NW Autism & SEND Consultancy

Supporting Emotional Regulation

When a child is overwhelmed or dysregulated, they may not be able to simply "calm down".

Their behaviour may be communicating that something in their environment, sensory experience or current demands has become too much.

Supporting regulation might mean:
✨ Reducing demands
✨ Providing predictability
✨ Considering sensory needs
✨ Offering a quieter or calmer space
✨ Giving additional processing time
✨ Staying calm and reducing language
✨ Recognising what the behaviour may be communicating
The goal isn't always to stop the behaviour.
It's to understand what the child needs in that moment and help them feel safe, supported and regulated.
🎓 This is just one of the areas explored within our Sensory Needs Practitioner Training – Day One.
📅 24th September 2026
Want to feel more confident recognising and supporting sensory needs within your setting?

👉 Visit our website to find out more and book your place.

5 Signs of Sensory Overload

Sensory overload happens when the brain is receiving more sensory information than it can comfortably process.

For a child or young person, this may not always look like what we expect.

Here are 5 signs you might notice:
🔊 1. Covering their ears or eyes
Sounds, lights or busy environments may suddenly feel too intense.
😣 2. Becoming distressed or overwhelmed
Crying, shouting, becoming frustrated or experiencing a meltdown can be a response to sensory overload.
🚪 3. Trying to escape or withdraw
They may leave the room, hide, avoid an activity or seek somewhere quieter.
👐 4. Increased repetitive movement or sensory-seeking
Rocking, pacing, flapping, jumping or other repetitive movements may increase as they try to regulate.
🤐 5. Becoming very quiet or shutting down
Overload isn't always loud. Some children may stop communicating, withdraw or become less responsive.
💙 The important thing to remember:
What looks like "behaviour" may actually be a child communicating that their environment has become too much.
Understanding sensory needs can help us recognise these signs earlier and put the right support in place.
🎓 Sensory Needs Practitioner Training – Day One
📅 24th September 2026
Our accredited training helps professionals develop their understanding of sensory processing difficulties and learn practical strategies to support children experiencing sensory distress.
👉 Find out more and book through the North West Autism & SEND Consultancy website.

What are Sensory Processing Difficulties?

We all process sensory information throughout the day — sounds, sights, smells, touch, movement and information from within our own bodies.
For some children and young people, processing this sensory information can be more difficult.

They may experience certain sensations much more intensely, seek out additional sensory input, or find it difficult to notice and respond to sensory information.
This can look different for every child and may include:
🔊 Becoming overwhelmed by certain sounds
👕 Finding particular clothing, textures or touch uncomfortable
💡 Struggling with bright or busy environments
🌀 Seeking lots of movement, spinning or jumping
🤲 Frequently touching, chewing or exploring objects
😣 Becoming distressed or dysregulated in certain environments
🏫 Finding everyday classroom routines more difficult to manage
Understanding why a child may be responding in this way can help us move away from simply focusing on behaviour and towards identifying their sensory needs.

🎓 COURSE SPOTLIGHT:

Sensory Needs Practitioner Training – Day One
Our accredited training is designed to help staff working with children and young people develop their understanding of sensory processing difficulties and learn practical strategies and interventions that can be used within their setting.
📅 24th September 2026 – Day One

Want to develop your confidence in recognising and supporting sensory needs?
👉 Visit the North West Autism & SEND Consultancy website to find out more and book your place.

LET'S TALK TRANSITIONS…

What's the biggest transition challenge in your setting?
Is it…

🏫 Arriving at school
➡️ Moving between activities
🍽️ Lunchtime or breaktimes
👩‍🏫 Changing classrooms or staff
🏠 Going home
📅 Changes to the usual routine
❓ Something else?

Transitions can be particularly difficult when a child or young person doesn't know what's happening, what's expected or what comes next.

👇 We'd love to hear from you.
Comment below – which transition causes the most difficulty in your setting?

What our delegates say...

"I needed a training package on Social Stories that explained, in simple terms, how to write Social Stories that my staff could confidently develop themselves.
I'd attended Social Stories training before and left feeling disappointed, but this course delivered by Emma Griffiths was exactly what we needed.
Having the opportunity to write our own Social Stories with guidance throughout the day made all the difference. The training was practical, engaging, informative and delivered by someone with real-life knowledge of autism and Social Stories.
As a busy primary school, that's exactly the kind of training we need."

💙 Practical. Engaging. Evidence-based. Designed by professionals, for professionals.

If you're looking to build confidence in creating effective Social Stories that can be used immediately in your setting, we'd love to welcome you to one of our upcoming courses.

📅 Visit our website to view upcoming dates and book your place.

When should you use a Social Story?

Social Stories can help children and young people prepare for situations that may feel unfamiliar, confusing or overwhelming.

They can be used to support:
✨ Starting a new school or class
✨ Visiting the dentist or doctor
✨ Making friends and understanding social situations
✨ Changes to routines or transitions
✨ Learning new skills and expectations
✨ Managing emotions and understanding feelings

Every Social Story should be personalised to the individual, helping them understand what to expect in a clear, supportive and reassuring way.

💙 Want to learn how to create effective Social Stories?
Join one of our accredited training courses and gain practical skills you can use straight away.

This week we're shining a spotlight on Social Stories – a simple but incredibly effective tool that can help children and young people better understand the world around them.
When used correctly, Social Stories can support:
✨ Understanding routines and expectations
✨ Preparing for new experiences and transitions
✨ Developing social understanding
✨ Reducing anxiety around unfamiliar situations
✨ Building confidence and independence
Throughout the week, we'll be sharing practical tips, insights and information to help you understand how Social Stories can be used effectively in schools, settings and at home.
Whether you're new to Social Stories or looking to develop your knowledge further, we hope you'll find something useful to take away.
Follow along this week and discover how small changes in communication can make a big difference. 💙

Meet the Trainer – Graham Ramsey

At NW Autism & SEND Consultancy, we're proud to have trainers who bring a wealth of real-world experience to every course they deliver.
Today we'd like to introduce Graham Ramsey, LLB (Hons), PGCE (QTS), our SEND Consultant.
Graham's career spans education, policing and mental health, giving him a unique perspective on supporting children, young people and professionals.
Before joining NW Autism & SEND Consultancy, Graham:
🎓 Qualified with a Law Degree
👮 Served 17 years with the police, progressing to Inspector rank
🍎 Qualified as a teacher through Edge Hill University
🏫 Spent five years teaching in a specialist SEND school
His expertise includes:
✔ SEND support and interventions
✔ Safeguarding
✔ Mental Health Awareness
✔ Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England)
✔ Professional development and CPD
Graham is passionate about delivering engaging, practical training that gives professionals the confidence and knowledge to support children and young people more effectively.
His experience across education, safeguarding and mental health means delegates leave with strategies they can apply immediately in their own settings.
We're delighted to have Graham as part of the NW Autism & SEND Consultancy team, supporting schools and organisations across the UK.
💙 Please join us in saying hello to Graham in the comments!

Meet the Trainer – Emma Griffiths

Behind every training course is a passion for helping children and young people reach their full potential.

Emma Griffiths is the founder of NW Autism & SEND Consultancy and has dedicated her career to supporting schools, professionals and families through practical, evidence-informed Autism and SEND training.

Emma's training is built on real-life experience, combining current research with strategies that professionals can confidently use in their own settings.
Whether she's delivering training on:
🧩 Block Therapy
💙 Social Stories
🌈 Sensory Needs
⭐ PDA

Emma's aim is always the same—to provide practical knowledge that makes a real difference for children and young people.
💬 What do delegates say they value most?
✔ Practical strategies they can use straight away.
✔ Engaging, interactive training.
✔ Real-life examples and experience.
✔ Resources to take back into their setting.

Thank you to everyone who has trained with us and continues to support NW Autism & SEND Consultancy. We look forward to welcoming many more of you to our upcoming courses!