Dr. Jess Morgan, Paediatrician Turned Teacher Speaks on Puberty in Neurodivergent Children

In this episode, Dr. Inyang Takon talks to Dr. Jess Morgan, a former NHS paediatrician who retrained as a primary school teacher and is also a mum of two girls. Jess has seen children in the clinic, in the classroom and at home, and she shares clear, practical ways to help autistic and ADHD children understand their changing bodies, feel safe and ask for help. In this episode you will learn: • What is happening in your child's body and brain during puberty, and why big feelings arrive before the ability to "put the brakes on" • Why waiting to talk about puberty can leave neurodivergent children more vulnerable, and how to start early • Simple, hands-on ways to prepare your child for periods, shaving and other changes before they happen • Why a child can seem fine at school and fall apart at home, and when it is time to ask for support • How friendships and unwritten social rules change in the teenage years • How schools can teach puberty in a way that is clear, concrete and accessible • How to teach public and private, consent and asking for help without fear or shame • Three things parents and teachers can start doing today00:00 Why puberty can feel louder for neurodivergent children 02:52 Meet Dr. Jess Morgan: from paediatrician to primary school teacher 05:54 What the classroom taught her that the clinic could not 09:56 What happens in the body and the brain during puberty 13:09 Big feelings, no brakes: the teenage brain explained 15:30 Risk-taking and pushing boundaries 18:51 Why you should not wait to talk about puberty 29:16 When families are labelled "difficult": behaviour as communication 31:51 Friendships, unwritten social rules and identity 36:48 How schools can teach puberty better 45:36 Three things parents and teachers can start doing now 48:59 Where to find Dr. Jess Morgan About Dr. Jess Morgan: Jess is a former clinical paediatrician with over a decade of experience working in the NHS, where she developed a deep understanding of what children and families face in healthcare systems. She witnessed children struggling, families desperate for support, and systems that couldn't quite connect the dots. In 2019, she made an unconventional decision to retrain as a primary school teacher. That transition showed Jess the other side of the picture. She came to understand the pressures educators carry, the expectations placed on schools and the reality of parents having to bridge the gap between healthcare and education themselves. Seeing both sides shaped her belief that meaningful change happens when we bring different perspectives together, rather than working in isolation. Resources mentioned: • NSPCC guidance on responding to sexualised behaviour in children, using a "traffic light" approach [confirm exact name and link with Jess] • Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health data on children and young people attending A&E with mental health concerns • Brené Brown's work on listening to and believing other people's experiences • Social stories, visual timetables and public/private sorting games for teaching puberty, privacy and consent • Children's books and BBC dramas with neurodivergent main characters Connect with Dr. Jess Morgan: Website: https://drjessmorgan.com/  LinkedIn:   /     Instagram: @jessmorgan_ Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1855962/su...) Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org  A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals Other links: Website: https://www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents and Teachers: https://www.school-doctor.com LinkedIn:   / inyang-takon-paeds   Instagram:   / early_interventionmatters   Subscribe: https://neuropaeddoc.substack.com/ Read: https://braindiverse.substack.com/ Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com