SEND in the Spotlight

Christmas can be a time of great togetherness. It can also mean sensory overload and general overwhelm, plus changes to routine and health and care arrangements.Andy and Gaz from the AutismDadCast share how they plan to make it a bit more manageable this year.Also joining Nuala McGovern is Katie Ghose from Kids charity, which supports children with a wide range of disabilities. Katie offers her tips on what can help your family across the festive season - including the value of a half-wrapped gift.In the spotlight this week is Elvi, a young disabled woman for whom it is Christmas 365 days a year. We hear from Elvi and her mum Sam.And BBC education reporter Kate McGough is back with a SEND roundup of the year.Get in touch with the podcast by emailing send@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Nuala McGovern Produced by Sarah Crawley, with Carolyn Atkinson Digital Producer: Olivia Bolton Executive Editor: Karen DalzielProduced by BBC Audio

It's just four letters, but getting an EHCP - Education Health and Care Plan - for children with special educational needs and disabilities can be a long and frustrating battle. In this episode we explain how to get one and what it means when you do.Joining Nuala McGovern are the actor and parent Anna Maxwell Martin and Jade, who over the past year has been through the process of obtaining an EHCP for her son. She'll tell us what she learned in what she calls 'the toughest year of her life'.BBC education reporter Hazel Shearing explains why the future of EHCPs is uncertain, and Alex Stafford from IPSEA - Independent Provider of Special Education Advice - takes us through each step in applying for an EHCP, including the challenges parents can mount when things don't go their way.Plus we put Mrs Robinson in the spotlight, as Alice and her two teenage sons show their appreciation for an amazing teacher.Get in touch with the podcast by emailing send@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Nuala McGovern Produced by Sarah Crawley, with Carolyn Atkinson Digital Producer: Olivia Bolton Executive Editor: Karen DalzielProduced by BBC Audio

It's a defining moment in the SEND story. The government will publish its delayed Schools White Paper in the New Year, and is now conducting an extended listening exercise on the changes it could contain.School Standards Minister Georgia Gould joins Nuala McGovern to lay out the complexity of the work ahead, and answers criticism from parents, educators and workers in the sector.Also with Nuala in the SEND in the Spotlight studio, three parents who know the system from the inside out - actors Kellie Bright and Anna Maxwell Martin, plus Jason, who's been to tribunal three times to try and get his children the support they need.BBC Education reporter Kate McGough gives the lowdown on how we got here, and we put nine-year-old Henry, who's autistic, in the spotlight - he's been called the kindest boy in Burnley, and he's also one of the most entrepreneurial!Get in touch with the podcast by emailing send@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Nuala McGovern Produced by Sarah Crawley, with Carolyn Atkinson Digital Producer: Olivia Bolton Executive Editor: Karen DalzielProduced by BBC Audio

The special educational needs system is widely considered to be broken. Put simply, demand is outstripping supply, and too many children are being left without the support they need or having to go to school far away from home.As the government embarks on an overhaul of the SEND system in England, in this podcast from BBC Woman’s Hour, Nuala McGovern asks: How can every child learn and thrive?Nuala will examine the facts about what’s already being offered, what’s wanted and what’s affordable. She’ll hear personal stories from families and supporters and seek accountability from the people and organisations with the power to fix the system.Featuring high-profile parents, including actors Anna Maxwell Martin and Kellie Bright, SEND in the Spotlight aims to reimagine the future of SEND.Share your story with us: send@bbc.co.ukSEND in the Spotlight is a Woman’s Hour podcast. Episodes are published on Mondays on BBC Sounds.Note: In Scotland the system is called ASN, Additional Support Needs; In Wales it's ALN, Additional Learning Needs; In Northern Ireland it is known as the SEN register, that is the Special Educational Needs Register.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Produced by Sarah Crawley, with Carolyn Atkinson Executive Editor: Karen Dalziel