On the Road: Tes SEND Show 2026 – WOW! Just WOW! 💜
Where do we even begin?! Two days at the Tes SEND Show 2026 and we're still trying to take it all in!
To say it was busy would be an understatement! From the moment the doors opened on Friday until they closed on Saturday, there was quite literally someone at our stand, continuously!
And we absolutely LOVED every minute of it! 💜
It's about the PEOPLE
But, as always, when we reflect on events like this, it's not really about the Simple Safe Space pod, the acoustic solutions or even the difference we know they can make to people's lives.
It's about the PEOPLE.
The people who feel the way we feel. Who think the way we think. Who refuse to accept that children and young people should have to struggle within environments that simply haven't been designed with their needs in mind.
The people who are determined to challenge convention, remove barriers and create environments where EVERY SINGLE PUPIL has the opportunity to thrive.
And goodness, did we meet some wonderful people!
Stand B25: one big family
Stand B25 felt less like an exhibition stand and more like one big family! 💜
🎧 Ricky Dummer, RG Sound Solutions, brought his years of experience and expertise in acoustics and SoundField technology. It was wonderful having you alongside us, Ricky!
💜 Irina, Sally and the incredible team at TTS: you truly do ROCK! Your energy, enthusiasm and sheer determination were relentless. What a formidable team! We loved sharing the experience with you.
💜 Karen Jackson, CASSEF, joined us on Saturday, bringing her infectious enthusiasm and first-hand experiences of the children and young people already benefiting from their Simple Safe Space pod. Karen, you're an incredible champion for the children and young people you support and one of our biggest cheerleaders. Thank you!
💜 Zillah Watson, Phase Space: always such a pleasure! Your passion, insight and knowledge are inspirational and we absolutely love the conversations we have with you.
💜 Pat Wiek, IDlove: thank you for so generously sharing your expertise in content marketing and helping us explore how we can strengthen our profile and reach even more people who share our vision.
💜 Kerry Trevett, Green Solutions Group Ltd: it was lovely to finally meet you and your boundless energy, along with your gorgeous book, Leo is Lost. Such a pleasure to reconnect and we can't wait for our conversations to continue!
And then there were the NEW FRIENDSHIPS!
💜 Marc Graham, Everybody Reads: what an extraordinary, inspirational professional! Meeting people like you reminds us just how many wonderful individuals are out there, working tirelessly to make a difference.
💜 Ginny Bootman: Helen's podcast conversation with Ginny was one of those special moments when you meet someone and instantly KNOW you're speaking the same language!
🐾 And then there was WALTER
And then there was Walter and his lovely mum, Maxine Clare, from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. 💜
Our very first four-legged visitor from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People! What an absolute superstar! Walter was a wonderful reminder that accessibility, independence and inclusion come in so many different forms, sometimes with four paws and a wagging tail!
It was an absolute joy to meet him and celebrate the extraordinary difference these amazing dogs make to people's lives.
THANK YOU!
And to the hundreds of other visitors who stopped, stepped inside the pod, shared their experiences, asked questions, offered encouragement and told us their stories...
THANK YOU! 💜
We heard stories that inspired us, stories that challenged us and stories that reminded us exactly why we're doing what we're doing.
We met professionals, parents and people with lived experience who are determined to make environments more accessible, more inclusive and more understanding of individual needs.
The two days in pictures
What will we take away?
And what will we take away from these two extraordinary days?
Not the number of visitors.
Not the number of enquiries.
The connections. The conversations. The shared determination.
And the overwhelming reassurance that what we're working so hard to achieve isn't simply wanted.
It's NEEDED.
By children. By young people. By adults.
By people who deserve environments that work WITH them, rather than expecting them to continually adapt to environments that don't.
We have so many conversations to continue, friendships to develop and opportunities to explore. And we genuinely cannot wait!
Because inclusion isn't something any of us can achieve alone.
It takes people who care enough to challenge what we've always done, break down barriers and work together to make a lasting difference.
And if the Tes SEND Show taught us anything, it's that there are an awful lot of those people out there! 💜
Everyone deserves a safe space in their lives.
With enormous thanks from Greg and Helen at Simple Acoustics Ltd.
So, what's next?
On the road next... a school / company / office... setting near you! 🚐😂
Catch up on the rest of the journey: On the Road: Neuroplaces 2026 – What an Experience and On the Road: VetsFest 2026 – Rugby, Inclusion and Something Rather Special.
Let's continue the conversation
If sound, sensory environments or inclusive design are on your mind too, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch or book a free acoustic survey for your school or workplace.
