SCMA members are invited to our new series of ‘Neurodiversity in Childminding’ webinars to boost your learning and understanding, whilst upholding best practice.
Earlier this year, SCMA launched a ground-breaking
Neurodiversity and Inclusion in the Childminding Workforce project – the first of its kind in Scotland – that focuses on supporting and understanding neurodiversity amongst childminders in Scotland.
Developed alongside our partners at Three Sisters Consultancy, today we are proud to launch a brand-new series of webinars – completely free and exclusive for SCMA members.
Three Sisters Consultancy is a neurodivergent-led organisation that provides training, research and development support for groups and organisations, and is working alongside SCMA to capture data on neurodivergence in the childminding workforce.
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Our ‘Neurodiversity in Childminding’ Webinars
Our series of ‘Neurodiversity in Childminding’ webinar sessions will be hosted by Corrie McLean from Three Sisters Consultancy, alongside Susannah Knox, SCMA’s Professional Learning Manager. Corrie McLean began her career as a primary school teacher, before pursuing a career in additional support needs education and inclusion. As well as leading the Three Sisters Consultancy learning programme, Corrie is an unpaid carer and a neurodivergent person, and brings this lived experience into learning sessions.
Exploring what neurodivergence within a childminding setting looks like – each session will explore a different topic, from both the childminder’s perspective and in terms of supporting neurodivergent children and families.
Session One | What does neurodiversity look like in a childminding setting?
This is an introductory session, which reintroduces neurodivergence as a concept within a childminding setting. This will include how different conditions, from ADHD to dyslexia can affect us as childminders, as well as the children and young people we support.
Key Learning:
- Understand what neurodiversity means, and who is included in the ‘neurodivergent’ umbrella.
- Briefly explore more about some of the conditions, and how they may present themselves.
- Signposting to evidence informed, trustworthy information
Session One will take place on Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 6.45-8pm.
BOOK NOW
Session Two | Importance of sensory environments for neurodivergent children.
Our environments can play a huge role in our experiences of the world, and this is especially true of neurodivergent people.
Key Learning:
- Develop a wider understanding of neurodivergences and sensory processing.
- Understanding how our environment can affect us if we are neurodivergent.
- Practical tools and strategies to make our setting more inclusive.
- Signposting to relevant tools and resources.
Session Two will take place on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 6.45-8pm.
BOOK NOW
Session Three | Best practice inclusive communication styles for neurodivergent people.
Neurodivergent people can find communicating in a traditional neurotypical way challenging. This session allows us to explore why this is, and how we can adapt our communication methods.
Key Learning:
- Identify the difference in understanding communication in neurodivergent people.
- Look at the practical strategies and tools that we can use to improve our communication methods (including visuals and technology).
- Signposting to relevant tools and resources.
Session Three will take place on Thursday 18 February 2027 at 6.45-8pm.
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Session Four | Connections between neurodivergent masking and burnout.
‘Masking’ describes the covering up of neurodivergent traits in order to fit in and navigate a world designed for neurotypical people.
Key Learning:
- Understand what masking is, and why it happens
- Recognise the impact of masking on individuals and families
- Explore how to support ‘unmasking’ in your setting
- Signposting to relevant tools and resources
Session Four will take place on Thursday 22 April 2027 at 6.45-8pm.
BOOK NOW
Session Five | Dysregulation: practical strategies to engage and support neurodivergent people.
Many neurodivergent people struggle with emotional regulation. Regulation is not about suppressing your emotions, instead noticing how you are feeling and shifting from reacting to responding.
Key Learning:
- Understanding emotional regulation challenges for neurodivergent people
- Recognising triggers, including sensory needs and communication challenges
- Exploring coping mechanisms to respond to strong feelings
- Signposting to relevant tools and resources
Session Five will take place on Wednesday 2 June 2027 at 6.45-8pm.
BOOK NOW
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How to Book
SCMA members can use the ‘BOOK NOW’ links above and will also receive an email invitation, which includes booking links for each of the webinar sessions. You can book as many sessions as you would like, as each webinar is a standalone session, and is fully tailored for childminders in Scotland.
We expect these webinars to be very popular, and we are recommending that SCMA members book as soon as possible.
PLEASE NOTE: These webinars will be recorded; however, for the best learning experience, we recommend that members attend the session and fully engage with the content, speakers and activities to get the maximum benefit.
If you have any queries or need support with your bookings, please contact the Professional Learning team on
01786 445377 or email
learn@childminding.org.
Further Learning and Resources
To complement the content of each webinar and to capture answers to any queries that arise, SCMA and Three Sisters Consultancy will provide a short video after each session to further support your learning and understanding of the topic. These will be made available for SCMA members on the
Membership Dashboard.