Mindfulness for learning

About Mindfulness for learning

Expert insights and real conversations on mindful learning, development and wellbeing. Hosted by Sophie Smith-Tong, founder of Mindfulness for Learning, this podcast brings together educators, parents, carers, and others passionate about supporting children and families. Through diverse voices and lived experiences, we explore mental health, mindfulness, and what it truly means to care, in and beyond the classroom.

Publisher

Mindfulness for learning

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Feb 2021

Latest episode

8 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

55 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Jul 2026

   47. Play is Learning. Ruth Lue-Quee.

   In this episode, Sophie Smith-Tong sits down with Ruth Lue-Quee to explore why play is still so often viewed with suspicion, despite overwhelming evidence of its importance in children's development. Together, they discuss Ruth's Parliamentary Play Is Learning campaign and the work being done to put play at the heart of education policy. Ruth also shares her immediate thoughts on handwriting, home education, family time, formal testing, and the expectation that children spend so much of their day sitting at desks. This thought-provoking conversation challenges long-held assumptions about learning and makes the case for giving play the recognition it deserves. Discover Ruth Lue-Quee MMT Play (https://mmtplay.com/pages/continuous-provision-research) - https://mmtplay.com/pages/continuous-provision-research Learn more about Mindfulness for learning and Sophie Smith-Tong Mindfulnessforlearning.com (https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/) - https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/ TeacherAutonomy.com (https://teacherautonomy.com/) https://teacherautonomy.com/ This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

2. 

   17 Jun 2026

   46. Unschooled: The story of a family that doesn’t fit in. Caro Giles

   In this episode, Sophie speaks with author and former teacher Caro Giles about her book Unschooled and her family's journey through Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA). We explore the realities of school-related distress, why neurodivergent children are often misunderstood, and how mainstream education can fail those who need flexibility most. Caro shares the emotional reality of leaving the school system, what her daughters taught her about resilience, and why it's time to rethink what success, learning, and wellbeing really mean. Learn more about Caro Giles Buy Unschooled by Caro Giles here (https://www.littletoller.co.uk/shop/books/little-toller/new-books/unschooled-by-caro-giles/) @carogileswrites on Instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/carogileswrites/) - https://www.instagram.com/carogileswrites/ Open In The Middle - Caro Giles on Substack (https://carogiles.substack.com/) (https://carogiles.substack.com/) (https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/aug/28/inside-the-school-refusal-crisis-how-a-mother-and-her-daughters-survived-a-broken-system) (https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/aug/28/inside-the-school-refusal-crisis-how-a-mother-and-her-daughters-survived-a-broken-system) Learn more about Mindfulness for learning and Sophie Smith-Tong Mindfulnessforlearning.com (https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/) TeacherAutonomy.com (https://teacherautonomy.com/) This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

3. 

   3 Jun 2026

   45. The Reality of Speech and Language Provision in Schools. Ruth Jones

   In this episode, Sophie is joined by speech and language therapist and author of Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice for Speech and Language Therapists, Ruth Jones, for a conversation about supporting communication and language development in schools today. Sophie and Ruth discuss the value of in-house speech and language therapists, the challenges of working with overstretched staff, and the balance between professional expertise and the realities of classroom constraints. They also explore autonomy, collaboration, and consistency, and whether adapting support to context may be more effective than ideal but unsustainable approaches. Discover Ruth Jones: Ruth's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ruth_jones_slt/) - https://www.instagram.com/ruth_jones_slt/Ruth's Facebook (ttps://www.facebook.com/RuthJonesSLT/) - https://www.facebook.com/RuthJonesSLT/Buy Ruth's Book here - (https://www.routledge.com/Neurodiversity-Affirming-Practice-for-Speech-and-Language-Therapists-Supporting-Curiosity-Compassion-and-Conversation/Jones/p/book/9781032689326)https://www.routledge.com/Neurodiversity-Affirming-Practice-for-Speech-and-Language-Therapists-Supporting-Curiosity-Compassion-and-Conversation/Jones/p/book/9781032689326Learn more about Ruth (www.ruthjonesslt.com): www.ruthjonesslt.com Learn more about host Sophie Smith-Tong and Mindfulness for learning Mindfulness for learning (https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/) - https://www.mindfulnessforlearning.com/ Teacher Autonomy (https://teacherautonomy.com/) - https://teacherautonomy.com/ Sophie on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mforlearning/)- https://www.instagram.com/mforlearning/ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-smith-tong-7b3891207/) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-smith-tong-7b3891207/ This episode was edited by Ben Corbett.

Who has been a guest on Mindfulness for learning

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Greg Bottrill
• Tina Farr
• Laura Henry-Allain
• Jimi Famurewa
• Annabelle Kapoor

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

16

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

53

Social presence

0

YouTube

63

Engagement

81

Contact Mindfulness for learning

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Mindfulness for learning