Mainstream inclusion with Tom Rees, Kellie Bright and Marsha Martin episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 12, 2026 · 45 MIN

Mainstream inclusion with Tom Rees, Kellie Bright and Marsha Martin

from SEND in the Spotlight · host BBC Sounds

Tom Rees is advising the Government on how to do inclusion well. Nuala McGovern speaks to him about chairing the Department for Education's Expert Advisory Group on Inclusion. Tom is a former primary teacher and headteacher, now CEO of Ormiston, one of the UK's biggest chain of academy schools, plus he's dad to a son who has Down's Syndrome.Also with us this week is Marsha Martin, founder and CEO of Black SEN Mamas - a network of over 7,000 families across the UK and beyond, and Kellie Bright, SEND mum and actor. We hear from Helen, a teacher and SENDCO who wants to talk about perhaps something unexpected - when mainstream inclusion works TOO well.In the spotlight this week is 7 year old Will from Doncaster, who's taught himself to swim.Get in touch with the podcast by emailing [email protected]: Nuala McGovern Produced by Sarah Crawley, with Carolyn Atkinson Digital Producer: Olivia Bolton Executive Editor: Karen Dalziel Produced by BBC Audio

NOW PLAYING

Mainstream inclusion with Tom Rees, Kellie Bright and Marsha Martin

0:00 45:28

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of SEND in the Spotlight?

This episode is 45 minutes long.

When was this SEND in the Spotlight episode published?

This episode was published on January 12, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Tom Rees is advising the Government on how to do inclusion well. Nuala McGovern speaks to him about chairing the Department for Education's Expert Advisory Group on Inclusion. Tom is a former primary teacher and headteacher, now CEO of Ormiston, one...

Can I download this SEND in the Spotlight episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!