S2 E14: Dyslexia, Screening and Understanding Neurodivergent Brains: Nicole Bateman chats with Matt Hancock

Conversations with a SEND Mum

In the final episode of Season 2, host Nicole Bateman is joined by Matt Hancock, founder of the Accessible Learning Foundation. Together they discuss Matt's experience of school before he knew he was dyslexic, his advocacy work, and the importance of understanding neurodivergent brains in the education and criminal justice systems.

Episode Highlights:
Personal Experience and Late Dyslexia Diagnosis:

• Matt shares his personal experience of being dyslexic and how it shaped his life.
• The significant impact of his late diagnosis at 18, after entering Oxford University.
• The emotional and psychological benefits of understanding one's neurodivergent brain.

Teacher Training and Neurodiversity:

• The need for comprehensive teacher training on neurodiversity and how better understanding of neurodiversity can help teachers manage classroom behaviour and improve educational outcome.

The Accessible Learning Foundation:

• Matt’s initiative to promote early identification of neurodiverse conditions in schools and the criminal justice system.
• The foundation’s dual focus on influencing policy and providing direct support to schools and prisons.
• Success stories, including the implementation of neurodiversity leads in every prison in the UK.
• Encouraging listeners to write to their MPs to support neurodiversity screening and teacher training bills.

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