In this episode of SEN Talks, we’re joined by barrister Matthew Wyard of 39 Essex Chambers to explore one of the most challenging stages for families of young people with SEND: the transition from children’s to adult social care.We discuss:Why preparation should begin as early as Year 9 (or earlier);The realities of Section 20 agreements and parental responsibility;Common misconceptions around care proceedings;The key differences between social care support and NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding;How and when CHC assessments take place and why timing matters;The range of social care assessments families may encounter.With practical insights and clear legal guidance, this episode aims to empower parents and carers with the knowledge they need to navigate the system confidently and avoid the “cliff edge” at 18.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

In this episode of SEND Talks, Salise Dourmoush is joined by Matthew Wyard, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, to discuss the legal issues that can arise when young people with special educational needs move into adulthood.As children approach the age of 16 and beyond, families may encounter complex legal concepts such as deprivation of liberty, capacity assessments and Court of Protection proceedings. Understanding how these frameworks work is essential when decisions are being made about where a young person will live and what care they will receive.Matthew explains:What deprivation of liberty means in practiceWhen authorisation is required and who provides itThe difference between care homes, residential placements and supported livingWhat happens if parents disagree with a proposed placementThe role of the Court of Protection and legal aid in challenging decisionsHow tools such as lasting powers of attorney and deputyship can support families in the futureThe conversation also explores the broader goal of supporting young people to lead independent and fulfilling lives while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place.This episode offers practical insight for parents, carers and professionals supporting young people with SEND as they transition into adulthood.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

Participation in sport and recreational activities can play a vital role in a child’s development, confidence and wellbeing. However, for many children with special educational needs and neurodiversity, accessing these opportunities remains a significant challenge.In this episode of SEN Talks, Adam and Salise discuss the barriers families often encounter when trying to engage their children in mainstream clubs, from overwhelming environments to a lack of trained staff and inclusive coaching practices. Drawing on personal experiences as parents and professionals working within the SEND legal landscape, they reflect on why many children fall into an “in-between” gap, unable to fully access mainstream provision but without appropriate alternatives available.The conversation also explores positive examples of inclusive sports initiatives and the role that community organisations, charities and local authorities can play in improving provision. From accessible football sessions to adapted boxing programmes, these initiatives demonstrate how the right support, training and environment can transform participation.Ultimately, the episode asks an important question: what would truly inclusive recreational provision look like for children with SEN and how do we get there?Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

When a child cannot attend school due to severe anxiety, trauma, or complex SEND, the law provides for Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). But securing and sustaining an effective EOTAS package is rarely straightforward.In this episode of SEN Talks, we are joined by Joanna Gibbs, CEO of SENsational Tutors, to explore:The legal framework underpinning EOTAS,Why EOTAS cannot simply be a “parental preference”,The evidential requirements at tribunal,The role of expert reports in shaping provision,Personal budgets vs. local authority-managed funding,The impact of local authority panel decisions,Why relationship-building and trust are central to success,Whether reintegration into school is always realistic.We also examine the wider systemic issues, budget pressures, red tape, and the tension between short-term funding decisions and long-term outcomes.This conversation highlights the human reality behind EOTAS: children who have not left their bedrooms for months, families who have lost trust in the system, and the transformative impact of the right provision at the right time.For professionals and parents alike, this episode offers both legal insight and practical perspective on securing meaningful education when traditional schooling is no longer suitable.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

When a child cannot attend school due to severe anxiety, trauma, or complex SEND, the law provides for Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). But securing and sustaining an effective EOTAS package is rarely straightforward.In this episode of SEN Talks, we are joined by Joanna Gibbs, CEO of SENsational Tutors, to explore:The legal framework underpinning EOTAS,Why EOTAS cannot simply be a “parental preference”,The evidential requirements at tribunal,The role of expert reports in shaping provision,Personal budgets vs. local authority-managed funding,The impact of local authority panel decisions,Why relationship-building and trust are central to success,Whether reintegration into school is always realistic.We also examine the wider systemic issues, budget pressures, red tape, and the tension between short-term funding decisions and long-term outcomes.This conversation highlights the human reality behind EOTAS: children who have not left their bedrooms for months, families who have lost trust in the system, and the transformative impact of the right provision at the right time.For professionals and parents alike, this episode offers both legal insight and practical perspective on securing meaningful education when traditional schooling is no longer suitable.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

Phase transfer is a critical moment in the SEND journey, whether a child is moving from nursery to primary, primary to secondary, or into post-16 education.

In this episode of SEN Talks, our education specialists break down what the 15 February statutory deadline means in practice, what parents should expect from their local authority, and the steps to take if a finalised EHCP is not issued on time.

The discussion covers:

When and how a school must be named in Section I;

Why securing your right of appeal quickly matters;

Tribunal delays and the new triage approach;

Risks around paper hearings and expert availability;

What happens if the deadline is missed — including pre-action protocol letters and judicial review.

With tribunal waiting times increasing year on year, early preparation and clear strategy are more important than ever. This episode provides practical guidance to help parents and professionals navigate phase transfer confidently and proactively.

Credits:

Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/podca....

Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.

Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-thei...

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

The SEND reform agenda has been promised, paused, reshaped and debated, leaving many parents, schools and professionals uncertain about what lies ahead.In this episode of SEN Talks, our specialist education lawyers provide a concise, plain-English update on the current position. Recorded in December 2025, the discussion explores what the Government has said so far, why proposed reforms have been delayed, and how parental engagement and the SEND Review are shaping the conversation.The episode addresses common concerns around EHCPs, inclusion in mainstream education, early intervention, funding pressures and the long-term impact of SEND provision, separating speculation from what is genuinely likely to change.While many questions remain unanswered, this episode offers clarity, reassurance and context for families and professionals navigating an evolving SEND landscape.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/podca.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-thei...Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

Christmas is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but for many children and young people with special educational needs and neurodivergence, it can also be one of the most challenging.

In this Christmas Special episode of SEN Talks, Salise Dourmoush and Adam Friel sit down to reflect on what the festive season really looks like for SEN families. From sensory overload and disrupted routines to school nativities, performances, and festive outings, they explore why Christmas can feel like too much and what can make it more manageable.

Adam shares honest reflections from his lived experience as a parent, comparing last Christmas with this one and discussing how preparation, understanding triggers, and working closely with schools have made a difference. Together, Salise and Adam talk about learning from previous years, adjusting expectations, and recognising that progress does not always mean perfection.

This episode is a gentle reminder that there is no right way to do Christmas and that a calm, regulated child matters far more than traditions, costumes, or appearances.

Whether you are a parent, carer, educator, or professional, this conversation offers reassurance, empathy, and practical insight as we head into the festive season.

🎄 A Christmas episode rooted in realism, compassion, and understanding.

-

Credits:

This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP.

Edited by ⁠Dreamlancers⁠.

Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!

All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and-their-education/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.