COVID Babies, inclusion, and the courage to lead differently

Helen Stanton-Tonner is joined by Michelle Windridge, EYFS and SEND specialist, and National Education Lead at Twinkl, to explore one of the most pressing issues facing school leaders today: the long-term developmental impact of the pandemic on young children. Michelle's work on the so-called "COVID babies" cohort has sparked wide discussion across the sector, and in this conversation, she and Helen dig into what leaders and practitioners are now seeing in classrooms, where the system is falling short, and what values-led, inclusive leadership actually looks like in practice. They discuss the dangers of deficit-based thinking, the underestimated challenge of early years to Key Stage 1 transition, staff wellbeing as a foundation for inclusion, and why the most effective leaders are those willing to slow down and truly understand the children in front of them. A thoughtful, honest and genuinely challenging conversation for anyone leading a school or working in SEND.