This week I chat with Jane James, the founder of Little Voices, about mental health, children’s activities and performing arts.

In this episode, Jane shares:

• Why she is so passionate about performing arts being taught in schools.
• The benefits and skills children will get from learning performing arts and how they will be useful in the future.
• Tips to help teachers who may not have the confidence to teach the performing arts.

If you’d like to learn more about Jane and Little Voices, you can visit:

• littlevoices.org.uk

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In this episode, I talk with Alice Westbury about bringing coaching tools and strategies into the classroom. Alice is an education coach who works primarily with young people but a lot of what she shares in this episode is so valuable to those who teach in primary settings.

In this episode, Alice shares:

• Why she believes using coaching tools can help pupils in the classroom and beyond.
• Why now is the time to start thinking about using coaching tools with pupils.
• Real actionable tips teachers can use now to start implementing coaching tools in the classroom easily.

If you’d like to find out more about Alice, you can visit:

• cluedupcoaching.co.uk
• alicewestburycoaching.co.uk
• linkedin.com/in/alicewestbury

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I am joined by Annabel Jeffcoate, the founder of Balance for Teachers. Balance for Teacher aims to reduce the amount of stress related illness in the education sector and one of their strategies for doing so is empowering their clients to say ‘no’.  

In this episode, Annabel shares:

• Why curiosity and asking questions can be a powerful tool in changing perceptions of how other teachers/colleagues work.
• Why breaking down the reasons why you’re feeling a certain way in your job can help you work out the solution.
• Why saying ‘no’ to yourself is just as important as saying it to external influences.

If you’d like to find out more about Annabel and Balance for Teachers you can visit:

• www.worklifebalanceforteachers.com
• https://www.instagram.com/teachersworklifebalancecoach/?hl=en
• https://twitter.com/balanceteachers
• https://www.facebook.com/balanceforteachers

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk with Dr Keith Watson, an educational consultant and personal development coach who has over 30 years of experience working in education. Keith chats about creating cognitively challenging classrooms and how teachers can provide a challenge for all pupils.

In this episode, Keith shares:

• What a cognitively challenging classroom can look like.
• Why he is so passionate about creating classrooms that challenge all pupils.
• Some tips on how to create this challenge culture in the classroom.

If you’d like to find out more about Keith and his work, you can visit:

• keithwatsoncoaching.com
• https://twitter.com/DrKeithWatson1

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I chat with Kim Griffin, an occupational therapist who is currently based in Australia. Kim has been working with pupils with SEN for almost 20 years and is on a mission to help teachers and educators understand the ‘why’ behind the way children behave when they have sensory processing difficulties.

In this episode, Kim shares:

• How choice can have an impact on the way children with sensory processing issues behave.
• Why it is important educators understand how sensory processing can affect behaviour.
• Why she is so passionate about educators learning more about sensory processing.

If you’d like to find out more about Kim and her work, you can visit:

• GriffinOT.com
• https://www.facebook.com/kim.griffin.71697092
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-griffin-ot/
• https://twitter.com/Griffin_OT

Kim also shared some texts that anyone who wishes to learn more about sensory processing may be interested in reading:

• Sensory Processing Challenges – Effective Clinical Work with Kids and Teens by Lindsey Biel (2014)
• Sensational Kids by Lucy Miller (2014)
• 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers - Sensory Processing by Kim Griffin (2020)
• For Parents: The Everything Parent’s Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder by Terri Mauro (2014)

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In this episode, I speak with Will Bennett. Will is the founder of GrooveLine Music Education and he is so passionate about ensuring all pupils have access to a good, holistic musical education.

In this episode, Will shares:

• Why music education is not just about learning an instrument.
• Why he is so passionate about music and music education.
• Tips for teachers who want to raise the standards of music education in schools without needing to be specialist musicians.

If you’d like to find out more about Will and GrooveLine Music Education, you can go to:

• https://www.groovelinemusiceducation.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/groovelinemusic/
• https://www.facebook.com/GrooveLineMusicEducation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I chat to Samantha Hornsby, who is the co-founder of the new careers app ERIC. Along with her best friend, Sam created this app after receiving poor careers advice in her formative years and landing job after job she disliked.

In this episode, Sam shares:

• Why she is so passionate about careers education.
• Ideas for inspiring pupils from primary age to think about their future careers.
• Why she feels careers guidance can often be poor.

If you’d like to find out more about Samantha or ERIC, you can go to:

• meet-eric.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/eric-app/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-hornsby-25a95334/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I chat with Karen Massey, who is a child speech therapist with over 14 years of experience working with children. She is also an author with books on Autism and Apraxia of Speech as well as communication in Down Syndrome at Primary School.  

In this episode, Karen shares:

• How sensory input can help with developing speech and language.
• Why she is so passionate about helping teachers understand how to support pupils who are struggling with speech and language.
• Tips for responding to children who struggle with their speech.

If you’d like to find out more about Karen and where you can get in touch with her, you can go to:

• https://all-about-speech-therapy.teachable.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/allaboutspeechtherapy
• https://twitter.com/about_speech
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Karen-Massey/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3AKaren+Massey

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I chat with Emma Cann, who is a personal development coach specialising in supporting teachers, about my favourite topic - personal development! 

In this episode, Emma shares:

- What coaching is in her own view and the benefits of coaching.

- Why teachers can benefit from engaging with personal development.

- The journey personal development can take you on.

If you’d like to find out more about Emma and where you can get in touch with her, you can go to:

- https://www.facebook.com/groups/choiceclubwithemmacann/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacanncoach/

- https://www.facebook.com/emmacanncoach

- https://www.instagram.com/emmacanncoach/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I chat with Ed Kirwan, the founder of Empathy Week. Empathy is such an important skill, but it is one even adults can struggle with, Ed shares how Empathy Week can help pupils develop empathy through learning about the experiences of others.

In this episode, Ed shares:

- What Empathy Week can look like in schools.

- Why it is so important the children develop their ability to empathise with others.

- Why he is passionate about ensuring children leave school with empathy as a skill.

If you’d like to find out more about Empathy Week and how your school can get involved, you can go to:

- empathy-week.com

- https://www.instagram.com/empathyweek/

- https://www.facebook.com/empathyweek

- https://twitter.com/TheEmpathyWeek

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-kirwan/

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcow1dii3mo

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In this episode I chat with Dan Parker, the chief executive at Veg Power, about the upcoming Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign. Veg Power aim to get more children eating vegetables as a staggering 80% of children are not getting enough vegetables in their diets.

In this episode, Dan shares:

- What Veg Power and Eat Them to Defeat Them is.

- How the programme works in schools and the results he has seen from it.

- How schools can get involved.

If you’d like to find out more about Veg Power or the Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign, you can go to:

- vegpower.org.uk

- https://eatthemtodefeatthem.com/

- https://eatthemtodefeatthem.com/schools

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.