Cheryl Warren
Nominee Profile
Location: London
I have over three decades of experience within the early years sector and am now a consultant and award- winning trainer, working with nurseries and schools across the UK. My passion and specialism for understanding and acceptance for neurodiversity within early years and primary education is impactful and comes from the heart, as a professional and also as parent of two neurodivergent children myself. I am an advocate for true inclusive practice, enabling ALL children to be heard, to be given the tools and connections to thrive and to be celebrated and accepted for their uniqueness.
I am regularly asked to deliver keynote addresses or seminars at education sector events, such as Nursery World, Childcare and Education Expo, the TES SEND show, as well as delivering talks for conferences and training days for Local authorities as well as independent nursery, nursery chains and schools.
I won the trainer of the year award at the sectors coveted Nursery World awards in 2022 which was a real springboard for my work, enabling me to be recognised more across the UK as well as abroad, being invited to train and support team in Southern Ireland, Malta and Romania. What followed was something that I never thought would be an opportunity for me. Routledge Education got in touch and commissioned me to write a book all about Neurodiversity in Early Years, offering practical support, strategy and knowledge to all those working in the wonderful early years sector. With the aim to enhance understanding of our neurodivergent children and their families so that they can provide spaces where our children can thrive.
https://www.routledge.com/Neurodiversity-in-the-Early-Years-Practical-and-Proven-Strategies-to-Enable-Neurodivergent-Children-to-Thrive/Warren/p/book/9781032637303
As a mum as well as an educator, I am fiercely passionate that our neurodivergent children are seen, heard, understood and supported to thrive in these critical early years. I support teams to see difference as being ok, in fact more than ok, to see differences as strengths, rather than a deficit. My mission is to grow a workforce of neurodiversity affirming educators, whether that be through my coaching, modelling, training, social media platform or talks.
My driver is the children who need our connection, trust and deserve to feel that they belong, as well as their parents who need to be supported to navigate the system, as well as navigated the world that doesn’t always understand or accept their children for who they are.
Below are some comments and reviews of my work for people that have heard me speak, or who have worked with me
Cheryl has spoken at several of our events over the past 5 years and she is always an absolute pleasure to work with. Cheryl delivers her fantastic knowledge and insight into neurodiversity within early years with pure passion as she utilises her personal experiences to deliver a clear message to attendees that leaves those that have the pleasure of listening feeling inspired and empowered. Conference organiser
Cheryl's knowledge and ability to connect with learners, is second to none. Her training is always high quality, inspiring and informative. It has helped support our settings SEND provision and given staff the confidence to support our neurodivergent children to the highest level. Nursery Manager
Cheryl has been a great support to our settings, she has a detailed knowledge on how to support our practitioners to understand the importance of the environment and how it impacts the children’s learning and development. Her knowledge on how to support children with additional needs is amazing and has helped us create strategies to support our children their families and our staff.
Thank you, Cheryl, for your ongoing support and look forward to working with you again soon. Nursery manager
Within 2 weeks of Cheryl’s visit - we have taken on the advice and taken a step into the children’s world and have been overcome by the progression we are seeing. Not only have we encouraged a child to eat a full meal which he has never done before we have also supported him to the point where he can comfortably play with others around him when before this would have been a trigger. We feel that without the passion and inspiration in the way that Cheryl mentors we would never have got to the point where we felt empowered to push forward the change, we need to see not just in the education system but as a whole but within individual practice. Nursery SENCo
I was almost the one to cry in your seminar today as a mum of a recently diagnosed little boy. It fills me with such hope for our children and other neurodivergent children that there are people like you in the world ❤️ Educator and Mum
Cheryl offered us an on-line session to discuss ‘O’’s behaviour and she quickly identified from asking detailed and insightful questions, that ‘O’ was often in a state of ‘Sensory over-Load’ and Anxiety at School - and that he needed practical, in the moment help from Teachers and Support Staff, to help him manage his behaviour. This made complete sense with what we were seeing – and what we knew of our normally happy little boy. Cheryl was also able to give us an insight and understanding into ‘O’s likely feelings of insecurity and uncertainty at School.
Cheryl then made practical suggestions that the school could put into practice in order to support him, including visual cards to help him articulate and pre-empt his feelings to the Teachers and a ‘Safe Place’ to go to when he was feeling over-whelmed. We were subsequently able to open up a dialogue with School staff and to pro-actively and confidently work with them to put a constructive behaviour plan in place, all based on Cheryl’s suggestions.
We have since seen a definite improvement in ‘O’s behaviour and we are so grateful to Cheryl for her empathy and understanding, which we feel was missing from his environment when he first joined his new class. The knowledge and support shared this us has been invaluable and has made a big difference to one little boy and his family – thank you Cheryl! Grandparent
I remain passionate, committed and driven to ensure all of those working in early years education are empowered, knowledgeable, compassionate and supportive of the needs of neurodivergent children and their families.
I am regularly asked to deliver keynote addresses or seminars at education sector events, such as Nursery World, Childcare and Education Expo, the TES SEND show, as well as delivering talks for conferences and training days for Local authorities as well as independent nursery, nursery chains and schools.
I won the trainer of the year award at the sectors coveted Nursery World awards in 2022 which was a real springboard for my work, enabling me to be recognised more across the UK as well as abroad, being invited to train and support team in Southern Ireland, Malta and Romania. What followed was something that I never thought would be an opportunity for me. Routledge Education got in touch and commissioned me to write a book all about Neurodiversity in Early Years, offering practical support, strategy and knowledge to all those working in the wonderful early years sector. With the aim to enhance understanding of our neurodivergent children and their families so that they can provide spaces where our children can thrive.
https://www.routledge.com/Neurodiversity-in-the-Early-Years-Practical-and-Proven-Strategies-to-Enable-Neurodivergent-Children-to-Thrive/Warren/p/book/9781032637303
As a mum as well as an educator, I am fiercely passionate that our neurodivergent children are seen, heard, understood and supported to thrive in these critical early years. I support teams to see difference as being ok, in fact more than ok, to see differences as strengths, rather than a deficit. My mission is to grow a workforce of neurodiversity affirming educators, whether that be through my coaching, modelling, training, social media platform or talks.
My driver is the children who need our connection, trust and deserve to feel that they belong, as well as their parents who need to be supported to navigate the system, as well as navigated the world that doesn’t always understand or accept their children for who they are.
Below are some comments and reviews of my work for people that have heard me speak, or who have worked with me
Cheryl has spoken at several of our events over the past 5 years and she is always an absolute pleasure to work with. Cheryl delivers her fantastic knowledge and insight into neurodiversity within early years with pure passion as she utilises her personal experiences to deliver a clear message to attendees that leaves those that have the pleasure of listening feeling inspired and empowered. Conference organiser
Cheryl's knowledge and ability to connect with learners, is second to none. Her training is always high quality, inspiring and informative. It has helped support our settings SEND provision and given staff the confidence to support our neurodivergent children to the highest level. Nursery Manager
Cheryl has been a great support to our settings, she has a detailed knowledge on how to support our practitioners to understand the importance of the environment and how it impacts the children’s learning and development. Her knowledge on how to support children with additional needs is amazing and has helped us create strategies to support our children their families and our staff.
Thank you, Cheryl, for your ongoing support and look forward to working with you again soon. Nursery manager
Within 2 weeks of Cheryl’s visit - we have taken on the advice and taken a step into the children’s world and have been overcome by the progression we are seeing. Not only have we encouraged a child to eat a full meal which he has never done before we have also supported him to the point where he can comfortably play with others around him when before this would have been a trigger. We feel that without the passion and inspiration in the way that Cheryl mentors we would never have got to the point where we felt empowered to push forward the change, we need to see not just in the education system but as a whole but within individual practice. Nursery SENCo
I was almost the one to cry in your seminar today as a mum of a recently diagnosed little boy. It fills me with such hope for our children and other neurodivergent children that there are people like you in the world ❤️ Educator and Mum
Cheryl offered us an on-line session to discuss ‘O’’s behaviour and she quickly identified from asking detailed and insightful questions, that ‘O’ was often in a state of ‘Sensory over-Load’ and Anxiety at School - and that he needed practical, in the moment help from Teachers and Support Staff, to help him manage his behaviour. This made complete sense with what we were seeing – and what we knew of our normally happy little boy. Cheryl was also able to give us an insight and understanding into ‘O’s likely feelings of insecurity and uncertainty at School.
Cheryl then made practical suggestions that the school could put into practice in order to support him, including visual cards to help him articulate and pre-empt his feelings to the Teachers and a ‘Safe Place’ to go to when he was feeling over-whelmed. We were subsequently able to open up a dialogue with School staff and to pro-actively and confidently work with them to put a constructive behaviour plan in place, all based on Cheryl’s suggestions.
We have since seen a definite improvement in ‘O’s behaviour and we are so grateful to Cheryl for her empathy and understanding, which we feel was missing from his environment when he first joined his new class. The knowledge and support shared this us has been invaluable and has made a big difference to one little boy and his family – thank you Cheryl! Grandparent
I remain passionate, committed and driven to ensure all of those working in early years education are empowered, knowledgeable, compassionate and supportive of the needs of neurodivergent children and their families.