🎙️ Does learning to read really begin with phonics?

Many parents worry about whether their child is "ready" to read, whether they're falling behind, or if they're doing enough at home. But what if the most important reading skills actually develop long before children learn their first letter sounds?

In this episode of RECAP The Podcast, I'm joined by Stephanie Hammond - Teaching & Learning Consultant, DfE Literacy Specialist and early literacy expert - to explore what children really need before formal reading begins.

From early language and storytelling to music, conversation and play, Stephanie explains why building strong foundations matters far more than rushing children into phonics.

Whether you're a parent, educator, early years practitioner or home educating family, this episode is packed with practical, evidence-informed advice and plenty of reassurance.

💡 In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Why early language is the foundation of reading success

✨ What "pre-phonics" really means (and why it matters)

✨ Simple everyday activities that build early literacy at home

✨ How music, stories and conversation support children's language development

✨ What a truly language-rich environment looks like

✨ Common misconceptions about phonics and learning to read

✨ Signs a child may benefit from extra language support

✨ Why children don't need to be rushed into reading

✨ Practical reassurance for parents worried their child is "behind"

❤️ Why this matters

Reading isn't something that begins when children open their first phonics book.

It begins through conversations, songs, stories, play, curiosity and connection.

Understanding these early foundations can help parents feel more confident, reduce unnecessary pressure and support children to become confident readers in their own time.

🎧 Listen now on:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

YouTube

All major podcast platforms

👉 Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

🔗 Connect & Follow

Follow RECAP for evidence-informed, accessible content for parents, educators and professionals.

Instagram: @recap.ltd

Website:
https://www.recapinfo.co.uk/

Newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/recapinfo/newsletter

Follow Stephanie Hammond

Follow Stephanie Hammond

Website: https://www.hammondeducation.co.uk

⁠Schammond@hotmail.co.uk- email

Hammond Education - YouTube- YouTube channel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hammond-57bb6945/n

https://www.facebook.com/hammondeducaton/

https://www.instagram.com/hammondeducation/

💬 Join the conversation

What helped your child develop a love of reading?

Did anything in this episode surprise you?

Share your experiences and questions in the comments - we'd love to hear from you.

🔍 Keywords

early literacy, phonics, pre phonics, language development, how children learn to read, reading readiness, early years, speech and language, reading confidence, phonics explained, literacy development, child development, parenting podcast, education podcast UK, reading at home, language rich environment, early education, reception phonics, teaching reading, RECAP podcast

🔖 Hashtags

#EarlyLiteracy #Phonics #LanguageDevelopment #ReadingReadiness #ChildDevelopment #EducationPodcast #ParentingPodcast #EarlyYears #SpeechAndLanguage #RECAPThePodcast

S6EP10

🎙️ Why do children behave the way they do?

What if the behaviour we often see as "challenging" is actually a child communicating an unmet need?

In this episode of RECAP The Podcast, I'm joined by Johanna Simmons - play therapist, educator, author, and neuroscience-informed parenting expert - to explore how understanding children's nervous systems can completely change the way we respond to behaviour.

Drawing on decades of experience in play therapy, attachment, and neuroscience, Johanna explains why safety, connection, and co-regulation are at the heart of healthy child development, and why behaviour should always be viewed as communication rather than something to simply manage or stop.

💡 In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Why children's behaviour is communication - not manipulation

✨ What co-regulation really means (and why children borrow our nervous system)

✨ The importance of emotional safety before learning can happen

✨ How play helps children process emotions and experiences

✨ Understanding the difference between dysregulation and "defiance"

✨ How neuroscience can help parents respond differently to challenging behaviour

✨ Why repair after difficult moments matters more than being a "perfect" parent

✨ Practical ways parents can build stronger, calmer relationships with their children

❤️ Why this matters

Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially during moments of dysregulation, meltdowns, or challenging behaviour. But when we begin to understand what's happening beneath the behaviour, everything starts to change.

This conversation offers a compassionate, evidence-informed approach that reminds us children don't need perfect parents - they need adults who are willing to stay curious, repair relationships, and create emotional safety.

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or simply interested in child development, this episode is packed with practical insights you'll want to come back to.

🎧 Listen now on:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

YouTube

All major podcast platforms

👉 Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

🔗 Connect & Follow

Follow RECAP for evidence-informed, accessible content for families and professionals.

Instagram: @recap.ltd

Website: https://www.recapinfo.co.uk

Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/recapinfo/newsletter

Follow Johanna Simmons:

Website: https://neuroinformed.ca/

Book: The Neuro-Informed Parent

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parenting-21st-Century-Neuro-Informed-Parent-ebook/dp/B0GJKF75YL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1B79XWJG9WR2X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.X8FIsLADOc4BGDvvChempipruFRvSVE4aeVjwoCzT4XGneYurZvK5ChbopcpQgl7JyB9LDWvo1vuGigh2gHAjyNN9cWdy4YaP1M4FKkAvAMSxkedGhBc_y_RLnJYhSIjg3q6dVAHsVY7cYmsUVCkTHLQpoxxtyGbeoFXkKvVNEBeuLT3-y-ZYYWRd_mZZ9T9242oA4l4C4Lqecfyt_TgJf8kdAhU91yTC65Wazu-LO0.6dpB4-hQVxJ3OkXN6wp8ELIsiVgzX-0p7xmm53MA9ow&dib_tag=se&keywords=parenting+in+the+21st+century&qid=1777485754&sprefix=parenting+in+the+21st+century%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-3

https://olympiapublishers.com/book/parenting-in-the-21st-century-the-neuro-informed-parent

💬 Join the conversation

What's one thing that has changed the way you respond to your child's behaviour?

👇 Share your thoughts in the comments - we'd love to hear from you.

🔍 Keywords

child behaviour, behaviour is communication, co regulation, dysregulation, nervous system regulation, play therapy, parenting podcast UK, child development, neuroscience parenting, emotional regulation, attachment, parenting advice, neurodivergent children, challenging behaviour, child psychology, play based learning, parenting support, RECAP The Podcast

🔖 Hashtags

#childdevelopment #parentingpodcast #coregulation #behaviouriscommunication #playtherapy #neuroscience #attachment #emotionalregulation #parentingtips #childbehaviour #recapthepodcast

S6 EP9

🎙️ Can Museums Help Children Who Struggle With School?

When we think about learning, museums aren't always the first places that come to mind.

But what if museums could play a powerful role in helping children who feel disconnected from education?

In this episode of RECAP The Podcast, I'm joined by Leslie Palanker, Learning Coordinator at North East Museums, to explore how museums are creating inclusive, sensory-rich learning experiences for children, young people, and families - including those experiencing SEND, anxiety, and emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA).

From sensory storytelling and accessible learning to innovative programmes supporting young people outside traditional education settings, this conversation challenges what learning can look like and where it can happen.

💡 In this episode, we discuss:

✨ What museum learning actually looks like today

✨ Why learning should be active, engaging, and curiosity-led

✨ How sensory experiences can transform access to learning

✨ Supporting children and young people with SEND through inclusive museum programmes

✨ The pioneering work being done with families experiencing EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance)

✨ Why listening to communities is essential when designing learning opportunities

✨ The unexpected benefits museums can offer for confidence, belonging, wellbeing, and connection

✨ How cultural spaces can help reduce barriers to engagement and learning

❤️ Why this matters

Not every child learns best in the same way.

For some young people, traditional educational environments can feel overwhelming, inaccessible, or difficult to navigate. Leslie's work highlights the importance of creating alternative spaces where children can feel safe, curious, valued, and included.

This episode is a powerful reminder that learning doesn't only happen in classrooms. It can happen through art, history, storytelling, sensory experiences, conversation, and community.

When we widen our understanding of what learning looks like, we create more opportunities for every child to thrive.

🎧 Listen now - available on:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

YouTube

All major podcast platforms

👉 Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode

🔗 Connect & Follow

Follow RECAP for evidence-informed, accessible content for families and professionals:

Instagram: @recap.ltd

Website: https://www.recapinfo.co.uk

Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/recapinfo/newsletter

Links from Leslie:

South shields Museum and Art Gallery: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/southshieldsmuseum/learning

Arbeia Roman Fort: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/arbeia/learning

Sensory Journeys: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/southshieldsmuseum/learning/sensory-journeys

💬 Join the conversation

Have you ever visited a museum that inspired curiosity or sparked a love of learning?

👉 How can museums and cultural spaces better support children and young people?

👉 What role do you think alternative learning environments should play in education?

Share your thoughts in the comments - we'd love to hear from you.

🔍 Keywords:

museum learning, SEND education, emotionally based school avoidance, EBSA, inclusive education, sensory learning, alternative education, museum education, child development, neurodiversity, home education, learning outside the classroom, educational inclusion, anxiety and school attendance, parenting podcast UK

🔖 Hashtags:

#MuseumLearning #SENDEducation #EBSA #InclusiveEducation #AlternativeEducation #ChildDevelopment #SensoryLearning #MuseumEducation #Neurodiversity #HomeEducation #ParentingPodcast #EducationPodcast #LearningOutsideTheClassroom #RECAPThePodcast

S6 EP8