In this episode I'm so pleased to be joined by Georgina Durrant, a true advocate for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Georgina is a former teacher and SENDCo and is now a SEND Consultant and the founder of the award-winning SEN Resources Blog. She is also the host of the podcast SEND in the Experts and the author of three insightful books, including her latest release, SEND Strategies for the Primary Years.

Georgina’s expertise and passion have made her a go-to voice on SEND topics in the media, and most recently has been appointed as National Thought Leader for Inclusion at Twinkl resources.

So, join me in this curious conversation as we explore ways that we can all better support SEND students.

Check out the links below for more information on Georgina and her work:
The SEN Resources Blog:
https://senresourcesblog.com/georgina-durrant/
SEND in the Experts with Georgina Durrant - Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0fe7KoZe3x4p2RMeLC3CDm?si=a9eb9f63a21241e5
SEND Strategies for the Primary Years:
https://amzn.eu/d/bjoXOLV

How good are you at listening?
We are all familiar with the phrase – you have 2 ears and 1 mouth therefore you should listen twice as much as you speak. However, how many of us as school leaders, can legitimately claim we listen more than we speak? In our schools we strive to train our young people in the art of communication however the emphasis can so often be on how they present to others rather than how they receive or listen to others. Regardless of how good we think we are at listening I’m fairly sure there’s room for improvement.

In today’s podcast episode I have the perfect guest to help us dive into these issues a little deeper. Joining me from across the globe in Sydney Australia is Oscar Trimboli. Oscar is the author of the award winning book How to Listen and host of the Apple award winning podcast Deep Listening. He is on a quest through his Deep Listening Ambassador community to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace. On the front cover of ‘How to Listen’ Michael Bungay Stanier states –‘When Oscar has something to say about listening, listen. He’s the best in the world.’

Whether at student level, at staff level or at system level we need to raise our game in how well we listen so that those we converse with feel seen, heard and valued.

Check out Oscar's website for more information on his listening quiz, his books, his podcast and his amazing resources. www.oscartrimboli.com

"Middle leadership in schools should be much more than just bridging the gap between the top and the bottom". Professor Andy Hargreaves

Join me in conversation with Professor Andy Hargreaves in my latest Head Room podcast episode where we take a deep dive into what exactly it means to lead FROM the middle.

Andy has just released his latest book 'Leadership from the Middle' which offers educators a wealth of insights into how impactful this role should be on transforming education.
In this episode we discuss:

• Defining middle leadership in schools
• How do middle leaders foster resilience within schools?
• The Leadership Paradox
• The importance of collaboration in middle leadership
• Overcoming resistance and building support
• The future of middle leadership in schools

You can check out Andy's latest books as well as keep up to date with his speaking engagements and much much more at his website: www.andyhargreaves.com

Andy's Latest Books:
The Age of Identity: https://amzn.eu/d/9EmQMbM
Leadership from the Middle: https://amzn.eu/d/etQLd6c
Please note these are not affiliate links.