<![CDATA[Dear Education Secretary]]>Dear Education Secretary gives people a space to speak openly about the education system. Together, we’ll explore how we could do things differently to meet every child where they are.

Sharing the important stories that don’t always make it into the headlines, we’ll hear from parents and carers, young people, educators and other professionals about what education really looks and feels like for the people living and delivering it every day.

We’ll take a closer look at neurodiversity too, asking where education is falling short, what we’re getting right, and what needs to change to create a system that works for every child.

Honest conversations, lived experience and fresh ideas for anyone who believes we can do education better.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Mon, 26 Oct 2026 19:10:53 GMTMon, 31 Aug 2026 18:17:26 GMT60Helen Daniel<p><b>Dear Education Secretary</b> gives people a space to speak openly about the education system. Together, we’ll explore how we could do things differently to meet every child where they are.</p><p></p><p>Sharing the important stories that don’t always make it into the headlines, we’ll hear from parents and carers, young people, educators and other professionals about what education really looks and feels like for the people living and delivering it every day.</p><p></p><p>We’ll take a closer look at neurodiversity too, asking where education is falling short, what we’re getting right, and what needs to change to create a system that works for every child.</p><p></p><p><b>Honest conversations, lived experience and fresh ideas</b> for anyone who believes we can do education better.</p>episodicHelen Danielgvhz9t4smj@privaterelay.appleid.comno<![CDATA[Welcome to the series: If I had the Education Secretary's ear for just one day...what would I say?]]>In this special welcome episode, Helen Daniel explores what she would say if she had the education secretary's ear just for one day. Drawing on her experiences as a former teacher, researcher, author, and AuDHD parent, Helen takes an honest look at the gap between what so many children and young people need and what the current system is designed to provide.

Helen unpicks some of the assumptions underpinning education, from the limitations of the curriculum to the expectation that every child should learn, communicate and demonstrate knowledge in the same way. She explores the challenges neurodivergent children can face in mainstream education, and why more flexible, inclusive and sensory informed approaches to teaching are essential if we are serious about creating an equitable education system.

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https://www.instagram.com/makingsensehelen/

Keywords: education reform, neurodivergent children, inclusive education, teaching methods, systemic change

Key Topics

  • Flaws in the current education system
  • The importance of inclusive and flexible teaching methods
  • Challenges faced by neurodivergent children in schools
  • The need for systemic change and honest conversations
  • Helen Daniel's personal experience and advocacy

Takeaways

  • The current education system is not designed to support neurodivergent children effectively.
  • Inclusive education requires honest conversations and systemic reform.
  • Teachers need more support and flexibility to meet diverse learning needs.
  • Neurodivergent children are at a disadvantage when expectations are not tailored to their sensory systems.
  • Personal stories highlight the urgent need for change in educational practices.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Helen Daniel's motivation

01:53 Challenges faced by neurodivergent children in schools

04:01 Helen's personal experience with undiagnosed neurodivergence

06:00 The decline of creative and flexible teaching methods

07:57 The need for research-based, inclusive teaching approaches

09:57 The importance of listening to neurodivergent voices

11:04 Call to action: systemic change and honest conversations

]]>910d84b6-f07b-4c0c-a772-eae8ec40c4e5Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:30:00 GMT<p>In this special welcome episode, Helen Daniel explores what she would say if she had the education secretary's ear just for one day. Drawing on her experiences as a former teacher, researcher, author, and AuDHD parent, Helen takes an honest look at the gap between what so many children and young people <i>need </i>and what the current system is designed to provide.</p><p></p><p>Helen unpicks some of the assumptions underpinning education, from the limitations of the curriculum to the expectation that every child should learn, communicate and demonstrate knowledge in the same way. She explores the challenges neurodivergent children can face in mainstream education, and why more flexible, inclusive and sensory informed approaches to teaching are essential if we are serious about creating an equitable education system.</p><p></p><p>Follow me at:</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/makingsensehelen/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/makingsensehelen/</a></p><p></p><p><b>Keywords: </b>education reform, neurodivergent children, inclusive education, teaching methods, systemic change</p><p></p><p><b>Key Topics</b></p><ul><li>Flaws in the current education system</li><li>The importance of inclusive and flexible teaching methods</li><li>Challenges faced by neurodivergent children in schools</li><li>The need for systemic change and honest conversations</li><li>Helen Daniel's personal experience and advocacy<p></p></li></ul><p><b>Takeaways</b></p><ul><li>The current education system is not designed to support neurodivergent children effectively.</li><li>Inclusive education requires honest conversations and systemic reform.</li><li>Teachers need more support and flexibility to meet diverse learning needs.</li><li>Neurodivergent children are at a disadvantage when expectations are not tailored to their sensory systems.</li><li>Personal stories highlight the urgent need for change in educational practices.<p></p></li></ul><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p></p><p><b>00:00 </b>Introduction and Helen Daniel's motivation</p><p><b>01:53 </b>Challenges faced by neurodivergent children in schools</p><p><b>04:01 </b>Helen's personal experience with undiagnosed neurodivergence</p><p><b>06:00 </b>The decline of creative and flexible teaching methods</p><p><b>07:57 </b>The need for research-based, inclusive teaching approaches</p><p><b>09:57 </b>The importance of listening to neurodivergent voices</p><p><b>11:04 </b>Call to action: systemic change and honest conversations</p>no00:11:1911Welcome to the series: If I had the Education Secretary's ear for just one day...what would I say?full