This week's blog explores the work of Ciara Watson, an experienced trainer for Canavan Byrne and the founder of "Autism Supports." Ciara's journey into this field began over twelve years ago when she started working in a mainstream preschool. However, she soon realised that she wanted to do more to help autistic children, which led her to pursue a Psychology degree and work in an Autistic preschool. Ciara has completed a post graduate degree in Autism Studies and is currently pursuing a Masters in Autism research.

As a neurodiverse practitioner and parent of a neurodiverse teenager, Ciara understands the challenges and complexities of this journey from multiple perspectives. Her passion and drive to support children, parents, and educators led her to found and launch "Autism Supports." Ciara works closely with parents, recognising that this process can be sensitive and overwhelming for them. By helping parents understand their child's needs, they can better support and guide them.

One key aspect Ciara emphasises is the use of positive language when discussing concerns with parents. Negative language can be hurtful and damaging, so Ciara has created a webinar “Approaching Parents about Concerns in Early Years Settings”. This webinar is specifically designed to support educators in their communication with parents. In this webinar, Ciara outlines the appropriate language to use and provides guidance on asking questions to gain a better understanding of any concerns parents may have about their child at home.

Ciara also delivers a two-hour webinar for educators titled "How to Introduce Visuals to Your EY Setting”. She explains the importance of using visuals as a means of communication with children. While children may understand verbal instructions, they may struggle with processing information, especially in a busy early years environment. Visuals help make things more predictable for children, reducing their anxiety and facilitating smoother transitions. Upon completion of this webinar, attendees will receive a starter pack of visuals which can be printed and put to use straight away. 

Additionally, Ciara is running a classroom event on a specific date titled "Understanding and Supporting Behaviours of Neurodiverse Children in Your Setting". This hands-on session focuses on the functions of behaviors, neurodiversity, the sensory system, regulation, and the use of visuals. Ciara emphasises that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when supporting neurodiverse children. She encourages educators to embrace trial and error and provides practical examples for attendees to try with the children in their care to determine what works best. The training is interactive, allowing time for discussing individual scenarios and addressing attendees' questions throughout.

Ciara's top tip for educators is to have patience with children. When educators have a deep understanding of the functions of behaviors and why they occur, they are better equipped to remain calm and de-escalate challenging situations. Ciara's webinars and classroom training are highly recommended for all educators working in the sector. She takes a holistic and inclusive approach, advocating for the incorporation of supports into all classes. Ciara helps educators to create supports that are available to all children who may benefit from them, ensuring that no child feels targeted or left out. The children who do not need them will move on but they are there for the children who do need them.

For more information about each of Ciara’s webinars and her classroom training event, click on the links below. 

Approaching Parents about Concerns in Early Years Settings
https://www.canavanbyrne.ie/training/detail/approaching-parents-about-concerns-in-early-years-settings