Inclusion Can't Wait for an EHCP with Mykhailo Kalitkin (#364)

What if inclusion can't wait for a diagnosis, a plan or a nine-month waiting list, and every week we wait is a week a child loses?In this episode, Ben and Steve are joined by Mykhailo Kalitkin, a Ukrainian education entrepreneur who has spent more than 20 years working in education. After his son Kirill was diagnosed with autism and given a prognosis that he would never speak, Mykhailo set out to change what was possible. Kirill now studies in an international school. After relocating from Ukraine to Poland and then Portugal because of the war, Mykhailo is turning his family's story into inclusive education and STEM projects used across more than 40 projects worldwide. He explains why schools are losing the fight with entertainment, why buying technology on its own never works, and why inclusion has to look at the whole child, not just their academic gaps.About our guestMykhailo Kalitkin is an education entrepreneur, scientist and founder with a background in physics and more than two decades of experience in education. Originally from Ukraine and now based in Portugal, he works across inclusive education and STEM. He has led national-scale programmes in Armenia, Kazakhstan (with the World Bank) and Ukraine, and developed a six spheres of development framework for assessing and supporting students with special educational needs.We cover:- How his son's autism diagnosis, and a prognosis that he would never speak, reshaped Mykhailo's life and work- Rebuilding a family and a business after relocating twice because of the war- Why falling STEM attainment means schools are "losing the fight with entertainment"- His core philosophy of spaces, knowledge and innovation, and why schools fail when they buy only technology- How AI took his business from 200 employees to 60 in-house- A Lego-style approach to implementation, and why good equipment should show scratches after a year- The case for learning from inclusion systems around the world, from Kazakhstan to Canada- The six spheres of development framework: cognitive, social, sensory, daily living, physical and speech- EHCPs, Individual Support Plans and the UK SEND white paperWhy you should listenIf you work in SEND, inclusion, STEM or school leadership, this episode offers a rare international view of what inclusive education can look like at scale. It comes from a parent who built the system he needed for his own son and then offered it to others. It is a reminder that the goal is not only academic progress but a child who is happy and successful in school.Chapters0:00 Highlights0:50 Welcome to the Edufuturists podcast2:23 Community events update from Steve3:13 Thanking our community leaders and the Wolfpack4:48 Meet Mykhailo and his son Kirill7:06 From "he will never speak" to an international school8:51 The journey behind the projects9:18 STEM education and losing the fight with entertainment11:10 A family story turned into a global project12:27 From one child to children all over the world14:29 Spaces, knowledge and innovation: the core philosophy16:43 How AI changed the shape of his business17:58 A Lego approach to implementation19:53 Why we need inclusive education frameworks22:50 Learning from Kazakhstan, Canada and beyond23:59 Context matters: Finland vs England25:31 The six spheres of development framework27:37 EHCPs, ISPs and the SEND white paper30:12 Impact: projects, teachers trained and hours of practice31:44 Reaching 1,000 schools in Armenia33:34 Ukraine's inclusive reform and what relocating families discovered35:33 Quick-fire questionsFind out more about UNOWAThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Wolfpack