In this conversation, Dan speaks with Dr. Shelley Moore about her journey in education, focusing on the importance of inclusive practices for students with disabilities. They discuss the challenges faced by the education system, the need for a shift from special education to inclusive education, and the significance of community and collaboration in fostering an inclusive environment. Dr. Moore shares her research findings and practical strategies for teachers to create inclusive classrooms, emphasizing the importance of understanding student needs and building agency. The conversation highlights the necessity of evolving Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to better support students and the overall educational community.


Takeaways

Inclusion is beneficial for all students, not just those with disabilities.
Education systems need to evolve to meet the needs of today's diverse learners.
Community and belonging are essential for student success.
Teachers should start with the needs of the most vulnerable students.
IEPs should focus on growth rather than fixing perceived deficits.
Positive attitudes towards inclusion can transform educational practices.
Flexibility in teaching methods is crucial for accommodating diverse learners.
Research should guide educational decisions, not just tradition or opinion.
Student agency is vital for meaningful learning experiences.
Collaboration among educators, families, and communities enhances inclusion efforts.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation
02:29 Dr. Shelley's Journey in Education
06:54 The Shift from Special Education to Inclusive Education
12:06 Understanding the Education Crisis
15:59 Research and Practical Applications in Inclusive Education
23:59 Five Key Principles for Effective Inclusion
30:41 Barriers in Education: The Role of Standardized Testing
33:12 Permissible Prejudice: Understanding Discrimination in Education
34:30 Rethinking Accessibility: The Bowling Metaphor in Education
39:47 Creating Inclusive Learning Environments: A Case Study
42:37 Empowering Student Agency: Making Choices in Learning
48:43 Navigating Standardized Testing: Strategies for Success
55:01 The Evolution of IEPs: From Medical Models to Inclusive Practices
59:32 Practical Tips for Inclusive Teaching: Small Steps for Big Change

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Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
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Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

• Why so many children are struggling with speech, language and communication right now
• How early identification can change everything
• What needs to happen in policy, funding and teacher training to fix the system
• And how we can all be part of the solution — from the classroom to the kitchen table

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Support the show

Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
👉 Head to www.detentiondiaries.com
to read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community.

Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

Join me on this week’s episode of the Make it Make SENDs podcast as I chat with the remarkable Ginny Bootman — a SENDCO, former headteacher, author and champion of empathy-driven SEND education.

🚀 In this conversation we dive into:

• Ginny’s journey from classroom to leading inclusive practice
• How empathy, trust and relationships make all the difference in SEND provision
• The current state of SEND legislation, what’s working and what still needs to change
• Practical advice for teachers, parents (like me, father of an autistic daughter) and anyone working with young people
• Ginny’s favourite strategies, time-saving hacks and what she’d change overnight if she could

📚 Check out Ginny’s work:

• Book: Independent Thinking on Being a SENDCO by Ginny Bootman (113 tips for building relationships, saving time and changing lives) – crownhouse.co.uk+1
• Ginny’s Talks & Podcast appearances – find them at her website and listen to her podcast “Follow the Empathy Road” Ginny Bootman | Follow the Empathy Road.+1
• https://thesendcast.com/category/episodes/ginny-bootman/

🌐 Join the Detention Diaries community:

• Visit: www.detentiondiaries.com (subscribe for our weekly newsletter, resources, and more)
• Instagram: @_detention_diaries
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• X (formerly Twitter): @DetentionDiary

🎧 We also recommend checking out previous podcast episodes if you’re new to the show — https://open.spotify.com/show/1hbydmiXAUaX8ktaoCphaF?si=9afcba5dfe354554 . If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share so we can keep growing this conversation and supporting all those working in and around SEND.

Thank you for listening, and a huge thank you to Ginny Bootman for bringing her energy, insight and passion.
Hit play, sit back, and let’s get into it.

Support the show

Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
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Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

💬 Episode Description:

In the very first episode of Make it Make SENDs, I sit down with Kieran Rose — better known as The Autistic Advocate
— to talk all things autism, inclusion, and the future of education.

Kieran is one of the UK’s most respected autistic voices, a writer, trainer, and speaker who’s spent years challenging the systems that fail autistic children and their families. In this honest and powerful conversation, we explore how our schools are designed, why so many autistic pupils are being excluded or misunderstood, and what needs to change if we’re ever going to get inclusion right.

Kieran makes a bold and thought-provoking statement: “We don’t have a SEND crisis — we have an education crisis.”Together, we unpack what that means, and how teachers, parents, and policymakers can start to shift the narrative from “fixing children” to fixing the system.

This episode is real, reflective, and full of insight — a must-listen for anyone who cares about how we educate and support neurodivergent young people.

🔗 Join the Conversation:

You can explore Kieran’s work, resources, and training at www.theautisticadvocate.com
and follow him on social media @TheAutisticAdvocate.

For more reflections, blog posts, and future episodes, head to www.detentiondiaries.com
— home of the Make it Make SENDs podcast, the Detention Diaries series, and a growing community of educators, parents, and advocatesworking to make education better for everyone.

👉 Read. Listen. Join the conversation. Let’s make it make SENDs — together.

Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
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Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

In this episode of Detention Diaries, I’m joined by Will Evans — my former PGCE mentor and now Music PGCE Lead at Manchester Metropolitan University. Will’s spent years helping new teachers survive (and sometimes even enjoy) their first year in the classroom, and in this episode, we lift the lid on what teacher training really looks like in 2025.

We chat about the changing face of education, why creative subjects like music are more vital than ever, and how to prepare new teachers for a profession that’s equal parts art, science, and chaos. Will shares his insights into training, resilience, burnout, and why so many of the best educators are also brilliant storytellers.

It’s funny, thoughtful, and just the right amount of nostalgic — two old colleagues swapping stories about lessons gone wrong, what’s changed since our training days, and what still needs to.

👉 Join the conversation at www.detentiondiaries.com
— the online staffroom where real teachers talk about real education.

Because teaching isn’t just a career — it’s a calling… with a lot of paperwork.

Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
👉 Head to www.detentiondiaries.com
to read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community.

Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

In Episode 2 of Detention Diaries, I sit down with Andy — a former mainstream teacher who went on to set up education across multiple alternative provision sites in the North West, and now works with Progressive Masculinity, helping schools rethink how they support boys.

We dive deep into what’s really going on with young men in education — the ones who slip through the cracks, lash out, or just quietly disappear. We unpack the findings of the ‘Lost Boys’ report, explore the crisis of modern masculinity, and ask: how can schools help boys grow without shutting them down?

Andy’s story takes us from PE changing rooms to PRU classrooms to working nationally on gender and behaviour. It’s a conversation about identity, belonging, and hope, with a fair bit of honesty (and a touch of swearing) along the way.

If you’ve ever taught that student, worried about the state of boys’ education, or wondered what it really means to “man up” in 2025 — this episode’s for you.

👉 Join the conversation at www.detentiondiaries.com
— the online staffroom for real talk about teaching, learning, and surviving education.

Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
👉 Head to www.detentiondiaries.com
to read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community.

Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

When mainstream can’t meet every need — what really happens inside a Pupil Referral Unit?

In this episode of Detention Diaries, I sit down with David — a former SENDCo at my school who’s now working as English Lead in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). He’s someone who’s lived the reality of trying to make mainstream education work for every student… and then decided to see what life was like beyond it.

We talk about the truth behind alternative provision — the successes, the heartbreaks, the misconceptions — and what it’s like teaching young people who’ve already been written off by the system. David shares his honest thoughts on behaviour, inclusion, and what schools get wrong (and right) when supporting students with complex needs.

Expect insight, humour, and a few moments that might make you rethink what “success” looks like in education. Oh — and maybe a little swearing. Because when you’re working in a PRU, sometimes there’s just no other word that fits.

If you’ve ever worked with challenging students, tried to keep your cool during yet another “urgent” behaviour meeting, or wondered what happens after exclusion — this episode pulls back the curtain.

Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
👉 Head to www.detentiondiaries.com
to read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community.

Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

Welcome to Detention Diaries.

Stay tuned for our first episode.

Like, Subscribe, join the community. Be sound!

Loads of love.

Detention Diaries

Support the show

Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
👉 Head to www.detentiondiaries.com
to read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community.

Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.