I am Sarah, I am a mum of two unique little people, a wife, a specialist teacher and founder of Carter’s Sunflowers.  To tell you a little bit about how I arrived at this point in my life; I stepped into the world of neuro-diversity as a young student studying for a degree in Psychology.  I can still remember so clearly the fascination I had learning about the human brain and the amazing capability it has. I was hooked and I had to learn more! Today I am still driven by this and I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with some amazing individuals, who think very differently to me.  I love to ‘see the world’ through their eyes so that I can understand their experiences and what makes them who they are.

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I have had the pleasure of working with children and adults on the Autistic Spectrum, children with a range of neuro-developmental conditions and those with sensory processing difficulties.  This led me to do a master’s degree in Autistic Spectrum Conditions. In my practice in mainstream schools, specialist settings and within businesses across London I have gained a wealth of experience.  In addition to this Neuroscience is constantly providing us with a greater understanding of how amazing our brain and body can be. I want to be able to share what I have learnt with you, as I am a firm believer that if we can spread understanding, we will make the world a better place for young people with additional needs to live and give children the opportunities to learn the skills they need, to be who they want to be.  Through my work as a teacher, I have found the insight that parents and carers can provide so important when planning the next steps for learning. Nobody is as passionate about supporting a child or young person to reach their potential, as a parent or carer. The common attribute I have found among you is unconditional love, determination and dependability! I believe that together we can maximise learning and support young people to take the next step towards their potential.

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Through my work I have used many well-known techniques and approaches to support children and young people with developmental differences in schools and workplaces.  I have trained in SCERTS, TEACCH, Theraplay, yoga, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, PECS and Makaton signing.  The environment and supportive tools are important, but ultimately interaction is the key to unlocking learning potential and well-being. Using play therapy techniques, awakening the senses through storytelling and appreciating the impact of movement on the development of the brain is what gives children and young people an understanding of the world they live in and how they can be part of it.