHCP can be ineffective or even misleading. This accessible, illustrated handbook acts as a guide through all the stages of making an ECHP, equipping the reader with the information needed to ensure it provides clear guidance and support for the child or young person's education journey.  https://www.amazon.co.uk/EHCP-Handbook-Effective-Education-Parents/dp/1803883952   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.

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, Dr 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 Dr Joanna Grace Dr 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.

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.

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.