Episode 12: Guest Speaker Dr Kirstie Rees: The Mental Health & Wellbeing of Children and Young People with Learning Difficulties

The Curious Teachers are joined in this episode by Dr Kirstie Rees, child and educational psychologist and author of The Mental Health & Wellbeing of Children and Young People with Learning Difficulties: A Guide for Educators.

As a child and educational psychologist specialising in disability and neurodiversity, Kirstie has spent many years supporting families and schools to navigate complex situations and find practical solutions that make a positive difference to a child or young person’s wellbeing.

Kirstie believes that a child’s development is shaped by the environments they encounter and by how their needs are understood. The language used to talk about a child’s diagnosis, strengths, and challenges influences how they see themselves and how others respond to them.

An unmissable episode! Sit back, tune in and enjoy!

Episode 11: Guest Speaker Dr Steven Baron:

Positive Psychology in the Classroom

The Curious Teachers are excited to be joined by Dr Steven Baron in this Guest Speaker Episode.

Steve's passion throughout his 30+ year career as a school psychologist has been to help teachers apply positive psychology principles in the classroom.

These principles are designed to bring out the best in students, and becoming a strength-based teacher means working with students to identify and use their signature strengths rather than concentrating on correcting deficits.

In alignment with experiences Helen and Rachel bring, Steve's work has given him a front-row seat to the incredible results that can be achieved when teachers focus on student assets.

You will not want to miss this insightful and at times, humorous episode with Dr Steven Baron.

Episode 10: Guest Speaker Mark Stewart:

Left-Handed Learners

Joining The Curious Teachers in the Guest Speaker Episode is co-founder and specialist advisor on everything left-handed, Mark Stewart. Mark, co-owns an online shop with his wife Heather, whose worlds were opened when their son taught them how to be left-handed in a right-handed world.

What Mark doesn't know about being left-handed doesn't need to be known! Mark and Heather have co-written the “Left Hand Writing Skills” Handwriting practice books and designed a “Writewell” mat. They have also co-authored “So You Think They’re Left-Handed?”, a book of discovery or confirmation for parents, carers and Early Years practitioners.

Join The Curious Teachers for this fascinating and insightful podcast episode on how wee can support Left-Handed Learners!

Episode 9: Guest Speaker Cheryl Warren:

Neurodiversity Affirming

Cheryl has worked within the early years sector for three decades, her training is award winning and she use her professional and personal experiences of parenting children facing additional challenges, within her work.

In the same way as Helen and Rachel, Cheryl is passionate about ensuring all our children are in environments that are affirming and where they can thrive.

Join us in the Episode of The Curious Teachers Podcast to find out what it means to be neurodiversity affirming and how we can adapt and support our neurodiverse learners in school and in life!

Episode 8: Guest Speakers Anthony Benedict & Alan Braven

Relational Inclusion

Striving to change the face of Education, Anthony and Alan join us in this insightful and uplifting podcast episode on Relational Inclusion.

With key practices and heart warming stories, The Curious Teachers dig deep into what Relational Inclusion is and how schools can implement into whole school ethos and everyday routines.

Anthony and Alan are passionate about sharing their experiences from the good, the bad and the ugly! And how all of us have learnt from our mistakes to make relational practices at the heart of all we do.

A perfect tribute to all of the children we have worked with and to all of the staff who have believed in us and in Relational practices along the way.

The Episode compliments the release of Anthony and Alan's book due to be released in April 2025: An Introduction to Relational Inclusion in Schools: Educating Everyone.

Episode 7: Behaviour Clinic: You Ask, We Answer! Q&A Session

In this Episode of The Curious Teachers Podcast, we answer your questions which have been emailed in.

From Dysregulated Mondays to facing the Challenges of being an ECT, Helen & Rachel talk through solution-focused strategies and advice on how to support children in the classroom whilst as educators keeping sane!

The blunders are real!

And we have to get it wrong before we get it right! Editing blooper at the beginning!!

This episode explores ACEs and the impact of these on our children and young people. How Relational Buffers are needed to minimise the impact and damage of ACEs and how children can be misdiagnosed with ADHD because of their behaviours.

As adults we need to sensitively guide children (and adults!) to challenge their narratives and rewrite it!

In this episode we explore that being vulnerable is ok when working with children and families. It makes us relatable!

Helen and Rachel share their vulnerabilities through their own stories of having children with additional needs and what it is like going through a diagnosis as a parent.

Giving dual perspectives allow a more personal experience of the EHCP process and how important the relationship with the school is.