In part two of our conversation with Sharon Smith, director at Special Needs Jungle, we continue our discussion about SEND reform, inclusion and what needs to change if the system is going to work better for children, young people and their families.

Following on from part one, we consider what meaningful inclusion in mainstream education should actually look like and why simply moving more children into mainstream settings is not enough without the right support, training and accountability in place.

We discuss the need for clearer national expectations for schools and local authorities, including what good inclusive practice looks like and where stronger guidance may be needed. Sharon also reflects on the differences between local SEND offers and school policies, and why greater consistency could help families understand what support they should reasonably expect.

The conversation also considers the role of local authorities and the pressures facing SEND case officers. We look at whether better training, professional development, communication and decision-making at a local level could help problems to be resolved earlier and reduce the need for families to enter lengthy disputes.

We also discuss the relationship between families, schools and local authorities, including why trust can break down when communication is poor or decisions appear to have been made before meaningful discussions have taken place.

Looking ahead, the episode considers what may happen as reforms develop and why families need clarity about what changes are being proposed and how they will work in practice.

We finish by looking at some of the potential positives within the reforms, including better SEND training for teachers, earlier intervention, stronger inclusion in mainstream schools and more professionals working around children at an earlier stage.

This is part two of a two-part SEN Talks conversation. If you have not listened to part one yet, you can catch up before joining us for the conclusion of the discussion.

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

Edited by Dreamlancers.

Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

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