nasen awards - Natalie Hay, Highly commended changemaker of the year

In this special episode, Natalie Hay discusses her recognition as a highly commended change maker for her advocacy in changing the UK government's free school meals policy. Over three years, she raised £8,000 for her campaign, which aimed to make the policy inclusive for children receiving education other than at school (EOTAS), aligning with the Equality Act 2010. Natalie shares her personal journey as a parent carer for her son, who suffers from chronic fatigue and Lyme disease. She highlights the struggles faced by many families, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns when disparities in support for disabled children became evident. The conversation covers Natalie's journey from the creation of a Facebook group that grew to 4,500 members, to engaging with legal experts. Which led to ultimately initiating a legal challenge that pressured the government to revise its policies. The episode emphasises the emotional and logistical challenges parents face while advocating for their children's rights and the importance of community support. Natalie also shares a poem reflecting the struggles of parent carers and the need for empathy and understanding from educational institutions. Contact Natalie [email protected] Parent Carer group: TIGERS (The Inclusion Group: Education, Rights & Support) Useful Links nasen website nasen events and CPD nasen live conference  nasen Awards 2025   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – [email protected]  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.