SEND Children in Martial Arts Schools: What's Really Working (And What We Had to Change)

Описание: More families with SEND children are walking through your doors — but most martial arts schools have no system in place to support them properly. In this episode from the Martial Art Business Growth Network podcast, Rick Dubidat sits down with four experienced school owners — Antonio Santorelli, Lee Smith, Simone Hopkins-Hall, and Kiel Tibben — for an honest, practical conversation about what it's really like running classes that include children with autism, ADHD, and other additional needs.

Between them, they've coached hundreds of SEND students and many are parents of children with additional needs themselves. No clinical jargon — just the real challenges they've faced, the changes they've made to class structure, team training, and parent communication, and the simple shifts that made the biggest difference without disrupting the experience for everyone else.

You'll hear how one student went from hiding in the boot of a car to leading younger students on the mat. How another was told he'd never train in a regular class — and went on to earn his black belt. And why the journey often starts not with the child, but with the parent.

Whether you've got one SEND student or sixty percent of a class on the register, this episode gives you a practical starting point.

Topics covered: The most common challenges when SEND children first join your school · Why parent anxiety is the overlooked factor · How to ask deeper questions without overstepping · Finding each student's "superpower" · Instructor training that actually sticks · Class structure changes that work for everyone · Building a team with the right transferable skills · Creating a safe space from first contact

🔗 Want to know how your school actually stacks up when it comes to supporting SEND students? Take the free Martial Arts SEN Audit Quiz — answer a few quick questions and get personalised feedback on where your school's doing well and where the gaps are.

👉 Take the quiz now: https://www.growthnetworkhub.io/sen

If you're a martial arts school owner who wants help growing your school with real systems, proven strategies, and a community of school owners who've been where you are — find out more about the Martial Art Business Growth Network here: https://www.growthnetworkhub.io

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Topic
05:31 Parental Influence and Support
10:35 Training and Developing Instructors
15:39 Instructor Training and Adaptability
21:51 Recognizing Individual Needs and Abilities
30:40 Preparing for Trial Sessions
37:14 Class Structure and Provisions
43:26 Final Advice for Martial Arts School Owners