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:

1. Clear and timely communication: Helps prevent misunderstandings. Schools should proactively inform parents about the support being provided, rather than waiting for issues to arise.
2. 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.
3. Building Community: Establishing support networks for parents can alleviate feelings of isolation and empower them to engage positively with the school.
4. 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.
5. 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!

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.

www.confidentkids.co

https://www.facebook.com/confidentkids.co

sarah@confidentkids.co

• 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 – dale@bsquared.co.uk
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

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.

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!

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.

www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk

www.Facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP

https://x.com/Jo3Grace

sensorystory@gmail.com

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 – dale@bsquared.co.uk
• Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe

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.