SEND Tutoring chats to Cheryl Warren the founder and director of Aperion Training

Today, on SEND Tutoring’s podcast we have Cheryl Warren who is the founder and director of Aperion Training, delivering training and support to early years settings and schools across the UK.  Enabling a growth in knowledge and a shift in mindset, for truly neuroinclusive provision across the sector.

This year Cheryl celebrates 30 years in the early years and childcare sector.  On completion of the NNEB, Cheryl’s career has seen her roles as a nanny, family support, LA advisor, SENCO, trainer, assessor, lecturer, and quality inspector.  Cheryl is now an early years consultant and trainer with her own company, Aperion Training, with a passion and specialism for neurodiversity in early years, supporting early years settings and schools to become autism environment champions.

Cheryl regularly speaks at events and conferences nationwide and is currently writing her first book on this important subject area.  Cheryl works with nurseries across the country, delivering training for teams as well as visits to the settings offering her autism environmental audits, along with support to embed her recommendations.  She also provides in-person guided support on quality neuro-inclusive practice, SEND policy review, and SENCo support for several nursery groups. Cheryl is an award-winning trainer and consultant and is clear on her mission, to provide early years spaces that enable our neurodivergent children to thrive, not just survive.

1. What do you do as an Early Years and Neurodiversity Trainer?
2. What is felt safety?
3. What are sensory needs and how do we go about supporting them?

I loved at the start of the podcast how we discussed the name of her company and what it means; Boundless is synonymous with infinite and movement.

In question one Cheryl talked about truly understanding our children and if we do understand them it means we can accept them and they feel validated about who they are.

Cheryl goes into classrooms and schools observes the practice and then feeds back to the SENCO or nursery manager about what she has seen with tips and strategies to help.

She mentioned that emerging traits of autism and other special needs are on the rise and a two-way process to support neurodiverse children must be applied across settings.

In question two she spoke about how children must have emotional wellbeing and belonging.

Questions that settings must be; How are neurodiverse children represented? They might have different sensory needs and sensory aversions and therefore where is their representation in school displays? For a child who hates messy play how can they be catered for when the class does painting or exploratory play in the sand and other hands-on play?

They might also ask How Can I be Me? And fit in with other neurotypical children. There are massive knock-on effects. Can they stim and fidget, can they stand and not sit, can they wear different uniforms? Are they being heard if they’re not verbal? Are they being heard through their behaviour? Who is their trusted adult? Can the trusted adult meet their needs? Can the adult help them regulate when they’re feeling dysregulated? All children need to feel understood and emotionally safe.

Cheryl referenced Victoria Bagnell a neurodiverse teacher and mother of 3 girls who has dedicated her life to raising awareness of essential brain functions: executive functions. Who said children ask Am I safe? Am I loved? And only when the first two are met can they ask themselves What can I learn?

Sadly, we ran out of time, which often happens, as each guest is so interesting. Cheryl has promised that she will be back.

Find out more

You can find out more about Aperion Training and how it can help your setting/school here – https://www.aperiontraining.co.uk/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/aperion_training/

If you would like to have a highly skilled tutor for your child check out our tutors.

If you have any questions on the topics discussed in this podcast, or are looking for help finding a specialist one-to-one tutor for your child, book a free consultation with us today, we’ll be happy to help.