Access All Areas of SEND - The podcast

Access All Areas of SEND - The podcast

by Tina Emery OBE
DocumentaryRelationships
Season 2
Mental Health Moments
A candid conversation around carer mental health. Today I am joined by Tracey, the CEO of the choice and wellbeing service Tracey Huggins, A parent first and foremost to three wonderful children and four dogs, a carer, a wife, a proud northerner, a counsellor, the CEO of Choice Wellbeing Service - a parent carer mental health and wellbeing organisation, a advocate, a blogger, but one thing she’s often mistaken for but is not…. is superhuman. A candid conversation around the lack of information for parents and carers around mental health If you are struggling, please reach out to: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org https://www.cruse.org.uk tina@emeryknowlesconsulting.co.uk
S2 · E8
Jun 17, 2026
1:10:37
ARFID - Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
One of the most anticipated episodes of the whole season - ARFID. Join me, where I will be talking to Dr Karen Street, a consultant Paediatrician and Deana Dumbreck an advanced Specialist Dietician, both of whom are based at Epic Solutions (Exeter Paediatric Integrated Care Solutions) in Exeter www.epicsolutions.org.uk Karen is a Consultant Paediatrician with 30 years of NHS general paediatric experience. Her specialist interest developed in eating disorders and the overlap of physical and mental health conditions. She has designed and delivered clinical pathways, also supported regionally and nationally to develop services for eating disorders across the age range 0-25yrs. Since 2020 she has founded and has grown EPIC Solutions (Exeter Paediatric Integrated Care Solutions) alongside a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatry colleague, we are now a multidisciplinary team of professionals offering fully integrated assessment and support for children and young people 0-25yrs with a range of emotional, behavioural and developmental difficulties including ARFID. Deana is a registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience, currently working with Epic Solutions and within the NHS. Her background is in paediatric dietetics, and over the past seven years she has specialised in eating disorders and disordered eating, including ARFID. She has completed additional training in the assessment and management of ARFID, as well as in supporting eating differences in autistic individuals, navigating disordered eating in autism, and nervous system–informed dietetics. This has enabled her to better support young people and their families.
S2 · E7
Jun 10, 2026
52:04
Child's Brain Development
**Research shows definite structural and developmental differences in brains of neurodiverse babies and children* Lauren is a coaching psychologist with a background in education, psychology, and wellbeing. She has spent many years working directly with young people, from teaching psychology A level, to creating and leading a “Happiness Project” that offered creative, therapeutic support to help teenagers build resilience and navigate mental health challenges. Lauren ran a psychology degree programme at a FE college, this included designing the programme and delivering psychology lectures. Her specialist focus was Positive Psychology, the science of helping people thrive and live more fulfilling, meaningful lives. Alongside lecturing she worked as a psychotherapist and then later as a coach. She now runs a coaching practice, helping adults, teenagers and families, and specialises in ADHD and AuDHD. Her work is deeply informed by both professional expertise and lived experience. She supports individuals and families to better understand themselves and develop strategies to help them thrive, combining deeper self-awareness with practical, everyday tools for positive change. In addition to her coaching, Lauren volunteers with an education charity supporting schools in Gaza, offering both emotional and practical support to children and staff living in crisis. She is passionate about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” www.larkcoaching.co.uk
S2 · E6
Jun 3, 2026
57:00
Parent carer support and wellbeing doesn't need to be black and white - its Rainbow!
Explicit
Today I am joined by Tracey, the CEO of the choice and wellbeing service Tracey Huggins, A parent first and foremost to three wonderful children and four dogs, a carer, a wife, a proud northerner, a counsellor, the CEO of Choice Wellbeing Service - a parent carer mental health and wellbeing organisation, a advocate, a blogger, but one thing she’s often mistaken for but is not…. is superhuman. A candid conversation around the lack of information for parents who know that they are having a child with a condition or a disability and those who find out as the child is born. What she has achieved for families in that position and how the rainbow guides and the rainbow guide app came about. **two expressive swear words are used within this broadcast
S2 · E5
May 20, 2026
53:40
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.
S2 · E4
May 13, 2026
47:29
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/
S2 · E3
May 6, 2026
41:06
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
S2 · E2
Apr 29, 2026
53:43
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/
S2 · E1
Apr 22, 2026
1:03:34
ARFID - Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Trailer
One of the most anticipated episodes of the whole season - ARFID. Join me, where I will be talking to Dr Karen Street, a consultant Paediatrician and Deana Dumbreck an advanced Specialist Dietician, both of whom are based at Epic Solutions (Exeter Paediatric Integrated Care Solutions) in Exeter www.epicsolutions.org.uk Karen is a Consultant Paediatrician with 30 years of NHS general paediatric experience. Her specialist interest developed in eating disorders and the overlap of physical and mental health conditions. She has designed and delivered clinical pathways, also supported regionally and nationally to develop services for eating disorders across the age range 0-25yrs. Since 2020 she has founded and has grown EPIC Solutions (Exeter Paediatric Integrated Care Solutions) alongside a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatry colleague, we are now a multidisciplinary team of professionals offering fully integrated assessment and support for children and young people 0-25yrs with a range of emotional, behavioural and developmental difficulties including ARFID. Deana is a registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience, currently working with Epic Solutions and within the NHS. Her background is in paediatric dietetics, and over the past seven years she has specialised in eating disorders and disordered eating, including ARFID. She has completed additional training in the assessment and management of ARFID, as well as in supporting eating differences in autistic individuals, navigating disordered eating in autism, and nervous system–informed dietetics. This has enabled her to better support young people and their families.
S2
Jun 7, 2026
2:13
Preview - Episode 6 - Childs brain development
Trailer
**Research shows definite structural and developmental differences in brains of neurodiverse babies and children* Lauren is a coaching psychologist with a background in education, psychology, and wellbeing. She has spent many years working directly with young people, from teaching psychology A level, to creating and leading a “Happiness Project” that offered creative, therapeutic support to help teenagers build resilience and navigate mental health challenges. Lauren ran a psychology degree programme at a FE college, this included designing the programme and delivering psychology lectures. Her specialist focus was Positive Psychology, the science of helping people thrive and live more fulfilling, meaningful lives. Alongside lecturing she worked as a psychotherapist and then later as a coach. She now runs a coaching practice, helping adults, teenagers and families, and specialises in ADHD and AuDHD. Her work is deeply informed by both professional expertise and lived experience. She supports individuals and families to better understand themselves and develop strategies to help them thrive, combining deeper self-awareness with practical, everyday tools for positive change. In addition to her coaching, Lauren volunteers with an education charity supporting schools in Gaza, offering both emotional and practical support to children and staff living in crisis. She is passionate about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” www.larkcoaching.co.uk
S2
Jun 7, 2026
1:25
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