We’re continuing our exploration of the neurodivergent experience from all angles, and in this episode we turn to a perspective that sits right at the centre of many young people’s lives: education.

My guest is Laura Hamson, School Improvement Manager for SEND and Inclusion at Hampshire County Council. Laura has oversight of special schools, resource provisions and inclusive practice across Hampshire — giving her a unique, whole-system view of what makes the difference for neurodivergent children in today’s classrooms.

If you’ve listened to earlier episodes with Grant and Jane, you’ll know we’ve been building a rounded picture of the challenges families face. Laura brings another crucial part of that picture: how schools understand neurodivergence, how they support children, and what really helps young people feel they belong.

In this episode, we cover topics including:

The biggest factors that help neurodivergent children thrive in school.
How “ordinarily available provision” can transform inclusion for whole classes.
The importance of communication between schools and parents.
How attitudes towards different learning needs have changed over the decades.
What the corporate world can learn from the education sector about inclusion.

To find out more about the work Laura mentions:

Hampshire Local Offer — https://fish.hants.gov.uk/kb5/hampshire/directory/localoffer.page
Hampshire Transforming SEND Programme — https://hias-moodle.mylearningapp.com/ (login required for some materials)

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