CPD: Understanding Neurodiversity in the Early Years

From self-awareness to self advocacy, Kerry Murphy shines a light on neurodiversity

In this 2-hour webinar specifically for early years settings, early childhood specialist and author, Kerry Murphy, teaches you how to transform your early years practice by understanding the link between neurodiversity and wellbeing. Drawing on her background in early years, neurodiversity, disability and behaviour, Kerry introduces strategies you can put into action right away to help children honour their learning differences and foster positive self-awareness. 

In recent years, there's been a raised awareness of neurodiversity and how understanding developmental differences (neurodivergence) can help us move away from traditional deficit narratives that view children as problems to be fixed or cured. Early years settings are increasingly interested in developing strengths-based approaches that are empowering for children identified with special educational needs (SEN). 

In association with Thrive, Kerry’s CPD webinar will help you challenge the deficit narratives about children whose development doesn't follow a typical pathway and provide you with insight into how to support these children to become self advocates. 

‘Understanding Neurodiversity in the Early Years’ is worth 5 CPD points to Thrive Licensed Practitioners and is happening on Zoom on 7th November between 6pm and 8pm.

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Actionable insights, tips and techniques

If you’re ready for actionable insights, tips and techniques, book onto Kerry's keynote. Over the 2-hour session we'll be covering how to:

Understand ableism and neurodiversity

Our current education system favours children with typical minds and able bodies (known as ableism). This means that children whose development is different don't always develop a sense of belonging. Divergent development is often absent from our frameworks or viewed as a deficit or "red flag". Here, we'll unpick what this means for our early years practice. And how we might challenge this to become more inclusive.

Develop Divergent Pathways of Development

Next, we will explore how we can develop confidence with the development that diverges from typical "milestones". And begin to honour learning differences. We'll focus on communication and interaction as well as the social and emotional wellbeing of our emerging neurodivergent and disabled children.

Understand the link between neurodiversity and wellbeing

For children to develop a positive self-identity, we need to ensure that from their earliest years, they're made aware of their strengths and differences. This part of the webinar will consider how we can help children to foster positive self-awareness and celebrate their differences. We'll also consider ways to support children to become self-advocates.

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About Kerry Murphy

An early childhood specialist with a background in neurodiversity, disability and behaviour, Kerry Murphy is the author of A Guide to SEND in the Early Years and Little Minds Matter: Supporting the Wellbeing of Children with SEND. She is also a lecturer in early years and SEND at Goldsmiths University and currently completing her doctorate in play and neurodivergence at The University of Sheffield. Kerry’s aim in working in the early years is to challenge the deficit narratives about children whose development does not take a typical pathway. She also supports people to become neuroinclusive, including understanding the role of neurodiversity and ableism and the harms of traditional behaviour management approaches.