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Special Needs Jungle, In Conversation

Special Needs Jungle

Join Special Needs Jungle's Renata Blower, Tania Tirraoro and team, in conversations about current issues and interesting aspects around special educational needs and disabilities. The team will be chatting with a variety of voices from the world of SEND, explaining, exploring and educating on everything you need to know. The programme is also available in vision on YouTube.
Theme credit: Luca Tirraoro

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 51 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • May 14 · 59 min

    Will school SEND funding be ringfenced?

    Education Minister, Georgia Gould, who has responsibility for the Schools White Paper's SEND reform proposals, speaks to Special Needs Jungle about the Government's plans for SEND. The Minister answered questions sent in by SNJ's audience and those attending the webinar. She mentioned ringfencing of SEND funding in schools twice--but does she mean what we mean by it? Ms Gould repeatedly stressed people could respond to any aspect of the proposals, and that nothing was set in stone. It sounded like there will ne movement on many of the initial plans as set out in the consultation--but defended the moved to rein in the Tribunal in ways that were not convincing to those attending.

  • March 24 · 1 hr 30 min

    SNJ's Legal Round Table on the SEND Proposals in the Schools White Paper

    On 23/3/26, Special Needs Jungle held a webinar focusing on the legal implications of the SEND proposals in the 2026 Schools White Paper. This webinar is just under 1' 30". The webinar features solicitors Hayley Mason Seager, CEO of SEN Legal, Polly Sweeney, Partner at Rook Irwin Sweeney, Eleanor Wright Legal Officer with SEND legal charity SOS!SEN, and Kate Cox, Senior Solicitor with SEND legal charity, IPSEA. The wide-ranging webinar looked at proposals to change EHCPs, creating four "tiers" of support, that would raise the threshold for EHCPs, Education Other Than at School (EOTAS/EOTIS) packages, Schools and school governors, and much more besides. This webinar is freely available, but donations to the volunteer run SNJ are always welcome: http://bit.ly/SNJ-Donatezhttp://bit.ly/SNJ-Donatez

  • #20
    May 31, 2024 · 57 min

    SNJ in Conversation with Edward Timpson CBE KC “You’ve got to really care about families and their lives …”

    In the third podcast in our series on a decade of the Children and Families Act 2014, SNJ ’s Tania and Renata talks to former SEND Minister, Edward Timpson, who steered the legislation through parliament. We discuss the battles he had to fight to create a legal duty on health in the Act, and to bring in Ofsted /CQC SEND inspections. What does he wish he’d been able to push further? And what else might be different if he hadn’t lost his seat—and ministerial role— in the 2017 election. Edward Timpson grew up surrounded by children his parents fostered—more than 80 of them. It endowed him with a deep sense of empathy of the problems children face when their needs have not been met. As an MP and Children and Families Minister, he used that knowledge to push for legislative change for disabled children. As he takes his leave of parliament, he discusses how he plans to work again as a family law barrister with the aim of becoming a judge so he can take decisions that positively affect children’s lives in a direct way. Find the webpage for this episode here https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/snjic-edward-timpson-care-families-lives/

  • May 17, 2024 · 1 hr 13 min

    SNJ in Conversation: 10 years of the Children & Families Act: Philippa Stobbs on the wins and losses

    Philippa Stobbs OBE worked for 30 years at the centre of developing national SEND policy with the Council for Disabled Children—she's the highly-respected doyenne of SEN. Few people have as encyclopaedic knowledge of special educational needs as she does. She spent decades negotiating with the government of the day to ensure legislation and new policy supported children with disabilities, pushing back against government plans that would do the opposite. In a fascinating and educational conversation, Philippa talks to SNJ's Tania Tirraoro and Sharon Smith about a decade of the Children and Families Act 2014 that she was instrumental in influencing, what came before, and what she thinks the future holds. Find the webpage for this episode here

  • Apr 19, 2024 · 44 min

    10 Years of the Children & Families Act 2014: Stephen Kingdom

    This is Part 1 of a series on a decade of The Children and Families Act that was passed in 2014. What went wrong and what went right? First up is Stephen Kingdom, now of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, but in 2012, he was the SEND man at the DfE. Stephen looks back at the creating and implementation of the CFA and discusses with Tania Tirraoro and Sharon Smith what he'd do differently now he's been on "the other side". The webpage for this episode is: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/children-and-families-act-10-years-stephen-kingdom-dfe-implementation/

  • Sep 27, 2023 · 46 min

    SNJ in Conversation with Dame Christine Lenehan

    SNJ's Tania and Renata chat to newly-retired Director of the Council for Disabled Children about her career, her biggest achievements and who her favourite SEND minister has been... Find the webpage for the episode, including pictures from Dame Christine's Valedictory address to the SEND sector, here

  • S2 · E3
    Aug 15, 2023 · 47 min

    What are Labour ‘s plans for SEND? We speak to Helen Hayes MP

    While few except the DfE think the Government's SEND Improvement Plan is going to fix special educational needs provision in England, Tania & Renata ask Labour's spokesperson on SEND, Helen Hayes MP, for her views on the issue. Find the podcast webpage here: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/snj-in-conversation-labour-send-spokesperson-helen-hayes-mp-fixing-send/

  • S2 · E2
    May 11, 2023 · 52 min

    SNJ in Conversation with Carrie Grant: Supporting children at the intersection of SEND, Race and Gender Identity

    Vocal coach and celebrity, Carrie Grant MBE is well known for having a diverse family. Along with her husband, singer, David Grant, she has four neurodivergent, mixed race children, several of whom also identify as transgender. Two are also up and coming actors, including in the series, Hollyoaks. In an interesting and entertaining episode of SNJ in Conversation, Carrie discusses these intersections with Tania Tirraoro and Renata Blower, and the difficulties they have encountered along the way. Find the post that accompanies https://wp.me/p3S8eh-8gf If this subject is one you want to comment on, remember these are real young people with real feelings so please be respectful.

  • S2 · E1
    Mar 13, 2023 · 53 min

    SNJ in Conversation with public lawyer, Steve Broach: SEND Law in 2023

    In the first SNJ in Conversation podcast of the year, Renata and Tania put your questions to public lawyer Steve Broach about SEND law in 2023. Your questions answered about EHCPs, Annual Reviews, what, if anything, has changed, group challenges via Judicial Review and much more! Listen to the show and find the show webpage here: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/snj-in-conversation-send-law-in-2023-public-law-barrister-steve-broach-answers-your-questions/

  • S2 · E1
    Jun 23, 2022 · 43 min

    SNJ in Conversation with Will Quince MP, Children & Families Minister

    SNJ's Renata Blower and Tania Tirraoro discuss aspects of the SEND Review Green Paper with Minister for Children & Families, Will Quince MP. We covered a range of issues, including plans for mandatory mediation, ringfencing schools' SEND budgets, teacher training for SEND and much more over 45 minutes of in-depth conversation. If you want to know more about the Green Paper, check out our dedicated page here

  • S1 · E12
    Dec 17, 2021 · 53 min

    Growing Up Disabled, with Siena Castellon and George Fielding

    On this episode of SNJ in Conversation, young disability campaigners, Siena Castellon and George Fielding talk to Special Needs Jungle's Renata Blower, discussing their lives, their achievements, what it was like growing up with a disability and the challenges that has presented. They offer advice for other young people - and their parents. Find the main post for this podcast on the SNJ website https://wp.me/p3S8eh-7y4

  • S1 · E11
    Nov 23, 2020 · 1 hr 1 min

    How is Ofsted supporting & evaluating SEND provision during the pandemic?

    On this episode of SNJ in Conversation, Tania Tirraoro & Matt Keer chat to Nick Whittaker, Ofsted HM Inspector and its specialist SEND Adviser, about how Ofsted is supporting & evaluating SEND provision during the coronavirus pandemic. You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube. Find the blog post for the article on the SNJ website. Nick will be doing more of these chats in the coming months. Tell us what you want to know

  • S1 · E10
    Oct 15, 2020 · 42 min

    The Teaching Assistant What's their role & how can schools use them effectively?

    The teaching assistant is vital to enable many children with SEND to be in mainstream schools. But often teachers have had no training in using them to the best effect, and with no minimum standards, quality training for TAs can be hard to find. SNJ's Tania chats with Assistant Professor Rob Webster of UCL's Institute of Education, and Bren Prendergast, specialist teacher and trainer, about research into TAs and what needs to happen to improve training Don't forget to take the SNJ SEND Autumn Survey about your child's provision, whether they're in school and Theme tune by Luca Tirraoro

  • S1 · E9
    Oct 2, 2020 · 36 min

    SEND LAW AND EOTAS - PART 2: What's happening with SEND Law right now? And why you mustn't confuse EOTAS with home education.

    Part Two SNJ in Conversation: SEND law now and EOTAS. Specialist SEN lawyers Hayley Mason and Nicole Lee talking to Tania Tirraoro about what parents should be expecting from their child's school for their support right now. And why Education Other Than at School or EOTAS shouldn't be confused with Home Education. Help us to help you by please taking our Autumn SEND Education survey to find out if your child has the provision they should: http://bit.ly/autumn-send SNJ in Conversation theme tune: Luca Tirraoro

  • S1 · E8
    Oct 1, 2020 · 32 min

    SNJ in Conversation: SEND law now and EOTAS

    SNJ in Conversation: SEND law now and EOTAS, with specialist lawyers Hayley Mason and Nicole Lee talking to Tania Tirraoro. What's happening with SEND Law right now? And why if you're thinking of educating your disabled child yourself, you mustn't confuse Education Other than at School (EOTAS) with Home Education. This is part one of a two-part episode. Please help us to advocate for your family by taking our autumn SEND survey to find out how much of their stated provision your child is currently receiving: http://bit.ly/autumn-send Find the post for this episode here on Special Needs Jungle Theme Music by Luca Tirraoro .

  • S1 · E7
    Aug 23, 2020 · 39 min

    SNJ In Conversation: SEND training for SENCOs and school leaders with Anne Heavey and Hannah Moloney

    On this episode of SNJ In Conversation, Tania Tirraoro chats to Anne Heavey, Director of Whole School SEND, and Hannah Moloney, expert SENCO and Dyslexia specialist, who've all created a resource for school leaders to improve their SEND knowledge. The discussion includes a brief history of SEND and why training in the UK is so far behind that in some other countries. Find the article that goes along with this video at https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/snj-in-conversation/

  • S1 · E6
    Aug 13, 2020 · 29 min

    SNJ In Conversation: The online Oak Academy and how it's developing its SEND offer

    Tania and Renata chat to Anne Heavey, specialist curriculum lead for the online Oak Academy resource bank, developed to support children during lockdown and now backed by the Department for Education. Anne is also the director of Whole School SEND and is working to make sure Oak has more to offer to children and young people with SEND for the year ahead. Find the web post for the episode at https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/snj-in-conversation/

  • S1 · E5
    Aug 6, 2020 · 51 min

    SNJ In Conversation: Race, discrimination, exclusion and intersectionality in SEND

    SNJ's Renata Blower talks to our assistant editor, and former headteacher, Marguerite Haye, and to Venessa Bobb, SEND parent and advocate about their experiences as black women and parents of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The discussion ranges from disproportionality of black children and exclusion, intersectionality in SEND and how to change things for the better. Find the webpage with more information about this episode and the links referred to in the conversation here https://wp.me/p3S8eh-6xV (from 7 Aug 2020)

  • S1 · E4
    Jun 28, 2020 · 45 min

    SNJ In Conversation with Dame Christine Lenehan, Director of the Council for Disabled Children

    Tania and Renata from SNJ chat with Dame Christine Lenehan, Director of the Council for Disabled Children about children's social care, what the pandemic has revealed, and what needs to change. You can find the original post for this episode here on Special Needs Jungle The CDC describes itself as, "the umbrella body for the disabled children's sector bringing together professionals, practitioners and policy-makers." In other words, it's the lynchpin of the SEND sector and is, in turn, part of the National Children's Bureau. Special Needs Jungle is also a member of the CDC. Christine has been involved with supporting disabled children for 40 years, including authoring a number of Government reviews. So, if there is someone who knows everything there is to know about the history of SEND, it is Christine. Renata and I caught up with her via Zoom, for a wide-ranging discussion covering children's social care, the SEND reforms, what's gone wrong and what the CDC is doing to try to fix things.

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