Access All Areas of SEND - The podcast

Tina Emery OBE
  • 5.0 (3)
  • DOCUMENTARY

S1 Ep1 - Parent Carer - what is one? What does it mean to you as a 'parent' of a child or young person with additional needs? What does it may to your friendships or family relationships? Have you had to retell your story more than once and to be then told its because of the condition that your child has, which can feel dismissive. We hear you. Join us for our first episode of this new podcast, where you may find out new information around all things special educational needs. This is for everyone to know more, whether you are a parent, foster carer, grandparent, educator, someone in the local authority, or anyone who wants to learn more about all things special educational needs and disabilities, with no political stand point, this is for you.

  1. Preview: Dyscalculia - is it more than not being good at maths?

    SEASON 2 TRAILER

    Preview: Dyscalculia - is it more than not being good at maths?

    Rob is the co-founder of The Dyscalculia Network. (www.dyscalculianetwork.com ) The Dyscalculia Network provides training and advice for teachers and parents of pupils who have maths difficulties. He has over 15 years of experience teaching young people with special needs. Over the past ten years, he has focused specifically on helping children struggling with Maths working in both independent and state schools. As Head of Maths at Emerson House LLP and Head of Learning Support at Westminster Abbey Choir School, Rob worked alongside educators and with parents to create and deliver personalised intervention plans for pupils. Since leaving Emerson House, he has set up a number of Maths inset training and lesson support in a number of West London schools. Rob qualified as a member of The British Psychological Society, as a Certified Educational Assessor (including Access Arrangements CPT3A). He holds an OCR Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (Distinction) from Helen Arkell and is co-author of The Maths Difficulties and Dyscalculia Assessment, published by Jessica Kingsley July 2025. This is a unique test that not only collects information on scoring accuracy, but also looks into techniques and strategies used to tackle the important areas of foundation maths. Rob is a member of the Crested Council (https://crested.org.uk/index.html) to represent issues about Dyscalculia and Maths Difficulties throughout specialist schools in this country. Rob has presented across a number of educational exhibitions and school across the UK (Times Education show in London 2023/24 and TES North 2025, Dyslexia/Dyscalculia show at NEC Birmingham 2023/24, Toucan Education in Newcastle 2023/4, FOBISIA - www.fobisia.org The Federation of British Schools in Asia, Isle of Wight SEND Conference 2024, The Dorset SENCO school’s group at Milton Abbey 2024, East Sussex SENCo and Schools group and the Joint-venture with Ulster University for the Dyscalculia conference in Belfast, which included work with the Northern Regional College group at their campuses in Newton Abbey and Coleraine.) He has been involved in the creation and delivery of Dyscalculia and Maths difficulty courses aimed at different teaching levels: primary, secondary and higher-level education. He is delighted that his book ‘The Maths and Dyscalculia Assessment’, has now been published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in July of this year. This is the assessment for all of the key foundations of maths to help formulate a focused teaching intervention plan.

    2 min
  2. Sensory Informed Design

    4 DAYS AGO

    Sensory Informed Design

    For this episode, I am joined by Liz Lavender. Liz Lavender is an Interior Designer and Expert by Experience, specialising in creating sensory-informed environments that feel safe, calm, and responsive — particularly for people with sensory needs, autism, or a learning disability. Creating spaces that support inclusion and wellbeing. She brings over 20 years of experience in design, project management, and global procurement, alongside lived insight as a parent navigating the mental health and autism service landscape. Liz works across healthcare, education, and residential settings, embedding sensory-informed thinking into everyday environments. Whether redesigning a community clinic, improving a mental health ward, or co-producing a bespoke home, she focuses on creating spaces that support comfort, dignity, and wellbeing. She is also an Associate of the Design in Mental Health Network, contributing to national conversations on how design can better support mental health outcomes. Guided by the belief that good design supports better outcomes, Liz champions the idea that impact comes from thoughtful, informed choices — not simply increased spend. Her work is rooted in collaboration. She works closely with NHS England South West, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, clinicians, service users, and national design networks to ensure environments are inclusive, evidence-based, and practical. Improving environments across settings to support wellbeing through better design. We also talk about The Brook, situated at Langdon Hospital, which won an award at the Healthcare Design Awards in 2026. The design took home the award for Best Specialist Design, recognising environments created specifically to support individuals with learning disabilities and/or autistic people, whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream mental health hospital, even with reasonable adjustments in place. The Brook was designed around therapeutic spaces, specialist support, and patient wellbeing. To find out more about sensory informed design and therapeutic spaces click on the link below: https://www.theenvironmentalhub.uk/

    41 min

  3. SEASON 2 TRAILER

    Sensory Informed Design Preview

    Listen to a preview of Sensory Informed Design. For this episode, I am joined by Liz Lavender. Liz Lavender is an Interior Designer and Expert by Experience, specialising in creating sensory-informed environments that feel safe, calm, and responsive — particularly for people with sensory needs, autism, or a learning disability. Creating spaces that support inclusion and wellbeing. She brings over 20 years of experience in design, project management, and global procurement, alongside lived insight as a parent navigating the mental health and autism service landscape. Liz works across healthcare, education, and residential settings, embedding sensory-informed thinking into everyday environments. Whether redesigning a community clinic, improving a mental health ward, or co-producing a bespoke home, she focuses on creating spaces that support comfort, dignity, and wellbeing. She is also an Associate of the Design in Mental Health Network, contributing to national conversations on how design can better support mental health outcomes. Guided by the belief that good design supports better outcomes, Liz champions the idea that impact comes from thoughtful, informed choices — not simply increased spend. Her work is rooted in collaboration. She works closely with NHS England South West, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, clinicians, service users, and national design networks to ensure environments are inclusive, evidence-based, and practical. Improving environments across settings to support wellbeing through better design. We also talk about The Brook, situated at Langdon Hospital, which won an award at the Healthcare Design Awards in 2026. The design took home the award for Best Specialist Design, recognising environments created specifically to support individuals with learning disabilities and/or autistic people, whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream mental health hospital, even with reasonable adjustments in place. The Brook was designed around therapeutic spaces, specialist support, and patient wellbeing. To find out more about sensory informed design and therapeutic spaces click on the link below: https://www.theenvironmentalhub.uk/

    1 min
  4. Trauma Informed and Attachment

    29 APR

    Trauma Informed and Attachment

    In this episode I am joined by Tony Sammon and we talk about trauma informed practice, whether they are buzz words and how relationships can change behaviour. Tony Sammon is a teacher and behaviour specialist with over 37 years of experience working in schools. During that time, he’s been a teacher, a SENCO, a Deputy Head in a large secondary school, and the Head of a Pupil Referral Unit, so he’s seen behaviour from just about every angle. More recently, he’s worked as a trainer and coach, supporting schools across the UK to move away from rigid, punitive systems and towards approaches that are more relational, more human, and ultimately more effective. His work is grounded in real classroom experience rather than theory alone, and draws on trauma-informed practice alongside some of the most respected voices in behaviour and education. Tony is also the author of Don’t Lose Your Mind, a book that brings together stories, psychology, and practical strategies for anyone working with young people. He’s known for his honest, down-to-earth style and his focus on what actually works day to day. To contact Tony, please email info@tonysammonconsulting.com

    54 min

  5. SEASON 2 TRAILER

    Trauma Informed and Attachment - Preview

    In this episode I am joined by Tony Sammon and we talk about trauma informed practice, whether they are buzz words and how relationships can change behaviour. Tony Sammon is a teacher and behaviour specialist with over 37 years of experience working in schools. During that time, he’s been a teacher, a SENCO, a Deputy Head in a large secondary school, and the Head of a Pupil Referral Unit, so he’s seen behaviour from just about every angle. More recently, he’s worked as a trainer and coach, supporting schools across the UK to move away from rigid, punitive systems and towards approaches that are more relational, more human, and ultimately more effective. His work is grounded in real classroom experience rather than theory alone, and draws on trauma-informed practice alongside some of the most respected voices in behaviour and education. Tony is also the author of Don’t Lose Your Mind, a book that brings together stories, psychology, and practical strategies for anyone working with young people. He’s known for his honest, down-to-earth style and his focus on what actually works day to day. To contact Tony, please email info@tonysammonconsulting.com

    2 min
  6. What is a Parent Carer from a Dad's Perspective

    22 APR

    What is a Parent Carer from a Dad's Perspective

    In this episode we discuss what it's like to be a parent carer from a Dad's perspective. Often we only hear from 'mum' and we don't hear from a Dad's perspective, until now. Thank you to John and Steve for these insights. To get parent carer support find: www.nnpcf.org.uk www.contact.org.uk If you want to seek out support with other men to combat loneliness try: https://www.menwalkingandtalking.co.uk If you needing to speak to someone and you feel lonely and desperate, please seek help and support from the samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

    1hr 4min
  7. What is a parent carer from a Dad's perspective

    SEASON 2 TRAILER

    What is a parent carer from a Dad's perspective

    Join me with John and Steve where we talk about being a dad but also being a parent carer to a child with additional needs. If you are feeling isolated and want some support from other parent carers you can find support from: www.nnpcf.org.uk www.contact.org.uk Men walking and talking groups could help with the loneliness: https://www.menwalkingandtalking.co.uk If you feel lonely and isolated and you feel you have nowhere to go, click below: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

    2 min
  8. What comes first? - SEND Law or Human Rights Law?

    25 MAR

    What comes first? - SEND Law or Human Rights Law?

    In this episode I am joined by Sanchita Hosali, Chief Exec of the British Institute of Human Rights. (BIHR) Sanchita Hosali is the Chief Executive of the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), bringing nearly three decades of legal expertise and experience working both internationally and across the UK to advance human rights in everyday life. She has led a wide range of programmes on human rights education, law and policy development, and practical rights-based approaches, working with grassroots groups, civil society organisations, communities, public bodies, parliamentarians, and governments. At BIHR, Sanchita champions the Human Rights Act as a vital tool for everyday justice and accountability, working to ensure that human rights are embedded in law, policy, and frontline services. Her focus is on securing our human rights in law and in practice, as protections for everyone and tools for real life change. Human Rights & SEND advocacy blog series: Special Educational Needs & Disability ServicesParents & Carers Advocating for Their Disabled Children & Families: Our Human Rights Act for All the Family: Co-Design a Human Rights Support Solution: Parent & Carer Alliance CICHuman rights for young autistic people and young people with a learning disability aged 14-25: A Practitioners Guide: Partners in Care & Health | British Institute of Human RightsFind out about BIHR’s human rights training & events: Human Rights Training | British Institute of Human Rights

    54 min
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S1 Ep1 - Parent Carer - what is one? What does it mean to you as a 'parent' of a child or young person with additional needs? What does it may to your friendships or family relationships? Have you had to retell your story more than once and to be then told its because of the condition that your child has, which can feel dismissive. We hear you. Join us for our first episode of this new podcast, where you may find out new information around all things special educational needs. This is for everyone to know more, whether you are a parent, foster carer, grandparent, educator, someone in the local authority, or anyone who wants to learn more about all things special educational needs and disabilities, with no political stand point, this is for you.

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