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The Nurture Programme® offers bespoke training for teachers, professionals & parents & carers of children with additional needs.

Each programme is designed to inform, nurture your learning with a strong emphasis on skill development. The need to be both caring and advocating for children with additional needs is at the heart of The Nurture Programme® .​

The Programmes

The Nurturing Advocacy Programme

5 Week Programme - £49.99
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The PDA Nurture Programme

5 Week Programme - £69.99
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The Nurturing Consultancy Programme

1:1 Consultancy Packages
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Just launched

The Nurturing Anxiety Programme

3 Week Programme - £30.00
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The Nurturing Autism Programme

5 Week Programme - £49.99
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The Nurturing ADHD Programme

5 Week Programme - £49.99
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Meet The Founder

Jodie Isitt, Founder & Autistic Advocacy Consultant

After navigating and battling the education and health system successfully for her disabled children and partner, Jodie quickly became passionate about advocating for more than just her family. With three Autistic children and a physically disabled partner, Jodie has been involved in many battles with the Local Authority and NHS alike. Fighting for educational needs, respite and access to certain NHS specialists, Jodie really has fought for it all.

The system is broken and trying to advocate for your child when cracks in the road are notorious for appearing unexpectedly and trapping you beneath the surface can quickly become a full time job. Embracing this new found love for advocacy and partly because employment was not an option for Jodie, she began her advocacy journey helping other families navigate the systems that try so hard to defeat you.

With success advocating personally for a number of families in the process of EHCP’s, respite, housing needs, Disability Living Allowance and other services, Jodie found that there just wasn’t enough hours in the day and couldn’t help as many people as she desperately wanted. This is a serious world-wide issue and so she began The Nurture Programme®, designed to encourage, nurture, support and hone your very own advocacy skills.

Jodie has teamed up with Laura Kerbey – (Positive Autism Support & Training), Harry Thompson – PDA Extraordinaire and Dr Chloe Farahar to deliver a series of programmes, webinars, LIVE Q&A sessions and private consultations to reach as many families as possible and help them advocate for their own children.

Jodie also has a Level 2 certificate in Supporting PDA children, teenagers, and young adults.

Laura Kerbey, Education Consultant

Laura Kerbey has been working with Autistic children and young people and other associated conditions for over 19 years. Laura worked as a lecturer in the Supported Learning Department of 2 large Mainstream Colleges teaching Numeracy, Literacy, Life Skills and Childcare. She also worked as the Life Skills Co-ordinator at a residential college for young people with severe physical disabilities. Laura was the Assistant Head Teacher, then Head Teacher at an independent special school for Autistic children.

In March 2013 Laura founded Positive Autism Support and Training (PAST.) PAST provides support to families who have Autistic children and other associated conditions. PAST runs support meetings, workshops and conferences for parents, carers and professionals and provides one to one advice to parents on behaviour, education and other matters related to autism and PDA.  Laura and her team also work closely with Autistic children and teenagers providing emotional and behavioural support.

Laura has a degree in Psychology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Special Education Autism) a PCGE in Life Long Learning and holds NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship). Laura also has a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Working with Students with ADHD.

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Testimonials

Not only did I learn ALOT from this series, it was so entertaining! I really appreciate all the real-life stories and situations from Jodie. And Harry's analogies and perspectives on this topic are fresh, authentic and hilarious. I LOL'ed quite often. I would absolutely recommend this for any parent or educator working with PDA'ers. I am so grateful for sharing their passion. Thank you sincerely.
Anon
Anon
This program deeply solidified my commitment to help my children find and stay in a safe zone, to facilitate a flow state, to expand the bubble, and generally to connect with them. It also gives me insight into my own frustration with childhood. I will miss Harry’s poetic musings. This program is so high quality. Thank you Jodie and Harry! I am so hopeful for my parenting future again!
Julie Kean Niles
Julie Kean Niles
I have just started the first session of the advocacy programme and If you are that parent who has found it difficult for years to get your concerns across to professionals I would definitely sign up to this Advocacy Programme!
Lesley Leishman
Lesley Leishman
Since doing the NAP, I'm staggered by the avenues of support yet to be explored, and excited by the opportunity to work with school and other organisations getting the support my family deserves.
Anon
Anon
Since I have been following you two our son is thriving, thank you for all the time you give us when no one was there for us.
Trudy Bayliss
Hello everyone, I just wanted to say - be prepared to be AMAZED!! This is a brilliant series.
Pam Collins
I did the last PDA Nurture Programme and seriously cannot reccomend enough. You will not be dissapointed in any way and will learn so much!!!
Bobbi Elman
Thank you again for the PDA Nurture Programme, every week I learn more about my son and how to better support him. I also recognise a lot of things in myself. I've taken various courses and paid for several seminars/webinars/programmes and none has come close to the PDA Nurture Programme with you and Harry.
Marina Martinolli
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Week 3: Worrier to Warrior

In this final session, we will help you and those you support to find ways to reframe negative thoughts so that it is possible to “think better and feel better.”  We will also cover practical strategies to help you manage your anxious self, keep calm and turn you from a worrier, to a warrior, ready to battle everything that life throws at you.

Week 2: Differences I May Experience

We will also be joined by Harry Thompson who has PDA and ADHD.  In his brilliantly humorous and unique way Harry will discuss his own insight into living with ADHD, from diagnosis in his childhood years and into adulthood. We will explore the impact that ADHD can have on children and young people in terms of both physical symptoms and mental health. 

Week 2: Nurturing Advocacy Confidence

The aim of this session is to break down attendees’ advocacy skills, then rebuild them so that facts and controlled emotions are used successfully.

Laura and Jodie share their experiences of advocating for their children – both good and bad and demonstrate how to use assertiveness skills effectively and remove emotive language.

They also share their “Top Tips” before, during and after transitions to ensure that all objectives are achieved.  

Week 3: Reasonable Adjustments

The pathway of SEN / EHCP’s / Reasonable adjustments and so forth can be a scary and bewildering place. But knowledge is POWER and this session aims to provide members with this power. 

Attendees will be given clear information and knowledge so they will be able to navigate these pathways armed with confidence. This will include basic law and children’s rights including ideas about what reasonable adjustments vs unreasonable adjustments are. We give examples of our own reasonable adjustments, how to ensure these adjustments are put in place and ideas on how to approach the professionals in your children’s lives to ensure that their needs are met. 

Members will also be equipped with ideas for “reasonable adjustments” versus “unreasonable adjustments”. A guest expert speaker – Karen Stepanova – SEN Consultant is arranged for this week who will give her very own presentations on the basics of SEN Law.

Week 4: Mental Health

In this session we look at how Imposter Syndrome can cause people to doubt their abilities.

The toll of advocating for children with additional needs can be detrimental to a parent or carer’s health. Our aim is to build up confidence and restore the mental health of parents or carers so that they have the inner strength to fight as hard as they can for their children.

This week focuses on changing negative thoughts to positive ones and helps restore the mental health of attendees. Jodie and Laura provide ‘Top Tips’ to staying mentally well during tricky times.  

Week 5: No-one can help me

What can I do? By week 5 we hope that all attendees will feel more confident, less stressed and have the skills and facts that they need to successfully advocate for their children. But we know that sometimes this is not enough.

The system can be fraught with challenges, and no matter how skilled you are, it can feel like your journey keeps being taken off track. In this session, an expert speaker will join to give fantastic advice on where to turn next when you feel you have exhausted all avenues. Practical advice regarding matters such as benefits, grants and additional sources of advice is also given, leaving the attendees feeling well equipped in their journey ahead.  

The Anxiety Nurture Programme

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The ADHD Nurture Programme

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The Autism Nurture Programme

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Week 1: Introduction to ADHD

We will explore the positive aspects of ADHD, some of the challenges that living with ADHD can cause and also some of the lesser-known symptoms of this condition.  This first week will lay the foundations for the rest of the 5 week programme.

Week 3: Advocacy for ADHD

Sadly, many children and young people with ADHD are often very misunderstood within the education system.  In this session we will cover the basic legal rights of a learner with ADHD within school and college settings.

We will equip you with a comprehensive list of reasonable adjustments that schools and colleges can and should be using to ensure that learners with ADHD are able to meet and even surpass their amazing potential within the education system.  Most importantly in this session we will help equip you with essential advocacy skills to help you get the support you and your ADHD child deserve.

Week 1: Understanding Your Anxious Self

In this first session, Laura and Jodie gently introduce what anxiety can look and feel like with a real and tangible understanding that all participants come from a variety of experiences. Together, we will look at the impact anxiety can have on how we behave and interact with different people as well as the internal struggles it can bring.  By offering an invitation to reflect on and recognise our own anxiety and the negative internal voices that drive it, they begin to consider ways to quieten those voices and fears both for ourselves and those we wish to support. 

Week 4: Support for Siblings

At times living with ADHD can be challenging for the whole family. In this third session we will explore the impact ADHD can have on families and siblings.

We will discuss lots of helpful approaches to ensure that the negative impact of ADHD is minimised within the family environment.  We will also discuss how to support siblings of individuals with ADHD using empathy and understanding.

Week 5: The ADHD Experience

We will focus on techniques that can provide invaluable support for individuals with ADHD within the home and educational environment.  In this session you will also be able to ask us all questions relevant to this topic.  Finally, we can signpost you to other helpful organisations and sources of information related to ADHD.

Week 1: Introduction to ASC

We will explore the many aspects of being autistic or having an autistic family member. Jodie will share her road to diagnosis for her three children and finally herself and her own diagnosis in 2020 at 35 years of age.  This first week will lay the foundations for the rest of the Five week programme. 

Week 2: Differences I May Experience

Focussing on the saying, “When you have met one autistic person you have met one autistic person” we will take a deeper dive into the way that autism effects everyone individually.  During this session we will look at sensory needs in more detail and provide some ideas to help keep autistic children more regulated.

Week 3: Advocating For My Autistic Child

Laura and Jodie feel that “small changes make a big difference” for autistic individuals – and during this session we will discuss helpful tips for parents and reasonable adjustments for schools and colleges. 

In this session you will also be able to ask us questions relevant to this topic and we will signpost you to other helpful organisations and sources of information related to Autism. 

Week 4: Sibling Support

There is no doubt that an autism diagnosis can affect the whole family.  In this fourth session we will explore the impact autism can have on families and siblings.

We will discuss lots of helpful approaches to help you support your whole family and explore the positive aspects of an autism diagnosis.  We will also discuss how to support siblings of autistic individuals using empathy and understanding whilst also covering the importance of looking after your own mental health as parents.

Week 5: The Autistic Experience

Chloe, Jodie and Laura will discuss the medical model of autism and some of the theories of autism which are now proven to be out-dated and detrimental to autistic individuals.

Chloe will talk using her personal insight as an autistic adult, will discuss effective ways to support the mental well-being of autistic individuals and answer questions from attendees.

Week 2: Nurturing Anxious Minds

Whilst it is true that many children suffer from anxiety at any one time, those who are neurodivergent (ie are autistic, with or without PDA; have ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia etc) are more likely to have anxiety to varying degrees as part of their experience.  In this session, the anxiety experienced by any child is approached with understanding and acceptance and is jam-packed with practical ways to support children in a positive and nurturing way.

Week 1: Managing Transitions

In this first week, Jodie and Laura introduce themselves and discuss their journeys and experiences which have led them to develop this programme. Guidance for the programme is set to make sure that everyone participating feels comfortable and confident in sharing information and personal experiences. 

The basic laws and rights pertaining to all children are explained before moving on to discuss transitions. All children have varying levels of tolerance to transitions – moving from one task to another – and in this session we discuss how important it is to be prepared for even the smallest ones.

Laura and Jodie will share their “Top Tips” that parents and carers can use to ensure that the many transitions that need to be navigated when you have a child with additional needs run as smoothly as possible.