SEND in the experts with Georgina Durrant (Special Educational Needs Podcast)

About SEND in the experts with Georgina Durrant (Special Educational Needs Podcast)

This podcast hosted by Georgina Durrant is all about teaching and supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We aim to share the amazing things that our guests are doing to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEND). *This Podcast is proudly brought to you by the SEND team at Twinkl. Please bear in mind, the views and opinions expressed are those of individuals, and may not represent those of Twinkl.

Publisher

Georgina Durrant

Category

education · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Jan 2022

Latest episode

28 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

59 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Apr 2026

   Creating an Inclusive Mainstream School - Georgina Durrant in conversation with James Searjeant

   SEND in the Experts with Georgina Durrant Guest: James Searjeant – Headteacher, Inclusion Advocate & Member of the Twinkl Inclusion Advisory Board In this episode of SEND in the Experts, Georgina Durrant is joined by James Searjeant, an experienced primary school leader known for his calm, reflective approach and his deep commitment to inclusive practice. With a career spanning early years and primary settings, James champions the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, supported and able to succeed. As headteacher of Wyborne School, he leads with the principle that behaviour is communication, and he works closely with staff, families and professionals to build a school culture rooted in wellbeing, consistency and belonging. James also contributes to national conversations on inclusion through his work with the Twinkl Inclusion Advisory Board, bringing both practical insight and thoughtful challenge to the wider system. 🎙️ In this episode — why you’ll want to listen You’ll get a clear, grounded picture of what inclusion actually looks like in a mainstream primary school — not theory, but the day‑to‑day reality. If you’re navigating the SEND reforms or the Schools White Paper, James offers a balanced view of what feels promising and what may be harder to deliver on the ground. For anyone passionate about early identification and early intervention, James shares what effective support looks like at Wyborne and what needs to shift nationally for consistency. If you’ve ever felt the tension between data pressures and doing what’s right for children, James talks openly about how he keeps his school anchored in values. You’ll hear how he builds professional trust and agency, creating a staff culture where judgement is valued and adaptation is encouraged. And if belonging matters to you — for pupils, families or staff — James offers a compelling look at how Wyborne nurtures a genuine sense of community. Finally, James shares the one thing he wishes policymakers truly understood about making inclusion sustainable in mainstream schools. Why this conversation stands out This episode is packed with practical insight, honest reflection and a refreshing clarity about what inclusive education can look like when it’s done with intention. Whether you’re a teacher, SENDCO, school leader or parent, you’ll come away with ideas, reassurance and a renewed sense of what’s possible.

2. 

   11 Mar 2026

   SEND Strategies for the Secondary Years - Georgina Durrant in conversation with Michelle Windridge

   Special Episode: Turning the Tables — Georgina Durrant Becomes the Guest! SEND Strategies for the Secondary Years SEND in the Experts with Georgina Durrant — Special Book Launch Episode This week on SEND in the Experts, we’re doing something completely different. Host Georgina Durrant steps out of the interviewer’s chair and into the hot seat as a guest to celebrate the release of her brand‑new book, SEND Strategies for the Secondary Years. To mark the occasion, Georgina is joined by her colleague and friend Michelle Windridge, who takes over as guest host for this special behind‑the‑scenes conversation. If you support, teach, or parent young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), this is an episode you’ll want to save, share, and return to again and again. ⭐ What’s Inside This Special Episode Michelle guides Georgina through an honest, insightful and deeply practical discussion about the challenges facing young people with SEND in secondary school, and what adults (parents and teachers) can do right now to support them. 📘 Why Georgina wrote SEND Strategies for the Secondary Years Georgina explains why this book matters so much at a time when the SEND system is described as “broken”, “under‑resourced” and “in crisis”. Instead of waiting for system‑level reform, she focuses on what teachers, parents and carers can do immediately to support young people who are struggling with communication, emotional regulation, organisation, literacy, sensory needs and more. 🎯 Why the book is structured around needs, not diagnoses Secondary teachers often see hundreds of pupils a week, and many young people mask or go unnoticed. Georgina shares why focusing on areas of need (rather than waiting for diagnosis) empowers adults to act early and confidently. 📚 The unique pressures of the secondary years From complex language demands to fast‑paced lessons and a more intense social world, Georgina breaks down why secondary school can be especially challenging for neurodivergent young people, and why timely support is crucial. 🛠️ Practical “no‑wait” strategies teachers often overlook Georgina shares simple, powerful adjustments that make a huge difference at school and home, including: reducing spoken instructions using visual supports breaking tasks into steps offering processing time practical movement breaks sensory‑friendly classroom tweaks organisation scaffolds like routines and checklists These strategies don’t require a diagnosis, an EHCP or extra funding , just awareness and intention. 🌱 A neuro‑affirming approach in action Georgina explains how to create environments where neurodivergent young people can thrive as themselves, not as a version of themselves that fits a neurotypical mould. 💬 Real stories from young people and adults The book includes powerful case studies from teenagers and adults reflecting on their secondary school experiences. Georgina shares what she learned from their honesty, especially the importance of early identification, feeling understood, and the life‑changing impact of the right adult at the right time. 🎧 Why You Should Listen This episode is essential listening for: Secondary teachers wanting practical, realistic SEND strategies Parents and carers supporting young people with SEND SENDCos and school leaders looking to strengthen whole‑school SEND practice Anyone working with neurodivergent young people You’ll walk away feeling informed, empowered and ready to make meaningful changes — even in a system that isn’t working as it should. With its focus on actionable strategies, neuro‑affirming practice, and supporting needs rather than waiting for diagnoses, this conversation offers exactly the kind of clarity and compassion that so many families and educators are searching for.

3. 

   25 Feb 2026

   SEND REFORMS - Georgina Durrant in conversation with Georgia Gould MP (Minister for School Standards)

   Special Episode: Georgia Gould MP on the SEND Reforms In this timely and special episode of SEND in the Experts podcast, Georgina Durrant sits down with Georgia Gould MP for a conversation following the release of the government’s proposed SEND reforms in the Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving on Monday. With so many families, educators and professionals eager to understand what these changes could mean, this episode offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from the minister at the centre of it all. Georgina and Minister Gould explore the big themes shaping the reforms, from support plans and legal frameworks to training, specialist provision and inclusion. They discuss the intentions behind the proposals, the challenges the system is facing, and the hopes for what these reforms might achieve. The conversation opens up important reflections on the future of SEND support and the principles guiding the government’s approach. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, TA, SENDCo or simply someone invested in improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND, this episode provides thoughtful insight at a pivotal moment. It’s a chance to hear the questions being asked across the sector, and to listen in on a candid discussion about what comes next. Consultation: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/ (https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/) Mindmap of the proposed changes for Parents: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/send-reforms-proposed-changes-for-parents-mind-map-t-par-1771934762 (https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/send-reforms-proposed-changes-for-parents-mind-map-t-par-1771934762) Mindmap of the proposed changes for SENDCos: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/send-reforms-what-are-the-key-proposed-changes-for-sendcos-t-s-1771935800 (https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/send-reforms-what-are-the-key-proposed-changes-for-sendcos-t-s-1771935800) Mindmap of proposed changes for teachers: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/send-reforms-what-are-the-key-changes-for-teachers-mind-map-t-1771954381 (https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/send-reforms-what-are-the-key-changes-for-teachers-mind-map-t-1771954381)

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

84,608

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

16 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100

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

Quality

25

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

Contact SEND in the experts with Georgina Durrant (Special Educational Needs Podcast)

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

• 

  Happy Place

• 

  The Rest Is Politics

• 

  The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

• 

  The Mel Robbins Podcast

• 

  SEND Parenting Podcast

Questions about SEND in the experts with Georgina Durrant (Special Educational Needs Podcast)