Special Educational Needs

On this episode of SENsational, we're delighted to be joined by our new podcast host, Laura Oliver, Senior Occupational Therapist from our Group, plus our guest Lorraine Titchener, Head Teacher at Lavender Lodge, for a discussion exploring strategies to support neurodivergent children and young people in school. We discuss common misconceptions about neurodiversity in education, the role that teachers and staff play in supporting neurodivergent pupils, plus top tips and strategies that can be implemented in the classroom.

We're joined by Helen Rutherford, a specialist sleep practitioner from The Sleep Charity, who has several years of experience supporting neurodiverse children and young people with sleep.In this episode, she discusses the common sleep challenges experienced by children with special educational needs, expert tips and strategies for supporting your child’s sleep through this seasonal shift and beyond and sensory issues and regulations to improve sleep quality, from winding down rituals to creating a tailored sleep environment for your child’s needWe hope you enjoy listening.

We're joined by Kirsty Doyle, Entrepreneur & Fashion Designer, discussing how she works with young people to build aspiration as they enter the world of work.On this episode of SENsational, Kirsty shares her experience of her entrepreneurial journey, talking about her set-backs and challenges, and how she has worked with children and young people across the UK, offering inspiring sessions and visits to her very own studio, to help young people think about their future endeavours. Kirsty works with us as part of our Futures programme, a programme designed to deliver unlimited aspiration and endless opportunities for every child and young person, through Futures ambassador sessions, work experience opportunities apprenticeships, mentoring and more. Find out more about the Futures programme here: www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/futures

On this SENsational episode, we are joined by Maggie Morton and Laura Oliver, Occupational Therapists for Witherslack Group as they discuss children's most common sensory-seeking behaviours and the best ways to support them. They also explore sensory regulation, sensory overload and the best strategies and activities that can be integrated into the daily lives of our children to help them build essential life skills.We hope you enjoyed this episode of SENsational.

Ever wondered if your young person might need an EHCP? Simone Mattinson, Partnerships Manager for our Group, shares her first-hand experience from a parent and professional perspective. From exploring how to navigate the EHCP process to details of a draft EHCP, plus many more interesting insights worth knowing. For more details on the EHCP process, download our free 'A Guide To The Education, Health and Care Plan' Support Pack: https://www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/resources/education-health-and-care-plan-ehcp-support-pack/

We believe that every child or young person deserves access to inspirational education, regardless of their unique learning requirements or needs. Susan Gill, Head Teacher from our Bridgeway School, talks us through the unique benefits of Special Educational Needs schools and some of the amazing outcomes of pupils who have flourished the support they need.We hope you enjoyed this episode of SENsational.Join us for a free live webinar, by visiting:https://www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/advice-and-support/events-and-webinars/

There are so many moving parts to home life, right? From school runs to meal times and everything in between, how can it all be managed? In our latest episode of our podcast, SENsational, we explore managing a neurodiverse household with Tracy Bowyer, Parenting Co-Ordinator from The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity.Thank you for listening, and we hope you find this episode of SENsational useful. If you want to learn more about our other webinars and resources, please visit the website www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/resources. 

We're pleased to bring you this episode of SENsational titled 'Autism: What Every Parent Needs to Know, with Anne-Marie Harrison, training director from Ideas Afresh Education. This episode is designed for parents and carers right at the beginning of their journey. Perhaps you’re just discovering your child is showing traits of autism, or you’re even considering applying for an assessment to diagnosis. We'll be chatting about how to get an assessment, myths and misrepresentations associated with autism, and some top tips and strategies on how to support your child at home.Thank you for listening, and we hope you find this episode of SENsational useful. You can explore more of our resources, including webinars and downloadable guides, by clicking here www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/resources.