A new Women’s Hour podcast will spotlight the reality of SEND support when it launches on 8 December.
SEND in the Spotlight, hosted by Nuala McGovern, explores the realities of life for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and the families and professionals supporting them.
Each episode examines a key area of SEND provision, with contributions from families, educators, experts and policymakers discussing what is working, what is failing and what urgently needs attention in a system under growing pressure.
The series features personal perspectives from well-known parents including actors Anna Maxwell Martin and Kellie Bright, who talk openly about their experiences navigating SEND processes.
With the number of children requiring SEND support rising from one point three million to one point seven million in England over the past decade, the podcast asks why demand continues to outstrip supply and what reforms may finally provide relief for overstretched families and services.
Many parents and professionals believe the system has become adversarial, overwhelmed and under-funded, with mounting costs failing to deliver adequate support or consistent provision across regions.
The podcast will explore the facts behind this strain, look at what is currently being offered and investigate where improvements could be made, while also seeking accountability from the institutions shaping SEND policy.
Future episodes will cover the reforms expected in the forthcoming Schools White Paper, guidance on applying for an EHCP, challenges around school transport, realities of SEND provision in mainstream classrooms and practical advice for families navigating festivals and holidays.
New half-hour episodes will be released every Monday on BBC Sounds and via RSS, with listeners encouraged to share their experiences by emailing the production team.
Nuala McGovern says: “I want to create a space where families can share their experiences of raising a child with special educational needs. Together we want to reimagine the SEND system, which some have called broken. I’ll also work to get answers from the people who have the power to change it.”
Karen Dalziel, Editor of Woman’s Hour, says: “Woman’s Hour has always been about unpacking the issues that matter most to women, and SEND is now one of the most pressing topics for our audience.
“With current provision creating unsustainable pressure for families, professionals and the public purse, SEND in the Spotlight creates the space to have bold conversations about the system we’ve got, and the one parents and children need. Expect straight talk, sharp insight, and practical advice.”
SEND in the Spotlight launches on 8 December, with new half-hour episodes released every Monday on BBC Sounds and via RSS, with listeners encouraged to share their experiences by emailing: send@bbc.co.uk.
