If you missed the Tes SEND Show – or were there but couldn’t make every session – this is worth a listen.

 

This is a special episode recorded live at the show, where Dale was joined by Simon Airey, an autistic teacher, speaker and neurodiversity consultant, and the founder of Neuroaffirming With Simon.

 

Simon makes the case that there’s no wrong way to play. He talks about lining up 37 Radox shower gels in height order, and a child happily waving sticks around the playground on his own, to show why solo play can be so regulating: there are no demands. He and Dale discuss observing without judgement, asking “what are you noticing?” instead of “why are you doing that?”, and adding to a child’s play rather than trying to change it. Simon’s top tips: always observe first, keep resources open-ended, and let children show you what play looks like for them.

 

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