RECAP with Lucie Wheeler

About RECAP with Lucie Wheeler

Talking all things Education, Child Development and Parenting with podcast host, and RECAP Ltd Founding Director, Lucie Wheeler. RECAP Ltd is an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of children and families as well as supporting businesses, charities and organisations in the sector. We are your one-stop shop, for accessible, research-backed information and support on education, child development, and parenting. Our mission is to empower parents, educators, and professionals with the knowledge they need to support children's growth and development.

Publisher

RECAP Ltd

Category

kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Mar 2024

Latest episode

10 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

56 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Oct 2026

   🎙️ More Than Performing: How Dance, Drama & Singing Build Children’s Confidence

   What can children really gain from performing arts? Dance, drama and singing might be seen as hobbies or extracurricular activities, but the skills children develop through creative experiences can reach far beyond the stage. In today's episode, I’m joined by Diane Neave, co-founder of Rascals, an award-winning family-run performing arts school that has been inspiring children through dance, drama and singing for almost 30 years. This is also a particularly special conversation for me, as Diane was one of my own dance lecturers when I studied performing arts more than 20 years ago! Coming back together all these years later to talk about children, education, creativity and confidence felt like a real full-circle moment. 💡 In this episode, we discuss: ✨ Why performing arts is about far more than learning to dance, sing or act ✨ Building children’s confidence, communication and self-belief ✨ Giving quieter children the time and space to find their voice ✨ Why confidence shouldn’t be rushed or forced ✨ Creativity, imagination and the importance of opportunities without a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer ✨ Supporting autistic children, children with ADHD and those with other SEND needs ✨ Adapting activities to the individual child rather than expecting every child to respond in the same way ✨ Performance anxiety and why taking part in a show should always be a choice ✨ Helping children experience success outside traditional academic measures ✨ How parents can encourage storytelling, movement and imaginative play at home ❤️ Why this matters Not every child finds their confidence in the same place. For some, it might not come from getting the highest mark or putting their hand up in class. It might come from saying their name in a group for the first time, joining in with a dance, sharing an idea or eventually standing on a stage. Diane shares how she has seen children go from being unable to say their own name in class to performing on stage and why those seemingly tiny steps can represent enormous achievements. Performing arts can give children opportunities to move, imagine, communicate, create and express themselves without everything having a right or wrong answer. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast platforms. 👉 Subscribe to RECAP The Podcast so you don’t miss an episode! 🔗 Connect & follow RECAP Instagram: @recap.ltd Website: https://www.recapinfo.co.uk/ Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/recapinfo/newsletter Diane Neave & Rascals Website: https://www.rascals-uk.com/ Instagram: @rascals_theatre_school Email: info@rascals-uk.com You can also find Rascals on Facebook, and use the locations page on their website to find classes near you. 💬 Join the conversation What activities have helped your child grow in confidence? And do you think children have enough opportunities for creativity and performing arts? 🔍 Keywords: performing arts for children, benefits of performing arts, children’s confidence, building confidence in children, creative learning, creativity in childhood, dance for children, drama for children, singing for children, performing arts education, children’s wellbeing, SEND inclusion, neurodivergent children, autism and performing arts, ADHD and performing arts, inclusive activities for children, performance anxiety, shy children, imaginative play, self-esteem in children, extracurricular activities, Rascals, Diane Neave, parenting podcast UK, education podcast UK, RECAP The Podcast 🔖 Hashtags: #performingarts #childrensconfidence #creativelearning #childrenswellbeing #send #neurodiversity #inclusiveeducation #creativity #imaginativeplay #selfesteem #parentinguk #educationuk #parentingpodcast #educationpodcast #recapthepodcast Series 7, Episode 2

2. 

   3 Oct 2026

   🎙️ Your Child Is Doing Well at School… But At What Cost? Autism, ADHD & Masking Explained

   What happens when a child appears to be doing well at school - achieving academically, following expectations and seemingly coping - but underneath, they are struggling?And what happens *after* an autism or ADHD diagnosis, when families are left wondering: “What do we do now?”In this episode of RECAP The Podcast, I’m joined by Rhiann Marchant, qualified teacher, highly specialised SENCO and Founder and CEO of Sensational Minds, to explore neurodevelopmental assessment, autism, ADHD, masking, SEND support and why diagnosis should be about far more than meeting a set of clinical criteria.💡 In this episode, we discuss: ✨ What a neurodevelopmental assessment actually involves ✨ The importance of developmental history and gathering information from different sources ✨ What happens when childhood records or family history aren't available ✨ What happens when someone goes through assessment but doesn't receive a diagnosis ✨ The misconception that paying privately guarantees a diagnosis ✨ Why autism doesn't always look stereotypical ✨ Masking, internalising and why children can present very differently at school and at home ✨ Why some neurodivergent children can be missed in busy classrooms ✨ Behaviour as communication and why dysregulation can sometimes be mistaken for defiance ✨ Why SEND support shouldn't simply be a “bolt-on” to education ✨ The importance of post-diagnostic support for children, adults and their families ❤️ Why this mattersA child can be achieving academically and still be struggling.They can sit quietly in a classroom, complete their work, get good grades and appear to be “doing fine” while using enormous amounts of energy to manage sensory differences, social expectations, emotional regulation, communication or masking.Whether you're a parent navigating an autism or ADHD assessment, an educator supporting neurodivergent learners, an adult considering assessment yourself, or a professional working within SEND, this episode is packed with insight, reassurance and practical discussion.🎧 Listen now — available on:Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube All major podcast platforms👉 Subscribe to RECAP The Podcast so you never miss an episode.🔗 Connect & followFollow 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**Find out more about Rhiann Marchant and Sensational Minds:**Website: https://www.sensationalminds.co.uk/ Email: hello@sensationalminds.co.uk / bookings@sensationalminds.co.uk💬 Join the conversation👉 Have you ever been told that a child is “doing fine” because they're achieving academically? 👉 What support do you think should be available after an autism or ADHD diagnosis? Share your experiences in the comments - we'd love to hear from you.🔍 Keywords:autism assessment UK, ADHD assessment UK, neurodevelopmental assessment, autism diagnosis, ADHD diagnosis, late autism diagnosis, late ADHD diagnosis, autism in girls, ADHD in girls, autistic masking, ADHD masking, masking at school, high achieving autistic child, high achieving ADHD child, signs of autism in children, signs of ADHD in children, SEND support, SENCO, neurodivergent children, neurodiversity in schools, neuroinclusive education, post diagnostic autism support, post diagnostic ADHD support, private autism assessment UK, private ADHD assessment UK, autism assessment process, RECAP The Podcast🔖 Hashtags:#autism #adhd #neurodiversity #autismassessment #adhdassessment #autismdiagnosis #adhddiagnosis #send #sendeducation #autisticmasking #adhdmasking #neurodivergent #neuroinclusive #sensoryprocessing #senco #inclusiveeducation #parentingpodcast #educationpodcast #recapthepodcastSeries 7 EP1

3. 

   4 Jul 2026

   🎙️ The Reading Mistake Many Parents Don't Realise They're Making

   🎙️ 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/ (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

Who has been a guest on RECAP with Lucie Wheeler

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

• Sue Atkins
• Kate Larsson
• Catherine Lippe
• Morgan Fail
• Emily Elsworth

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

413,879

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

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

Quality

75

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

32

Contact RECAP with Lucie Wheeler

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

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