In this episode of SEN Talks, we are joined by Stephanie Roe, Director of Roe Lawyers, to discuss the relationship between neurodiversity and the criminal justice system.

Stephanie shares her experience representing neurodiverse children, young people and adults in criminal cases, explaining what can happen when someone with autism, ADHD or other vulnerabilities comes into contact with the police.

We explore:

• what happens after an arrest
• the importance of informing police about vulnerabilities
• reasonable adjustments in custody
• the role of defence solicitors and appropriate adults
• why neurodiverse individuals can be more vulnerable within the justice system
• communication difficulties, impulsivity and sensory overload
• consent, coercion and misunderstandings in criminal cases
• the importance of jury trials
• rehabilitation, support and reducing reoffending

This episode offers practical insight for parents, carers, professionals and anyone supporting neurodiverse young people.If you would like advice about your child’s educational support in England or Wales, our team offers free initial consultations.Credits: Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio. Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels! All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and... us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

The Welsh Additional Learning Needs system has now fully replaced the previous SEN framework, but many families are still trying to understand how the new process works in practice.

In this episode of SEN Talks, education solicitors Sal, Adam and Ffion Davies explore the Welsh ALN system in detail, including the transition from statements to Individual Development Plans (IDPs), the role of schools and local authorities, and the rights available to parents when support is refused or inadequate.

Ffion explains the key differences between the Welsh and English systems, including:

• what counts as additional learning needs
• the process for securing an IDP
• the difference between school maintained and local authority maintained IDPs
• appeal rights in Wales
• timeframes for assessments and appeals
• how schools and local authorities make decisions
• common issues families experience in practice
• concerns around confusion and inconsistent application of the law

The episode also explores wider concerns about the future of SEND reform in England and what lessons policymakers may take from the Welsh system.

Ffion also shares her own personal experience growing up with dyslexia and how that shaped her passion for supporting families through education law.

If you would like advice about your child’s educational support in England or Wales, our team offers free initial consultations.

Credits: Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels! All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

In this episode of SEN Talks, we take a deep dive into the Government’s proposed SEND White Paper reforms; what they say, what they mean, and what they could mean for families in practice.

Drawing on our experience working with parents, schools, and charities across the country, we break down:

• The background and motivation behind the reforms
• The proposed four-tier system of support
• Changes to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• The introduction of “specialist provision packages"
• Potential impacts on parental rights and access to tribunals
• The shift towards school-led complaints and legal challenges

We also explore the wider concerns being raised by parents, charities, and professionals, particularly around whether these changes could reduce individualised support and increase barriers to justice.

Importantly, these proposals are not yet law. This episode helps you understand what’s being suggested now, what could change, and what to watch out for next.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or professional in the SEND space, this is a must-listen breakdown of one of the most significant proposed changes to the SEN system in years.

Credits: Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.

Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels! All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

In this episode of SEN Talks, we’re joined by barrister Matthew Wyard of 39 Essex Chambers to explore one of the most challenging stages for families of young people with SEND: the transition from children’s to adult social care.We discuss:Why preparation should begin as early as Year 9 (or earlier);The realities of Section 20 agreements and parental responsibility;Common misconceptions around care proceedings;The key differences between social care support and NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding;How and when CHC assessments take place and why timing matters;The range of social care assessments families may encounter.With practical insights and clear legal guidance, this episode aims to empower parents and carers with the knowledge they need to navigate the system confidently and avoid the “cliff edge” at 18.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

In this episode of SEND Talks, Salise Dourmoush is joined by Matthew Wyard, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, to discuss the legal issues that can arise when young people with special educational needs move into adulthood.As children approach the age of 16 and beyond, families may encounter complex legal concepts such as deprivation of liberty, capacity assessments and Court of Protection proceedings. Understanding how these frameworks work is essential when decisions are being made about where a young person will live and what care they will receive.Matthew explains:What deprivation of liberty means in practiceWhen authorisation is required and who provides itThe difference between care homes, residential placements and supported livingWhat happens if parents disagree with a proposed placementThe role of the Court of Protection and legal aid in challenging decisionsHow tools such as lasting powers of attorney and deputyship can support families in the futureThe conversation also explores the broader goal of supporting young people to lead independent and fulfilling lives while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place.This episode offers practical insight for parents, carers and professionals supporting young people with SEND as they transition into adulthood.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

Participation in sport and recreational activities can play a vital role in a child’s development, confidence and wellbeing. However, for many children with special educational needs and neurodiversity, accessing these opportunities remains a significant challenge.In this episode of SEN Talks, Adam and Salise discuss the barriers families often encounter when trying to engage their children in mainstream clubs, from overwhelming environments to a lack of trained staff and inclusive coaching practices. Drawing on personal experiences as parents and professionals working within the SEND legal landscape, they reflect on why many children fall into an “in-between” gap, unable to fully access mainstream provision but without appropriate alternatives available.The conversation also explores positive examples of inclusive sports initiatives and the role that community organisations, charities and local authorities can play in improving provision. From accessible football sessions to adapted boxing programmes, these initiatives demonstrate how the right support, training and environment can transform participation.Ultimately, the episode asks an important question: what would truly inclusive recreational provision look like for children with SEN and how do we get there?Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

When a child cannot attend school due to severe anxiety, trauma, or complex SEND, the law provides for Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). But securing and sustaining an effective EOTAS package is rarely straightforward.In this episode of SEN Talks, we are joined by Joanna Gibbs, CEO of SENsational Tutors, to explore:The legal framework underpinning EOTAS,Why EOTAS cannot simply be a “parental preference”,The evidential requirements at tribunal,The role of expert reports in shaping provision,Personal budgets vs. local authority-managed funding,The impact of local authority panel decisions,Why relationship-building and trust are central to success,Whether reintegration into school is always realistic.We also examine the wider systemic issues, budget pressures, red tape, and the tension between short-term funding decisions and long-term outcomes.This conversation highlights the human reality behind EOTAS: children who have not left their bedrooms for months, families who have lost trust in the system, and the transformative impact of the right provision at the right time.For professionals and parents alike, this episode offers both legal insight and practical perspective on securing meaningful education when traditional schooling is no longer suitable.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.

When a child cannot attend school due to severe anxiety, trauma, or complex SEND, the law provides for Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). But securing and sustaining an effective EOTAS package is rarely straightforward.In this episode of SEN Talks, we are joined by Joanna Gibbs, CEO of SENsational Tutors, to explore:The legal framework underpinning EOTAS,Why EOTAS cannot simply be a “parental preference”,The evidential requirements at tribunal,The role of expert reports in shaping provision,Personal budgets vs. local authority-managed funding,The impact of local authority panel decisions,Why relationship-building and trust are central to success,Whether reintegration into school is always realistic.We also examine the wider systemic issues, budget pressures, red tape, and the tension between short-term funding decisions and long-term outcomes.This conversation highlights the human reality behind EOTAS: children who have not left their bedrooms for months, families who have lost trust in the system, and the transformative impact of the right provision at the right time.For professionals and parents alike, this episode offers both legal insight and practical perspective on securing meaningful education when traditional schooling is no longer suitable.Credits:Post-production editing by Goldson Photography - https://www.goldsonphotography.co.uk/.... Edited by ⁠⁠Dreamlancers⁠⁠.Music is 'Sunshine' by lemonmusicstudio.Want more from Geldards SEN? Be sure to follow our social media channels!All links here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/geldardssen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.geldards.com/children-and....Follow us on social media: @GeldardsSEN on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube.