New Podcast Alert: Unpacking the Crisis for Black SEND Children in UK Education! The Role of the Educational Psychologist.

Dr Shungu Hilda M’gadzah
Sep 18
2 min read

Join us as we delve into a critical and urgent discussion about the systemic failures deeply embedded within the UK education system, particularly affecting Black children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Our upcoming podcast introduces the vital work highlighted in the "A Revolution for Black SEND Children in UK Education" Briefing Document, dated October 26, 2023. This document paints a stark picture of how systemic racism and racial illiteracy are pervasive in schools and among professionals, including Educational Psychologists (EPs), leading to significant disparities and injustices.

Key issues we will explore include:

Misdiagnosis and Disproportionate Exclusions: Black children are frequently misdiagnosed, face "adultification bias," and experience disproportionate exclusions, often struggling to get necessary assessments and support.
The Complicity of Educational Psychologists (EPs): Dr. Shungu Hilda M’gadzah powerfully states that Local Authorities and EPs are "part of the “systemic cogs that enable and mask exclusion”". Many EPs are criticized for failing to challenge racism, prioritizing "nice professional" relationships over advocacy, and lacking racial literacy. This silence is seen as collusion with discriminatory practices.
A SEND System in Crisis: The system is overwhelmed, underfunded, and suffers from a severe shortage of EPs, who are often forced to identify needs "in one visit" instead of multiple times. This leads to wrong diagnoses and a focus on statutory Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) that hinders crucial early intervention.
Intersectionality of Race and SEND: The podcast will underscore how the intersection of race and SEND compounds disadvantages for Black children, requiring a holistic approach that addresses specific and cultural needs.

This isn't a call for mere reform, but a "SEND Revolution". We need a fundamental shift towards anti-racist practice, demanding that EPs move beyond passive roles to become active "antiracism expert[s]" who challenge discriminatory systems and develop true racial literacy.

Drawing on the expertise of Dr. Shungu Hilda M’gadzah, author of "Understanding and Dealing with Racism- The Six Stages Framework", we highlight the urgent need for professionals to understand their own biases and to foster anti-racist practices in schools and within their own professional groups.

Tune in to understand the depth of these challenges and explore recommendations for systemic change, including robust anti-racism training, increased EP capacity, redefined inclusion, and greater accountability across the education system.

This is a critical conversation for Key Stakeholders in UK Education Policy, Educational Psychology, and Social Justice Advocacy, as well as parents and anyone committed to ensuring positive and equitable outcomes for all children.

Join the movement for change! Let's make it impossible for these issues to be ignored.

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