The SENDcast cover art

The SENDcast

The SENDcast

By: Dale Pickles
Listen for free

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

 The SENDcast is a weekly podcast focusing on Special Educational Needs, it is an amazing way to keep up to date with all the different areas within SEN, best practices and to improve your knowledge around SEND.B Squared Ltd. Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Navigating Ofsted's New Framework: What You Need to Know for SEND with Adam Sproston

    Navigating Ofsted's New Framework: What You Need to Know for SEND with Adam Sproston
    Jan 8 2026

    With the launch of the new Ofsted framework at the end of last year, you may be wondering what this means for SEND. In today's episode, Ofsted join us to discuss the key elements of the new inspection framework and its implications for SEND.

    In this episode, host Dale Pickles is joined by Adam Sproston, a senior His Majesty's Inspector for SEND, AP, and Inclusion. Together, they explore:

    • The key changes in Ofsted's new framework and what they mean for SEND.
    • How inclusion is now at the heart of educational inspections.
    • The collective responsibility of school leaders in supporting neurodiverse students.

    Adam brings his extensive experience in school improvement and strategic SEND leadership to the conversation, providing listeners with valuable insights into how schools can create an inclusive environment for all learners.

    Whether you're an educator, school leader, or involved in supporting SEND students, this episode offers essential information and guidance on navigating the changing landscape of education.

    View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!

    About Adam Sproston

    Adam Sproston is Senior His Majesty's Inspector for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), alternative provision (AP) and inclusion. He is a qualified teacher and has taught across the full primary age range. Before joining Ofsted, Adam gained extensive school improvement and senior leadership experience in primary schools, including specially resourced provision. He has also worked at local authority level in both early years and SEND strategic leadership. Adam holds a NPQH and the national award for SEND coordination. He leads inspections of primary, special and independent schools. Adam also leads and quality assures area SEND inspections.

    Contact Adam

    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

    https://x.com/Ofstednews

    http://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-sproston-63872725b

    Useful Links

    Ofsted's latest area SEND thematic report - Beyond the classroom: the experiences of children with SEND who are not in school - GOV.UK

    • 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
    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.
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • From Classroom to Career: The Power of Supported Internships with Kirsty Matthews

    From Classroom to Career: The Power of Supported Internships with Kirsty Matthews
    Jan 1 2026
    Happy New Year! I'm thrilled to kick off 2026 with our first podcast episode this year! Whether you're recovering from last night's celebrations or enjoying a refreshing walk, this insightful discussion is the perfect way to start the year. Dale is joined by Kirsty Matthews, the CEO of DFN Project Search, to discuss 'From classroom to career: The power of supported internships'. Kirsty sheds light on the challenges faced by young people with learning disabilities in the job market. She shares a shocking statistic: less than 5% of individuals with a learning disability known to their local authority in England secure paid employment, compared to 80% of their peers. DFN Project SEARCH aims to change that, with an ambitious goal of supporting over 10,000 young adults into meaningful paid employment by 2030. Kirsty discusses: The importance of creating structured pathways to employment.How supported internships build confidence and skills in a supportive environment.The incredible impact of seeing neurodiverse individuals thrive in the workplace. "It raises everybody's expectation about what is possible. Bit by bit, we can begin to change the whole face of how we work and take those barriers that we were talking about out." Kirsty Matthews Listen to discover how enhanced career opportunities can empower young adults with learning disabilities and those on the autism spectrum to lead positive, independent, and fulfilling lives. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop! About Kirsty Matthews Kirsty was appointed as CEO of DFN Project SEARCH in September 2024. DFN Project SEARCH is a national charity serving young adults who have a learning disability or are autistic, or both, to make a positive transition from education into permanent full-time employment. Her previous roles include: CEO of hft (2020 – 2023) Managing Director of Virgin Care (2017 – 2020) Non-Executive Director of Salisbury Hospital NHS Foundations (2016 – 2017) CEO of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (2008 – 2015) Director of Business Development at Nutricia UK (1996 – 2007) Contact Kirsty https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067093805818 https://www.instagram.com/dfnprojectsearch https://x.com/dfnsearch Useful Links DFN Project SEARCH 2024 Annual Report CYP Now - Breaking barriers to employment How young people can boost chances with ways out of AI-fuelled job dilemmas | The Sun 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 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.
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Helping Learning To Stick with Dr Susie Nyman

    Helping Learning To Stick with Dr Susie Nyman
    Dec 18 2025
    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 drsusienyman@drnymanconsultancy.co.uk 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 – dale@bsquared.co.uk 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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
All stars
Most relevant
Really enjoying this podcast - some great insights and strategies as a mum with an audhd child.

Really interesting topics

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.