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With her own lived experience of being neurodivergent, as well as being the parent of two neurodivergent children, Mazza has personal experience in the field. Mazza has worked with children for over 40 years, as a teacher, a mother of two neurodivergent children and as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. She has always had a special interest in neurodiversity, which started when she began teaching and has continued in her practice as a psychotherapist, where she now works almost exclusively with neurodivergent young people.

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Mazza understands the challenges of raising children with additional needs, from both a personal and a professional perspective. Over the past few years, she has been increasingly working with parents of neurodivergent children, helping them to recognise and understand their neurodivergent child’s communication and behaviour, to find ways to connect and communicate with them and to develop a new parenting toolbox.

 

Having found the support for her own children throughout their education inconsistent, she is keen to provide support and training for schools, so that they in turn can help neurodivergent children to thrive. Mazza has delivered training for schools on neurodiversity, as well as working with staff to support neurodivergent children in the classroom and providing advocacy for neurodivergent children within school settings.

 

Mazza has teamed up with her daughter Lottie who, following in her mother’s footsteps, is

passionate about supporting children with additional needs.

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Lottie

Lottie is also a guide with both lived and learnt experience. She received a diagnosis of ADHD when she was a teenager and has struggled with her own dyslexia and language processing disorder throughout her life. This hasn’t stopped her from going on to achieve a BA in Philosophy from the University of Leeds and then getting her QTS and a PGCE to become a qualified Early Years and Primary School Teacher.  Having worked in education for 8 years, as a teaching assistant, a teacher and then a qualified SENCO, she has an insight into different parts of the education system, both in the private and state school sector and the unique challenges they both face. 

 

Right from the beginning of her teaching career, Lottie took a particular interest in supporting those with sensory processing needs. She attended additional training to ensure her classroom was as supportive an environment as possible– creating a safe and inclusive space for all the children in her class. Her role as SENCO within schools has seen her sharing her learning with other teachers, school leaders and parents. She has facilitated meetings with the school parents and other professionals to ensure children have the support they need by creating a ‘team around the child’. In addition to Lottie’s work in education, she is also a qualified children’s yoga and mindfulness teacher, the values she has learnt from her own practice of yoga and mindfulness – of peace, clarity, acceptance and play, run through all that she does.  

 

Lottie is now the proud mother of a 10-month-old baby, her time as a new mum has ignited her passion for supporting neurodivergent children, their families, and the schools they attend to create more positive, nurturing environments in order for them to thrive.

 

Professional Qualifications

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