Episode 18 - Katie SEN recruitment professional

SEN Parenting and Wellbeing

Wednesday, 26 July 2023 - 16 minutes

Apologies for the audio quality of the telephone in this episode

The latest episode of the SEN Parenting Podcast, hosted by Aiyesha Bailey, features a heartwarming and inspiring conversation with Katie, a professional in special needs education recruitment based in Milton Keynes. Throughout the episode, Katie shares her personal journey from working in a restaurant to getting an opportunity with Dunbar Education, a recruitment agency for special needs education. A deep dive into the challenges and opportunities in the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) community reveals Katie's passion for her work, with insights into the need for greater support and resources in the field.

Throughout the conversation, Katie emphasizes the importance of better funding for SEND schools, particularly in facilitating additional staff hires and creating larger, more accessible classrooms for wheelchair-bound students. Her personal experiences and encounters with candidates, schools, and teachers further illustrate the profound need for change within the SEND community.

Away from her professional life, Katie reveals more about herself as she discusses her personal life, hobbies, and values, including her family, her love for spontaneous adventures, and the life lessons she's learned from her mother. The discussion includes an engaging segment on how Katie would describe herself in the form of a biscuit, leading to a fun and humorous analogy. She also shares some of her life challenges that shaped her perspective on kindness and assertiveness. The episode concludes with Katie's self-description in five words that encompass her as a person.

This episode is not only enlightening in terms of special needs education and recruitment, but it's also an inspiring journey of a woman thriving in her profession, making a difference, and fostering positive changes in her field. It's a must-listen for those involved or interested in special needs education, and a compelling conversation for everyone else.