SEND Parenting Podcast

• EP 143 Saying yes until she failed changed everything

  Burnout has a way of making even the smallest task feel impossible. We open with a lifeline for parents raising neurodivergent children, then sit down with campaigner and founder Agnes Agyepong to trace how postnatal depression and isolation became the spark for two powerful vehicles of change: the Glow Mama Awards and a research-led movement tackling maternal and SEND inequalities.Agnes shares the surprising role social media played in her recovery—authentic posts, wry humour, and micro-moments of solidarity that made her feel seen. That insight grows into Glow Mama, a people’s choice awards platform celebrating the creators who keep mothers going at 3 a.m. From there, Agnes dives into the Black maternal health crisis and the environmental factors that stack the odds against families long before labour begins, culminating in the Black Child Clean Air Report and cross-sector partnerships. The throughline is clear: these are public health problems that show up in clinics, classrooms, and on our streets.We dig into SEND inequity with lived experience. Agnes talks about being treated with suspicion when her son was self-harming, becoming a school governor to be heard, and the way adultification bias and rigid behaviour policies fast-track exclusions before support arrives. We challenge the outdated, industrial model of schooling and argue for personalised education that works for every brain. Practical guidance runs throughout: why a Year 3 screening won’t secure legal protections, how an Educational Psychologist’s report unlocks exam access and durable support, and how to build an evidence trail that proves whether a school can meet need.If you want clear next steps, we’ve got them: back petitions so policymakers see the data, write your MP so SEND rises in local triage, connect with specialist groups for Education Other Than At School pathways, and join community networks that share tactics without gatekeeping. Neurodivergent thinkers are not problems to be fixed; they are the innovators we need. Subscribe, share with a caregiver who needs hope, and leave a review to help more families find real tools and real change.Click here to Join ADHD Warrior Mum's Recharge Station Click her to RSVP Recharge and Connect SEND Parenting Summit www.sendparenting.com

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• EP 141 Unschooling Yourself: Letting Go of the ‘Shoulds’ in Parenting

   What if the problem was never your child—but the system itself? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Olivia sits down with Esther Jones, mindfulness teacher, mother of three, and author of The Parent’s Handbook to Unschooling Yourself, to explore what happens when we let go of the ‘shoulds’ that weigh parents down. From daily battles over school refusal to the pressure of academic milestones, Esther shares her family’s journey into unschooling—a path that focuses on curiosity, connection, and trust rather than control.Together, they unpack how mindfulness and self-compassion can transform not just how our children learn, but how we parent. Whether you are curious about alternatives to traditional education or simply looking for a way to bring more calm and joy into your home, this episode will help you see that the first step to helping your child thrive might just be learning to “unschool” yourself.Author & mindful parenting coachBook: The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling YourselfPodcast: The Unschool SpaceWebsite: www.esther-jones.com👉 Join ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge Station Join Dr. Olivia Kessel and leading SEND experts at the Recharge and Connect Summit on 11 November 2025 at Phyllis Court, Henley-on-Thames (also livestreamed). A day to recharge, connect, and gain practical tools for raising neurodiverse children. 💛 👉 sendparenting.com/eventClick here to Join ADHD Warrior Mum's Recharge Station Click her to RSVP Recharge and Connect SEND Parenting Summit www.sendparenting.com

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• EP 140: Meltdowns, Decoded

  ✨ Click here for SENsory Mother - Laura Ellis✨ Click here for 30-day Guide to Better Sleep 👉 Join ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge StationWhat if the meltdown in your hallway isn’t defiance at all, but a terrified nervous system asking for help? We go straight to the heart of “challenging behaviour” with Laura, a teacher and mum of neurodivergent twins, who moved from daily crisis to a calmer, kinder home by changing how she understood panic, overload, and connection. Her story spans premature birth, early diagnoses, masking at school, and the moment everything fell apart—then slowly came back together.We break down the physiology of fight or flight in plain English—what rising heart rate, redirected blood flow, and sensory overwhelm do to a child’s thinking brain—and why sticker charts and lectures backfire mid-meltdown. You’ll hear the hidden social demands most of us miss: the chirpy morning greeting, the barrage of car-ride questions, the insistence on eye contact. We swap over-talking for visuals and scripts, and share a deceptively simple morning playlist that turned dread into momentum. Curiosity replaces blame through a great example of literal thinking (yes, he handed over the red and blue food colouring—because that’s what was asked).We also map the sensory layer—why kicking and slamming can signal a need for proprioception—and how a realistic sensory routine lowers baseline stress. A striking moment at a cricket match shows how the right environment can flip chaos to clarity in seconds. Boundaries still matter, but timing is everything: teach after calm, not during crisis, and make consequences predictable, visual, and discussed in advance. If you’ve felt hopeless, ashamed, or judged, this conversation will hand you language, tools, and the relief of being understood.Want more support and live coaching with neurodiversity experts? Join the ADHD Warrior Mom Recharge Station for weekly group coaching, monthly masterclasses, self-care sessions, and a community that gets it. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help more families find us.Click here to Join ADHD Warrior Mum's Recharge Station Click her to RSVP Recharge and Connect SEND Parenting Summit www.sendparenting.com

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• EP 139: Why Punishments From 1846 Still Don't Work Today

  Dr Olivia Kessel welcomes back co-authors Georgina Benger and Karen Price to discuss restorative justice as a compassionate, relationship-based approach that helps children understand the impact of their actions and repair harm.• Georgina's research at Cambridge University revealed schools still use the same punishment methods from 1846 despite their ineffectiveness• Traditional punishments fail to teach accountability and create patterns where children accept consequences without understanding impact• Restorative justice shifts focus from punishment to repairing relationships through a seven-step process• Creating a safe space, active listening, and acknowledging emotions are foundational steps in restorative practice• The approach encourages children to explore the impact of their actions and take accountability without forced apologies• Particularly beneficial for neurodivergent children who often experience disproportionate punishment in traditional systems• Implementing restorative practices in schools requires time initially but becomes embedded in culture and ultimately saves time• Children learn to resolve conflicts independently when these practices are consistently modeled• The core principles include prioritizing relationships, focusing on learning rather than labeling, and recognizing that healing should involve everyoneIf getting your child to sleep feels like a battle, download our free 30-day Better Sleep Starter Guide at sendparenting.com/sleep – designed with ADHD in mind but effective for all neurodiverse children.📘  Click here for Willow's Day ✨ Click here for 30-day Guide to Better Sleep 👉 Join ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge StationClick here to Join ADHD Warrior Mum's Recharge Station Click her to RSVP Recharge and Connect SEND Parenting Summit www.sendparenting.com

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• EP 138: Anxiety, PDA and self-regulation with Caryn Price & Georgina Benger

  If you're exhausted from daily battles with a child who seems to resist everything – even things they used to enjoy – this episode will change how you see their behaviour forever.Karen Price and Georgina Benger, leading PDA experts who've supported thousands of families, reveal why Pathological Demand Avoidance isn't defiance or manipulation – it's anxiety. Using the heartwarming children's book "Olive's Day" as their guide, they brilliantly illustrate how your child literally "can't, not won't," making this complex concept suddenly crystal clear.Discover why your child appears "perfect" at school but falls apart the moment they get home, and learn practical strategies that honour their neurological needs without creating chaos. Through the relatable story of Olive and her challenging day, Karen and Georgina demonstrate how visual choices, environmental modifications, and the power of co-regulation – literally "lending your nervous system" to help your child manage overwhelming emotions – can transform your family dynamics.You'll walk away understanding how to support your child's drive for autonomy through collaboration and flexibility, create classroom cultures that build empathy rather than entitlement, and transform daily conflicts into genuine connection. Plus, discover how "Olive's Day" can become a powerful tool for helping others understand your child's unique needs.Stop walking on eggshells. Stop questioning every parenting decision. Your child isn't broken, and neither are you – you just need different strategies for a different neurotype, beautifully illustrated through one little girl's very relatable day.This 45-minute conversation, brought to life through Olive's relatable journey, could save your family years of struggle. 📘  Click here for Olive's Day ✨ Click here for 30-day Guide to Better Sleep 👉 Join the waitlist for ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge StationClick here to Join ADHD Warrior Mum's Recharge Station Click her to RSVP Recharge and Connect SEND Parenting Summit www.sendparenting.com

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