The session brought together 16 delegates from six different primary and secondary schools, alongside eight parents, to explore how anxiety can affect autistic children and young people and how adults can better understand and support their needs.

Throughout the morning, Lynn shared her extensive knowledge and understanding of autism, helping delegates look beyond outward behaviours to consider what a child might be experiencing internally. Topics included autistic burnout, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), monotropism and interoception, alongside practical strategies that can be used both at home and in school.

A key theme throughout the training was the importance of viewing situations through an autism-informed lens, recognising that what we see on the outside does not always reflect how a child is feeling on the inside.

Alongside exploring ways to better understand and support anxiety, delegates also had the opportunity to experience a simple practical technique for themselves. At Lynn’s invitation, Steffy Cappleman, founder of Limitless – Strength through Breath, led a five-minute conscious breathing session. Conscious breathing can be a useful tool for supporting self-regulation and helping the body move towards a calmer state, offering another approach to consider when supporting people experiencing anxiety. As with any strategy, it is important to recognise individual needs and preferences, allowing each person to choose what feels comfortable and helpful for them.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of respondents saying they would recommend the training to others. Delegates particularly valued Lynn’s warm and knowledgeable approach, the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences and the practical ideas they could take away and put into action.

One attendee commented:

“Extremely useful and relevant, excellent trainer.”

Others highlighted how the training had helped them develop plans to support children more effectively, consider new approaches to anxiety and share their learning with colleagues and family members.

The impact of the session was evident in the actions delegates planned to take afterwards, from introducing new activities into staff training and reviewing existing support strategies to exploring further resources on PDA and monotropism. Several attendees also identified the value of sharing their learning with SENCOs, teaching assistants and learning support teams to help embed a greater understanding of autistic children's experiences across their settings.

The opportunity to bring parents and education professionals together was another valuable aspect of the event, allowing attendees to share experiences and consider how a more informed, understanding approach can make a difference to children and young people in both school and home environments.

Areté Learning Exchange would like to thank Lynn McCann for delivering such a thoughtful and practical session, Steffy Cappleman for sharing a conscious breathing practice with the group, and everyone who attended and contributed to the morning.

About Areté Learning Exchange

Areté Learning Exchange provides professional learning opportunities for education professionals and families, bringing people together to share knowledge, develop understanding and improve outcomes for children and young people.

To find out more about upcoming training opportunities, visit the Areté Learning Exchange website or email events@aretelearningexchange.uk.