Nicola McAllister: Nurturing Child Development and Self-Regulation
I'm Nicola McAllister, and I specialise in Child Development and Self-Regulation. I offer a unique relational approach that guides individuals from co-regulation to self-regulation. Through my training, consultancy, and coaching services, I aim to enhance understanding of why children behave as they do, all while providing practical support to bring about positive, long-term changes.
My methodologies are firmly grounded in the latest research on childhood brain development. I explore effective ways to soothe stress responses, re-establish connections with children, and foster the essential skills they need to navigate the challenges of everyday life.
My background is in Education, teaching in both mainstream and specialist provisions as well as working as an Education Advisor in the Foster Care Sector. I combine over 25 years of professional knowledge with personal experience of being a mum to two amazing children. Being a parent of an Autistic child has allowed me the opportunity to translate approaches and supports that are successful in schools into routines and interactions that meet the needs of my children at home.
About Me
I bring over 25 years of experience to the table, having worked with some of our most vulnerable children and young people. My focus extends to providing training, consultancy, and coaching services to the adults who support them. I collaborate with schools facing difficulties in connecting with children who find learning environments stressful and relationships challenging.
Drawing on my deep understanding of the biology of behaviour and the many factors affecting a child's ability to self-regulate, I empower educators to adapt their classrooms and approaches. This ensures that all children feel secure, settled, and ready to learn. I also offer guidance to parents and carers at home, helping them understand the impact of insecure attachments and childhood trauma. I equip them with the knowledge and tools to nurture attuned relationships and collaborative routines, facilitating the transition from co-regulation to self-regulation.
My journey began as a primary teacher in 1994, but I soon transitioned from mainstream schools to specialised settings for children facing social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. This transition ignited my passion and conviction that we can and must do better for children and young people who have faced multiple adversities in their lives.
In 2007, I co-founded Chrysalis Professional Development, a platform for training and consultancy services in self-regulatory approaches across educational, home, and community settings. Drawing on recent neuroscience findings, I empowered adults to view behaviour through a new lens, emphasising the significance of relationships and collaborative engagement with children. This approach helps children develop essential skills for navigating daily routines and stressors.
In 2012, I became an Education Advisor within the Foster Care sector, continuing to deepen my knowledge of the effects of childhood trauma. I leveraged my expertise to support carers at home and school staff in implementing attachment-led, trauma-informed strategies.
In 2018, I returned to my educational roots, working with children facing multiple barriers to learning. I supported staff in implementing relational, biology-respecting interventions to alleviate stress responses in classrooms and embed self-regulatory techniques.
My training and consultancy work draw on years of hands-on experience in adapting systems and environments to meet the needs of children and young people. My work fosters lasting change that profoundly impacts their future life opportunities.
I work across various sectors, including Primary, Secondary, and Further Education, Fostering and Adoption, Early Years, Additional Support Needs Settings, Community Groups, and Skills Development.
What they say.
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Nicola clearly speaks from a professional and personal perspective that brought experience and knowledge to her training. As practitioners, we all like to take away practical ideas for supporting children in our nursery and classrooms and we will definitely use lots of the practical tools and techniques discussed in her presentation.
Sally Ann Johnson | Robert Gordon’s College | DHT
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Nicola takes you on a journey of gentle reflection and discovery, whilst considering approaches and behaviour through a lens of therapeutic parenting techniques. Her expertise drawn from professional and personal experience is delivered in a straightforward non jargonistic manner which enables attendees to be curious and wonder about their own parenting. It culminates in being curious and wondering about how parents/carers/teachers can themselves adapt to provide the optimal base for individual children to grow and develop.
Ruth Caldwell | Fostering Service | Learning and Development Manager
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Nicola was extremely informative and knowledgeable. Breaking it down into small areas that can be used for our students. In particular the soothing stress responses, the language to use and the theory as to why.
Trauma and Distressed Behaviour in Children with Special Educational Needs | Ochil Tower School
