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.

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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.

This episode features Ali Durban, co-founder of Gesher School, who shares the remarkable story of establishing and growing a unique multitherapeutic, faith-based special school that now supports children from primary through to age 16. Ali discusses the early challenges, the move to a larger site, and how Gesher’s innovative project-based curriculum was shaped by global research and community insight .

She also talks about her current work, building employer-ready environments for neurodiverse young people, digitising Gesher’s life-skills curriculum, and leading programmes that help schools embed meaningful inclusion and belonging.

A powerful episode for anyone passionate about SEND education, neurodiversity, or inclusive leadership.

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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.

In this episode of SEN Talks, Salise and Adam are joined by Ali Durban, SEND parent, co-founder of Gesher Special School in Pinner, and a SEND consultant.

Ali shares the personal experience that led her to help create a specialist school for children who were not thriving in mainstream but did not fit existing special school pathways.

They discuss the barriers to setting up provision, why attachment, safety and trust had to be at the centre of the school’s culture, and how integrated therapeutic support helps children feel they belong. The conversation also explores what inclusion really means in practice, why forced inclusion can be harmful, and how wellbeing and friendships can be a foundation for learning.

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This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, 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.

In this episode of SEN Talks, we speak with Dr Mike Hymans, an experienced Educational Psychologist who shares his insight into the diverse ways autism can present in children and young people.

Together we explore the differences in how boys and girls may present, the complexities of masking, and why some children appear fine in school but struggle significantly at home. Dr Hyman also discusses misdiagnosis, the challenges of primary–secondary transition, and the growing issue of autistic children being unable to attend school due to anxiety or demand-avoidant behaviours.

This episode offers practical understanding for parents, carers and professionals supporting autistic young people at all stages of their journey.

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This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, 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.

In this episode of SEN Talks, we welcome Dr Mike Hymans, an educational psychologist with over four decades of experience across local authorities and private practice. Dr Hyman discusses the complexities of ASD diagnosis, why autistic girls often present differently to boys, and how masking can impact children both in school and at home.

He also explores the challenges around primary to secondary transition, the misconceptions around “naughty behaviour” in autistic boys, and the growing number of young people unable to attend school due to anxiety or demand avoidant behaviours. (EBSA)

This insightful conversation is ideal for parents, carers, and professionals supporting autistic children or those awaiting assessment.

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This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, 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.

What should schools do when a child begins questioning their gender?
Education law barrister Alice de Coverley joins us to unpack new government guidance, safeguarding responsibilities, and the balance between rights, privacy, and parental involvement.
🎧 This episode is a must-hear for educators, parents, and SEND professionals.
#SendTalks #EducationLaw #Safeguarding #GenderIdentity

This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, 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.

In this episode of SEN Talks, we welcome Karen Cowan, a neurodivergent parent, educator and autism assessor, for a deeply personal and enlightening discussion.

Karen reflects on her journey from being a teacher and SENCO to navigating the world of EHCPs as a parent, and how her child’s experiences ultimately led to her own late diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

Together with Adam & Salise, she explores:

• The emotional reality of fighting for SEND support

• How masking and “invisible needs” affect children, especially girls

• The challenges of navigating education systems that still misunderstand neurodiversity

• The moment she realised she might also be neurodivergent

• The importance of compassion, communication, and acknowledging individual strengths

This is an episode for parents, educators, and anyone curious about the lived experience of neurodivergence, filled with honesty, vulnerability, and hope for a more inclusive future.

This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, 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.

In this special episode of SEN Talks, we’re joined by barrister Alice de Coverly to unpack the Education Select Committee’s “Solving the SEN Crisis” report, released on 18 September 2025.

We dive into what the recommendations mean for parents, schools, and local authorities — from early screening and compulsory teacher training, to accountability measures for councils and the role of Ofsted. We also explore the rise of AI in EHCP drafting, funding pressures, and whether reforms will finally address the inconsistency and adversarial nature of the current system.

With the government’s white paper expected later this autumn, this episode offers timely insight and cautious optimism about what might lie ahead for children and families navigating special educational needs.

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This podcast has been produced by Geldards LLP, 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.