Send me a message.Nicola Brown shares her experience teaching design and technology at Springwell Leeds North, an SEMH school catering to students aged 7-16 with social, emotional, and mental health needs. She discusses how building relationships, establishing micro-routines, and adapting teaching approaches helps students thrive in a subject that offers unique opportunities for personal development.Working with SEMH students requires understanding dysregulation and supporting emotional regulationKey Stage 2 (ages 7-10) sessions focus on basic skills like using scissors, threading, and completing small projects Key Stage 3 students access a full workshop with power tools, building trust and respectLevel 2 Construction and Arts Award qualifications are offered to Key Stage 4 studentsThe school practices early transitions to reduce anxiety about the new school yearMisconceptions about special schools are challenged - "it's just being in the right place for you at the right time"D&T education creates meaningful progression pathways to further education and employmentSmall class sizes (10 students with 3 adults) and specialized support enable personalised learningSupport the showIf you like the podcast, you can always buy me a coffee to say 'thanks!'Please offer your feedback about the show or ideas for future episodes and topics by connecting with me on Threads @hardy_alison or by emailing me.If you listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to rate and/or review the show. If you want to support me by becoming a Patron click here. If you are not able to support me financially, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing a link to my work on social media. Thank you!