Reducing Anxiety: Creating Safety for Neurodivergent Learners

What drives anxiety in neurodivergent learners, and what actually helps? This session introduces the Five Domains of Safety – a practical framework for understanding what these students need to feel genuinely safe and regulated. You’ll explore sensory, social, emotional, physical and cognitive safety with concrete strategies for each, and think about what it means to be the calm, regulating adult they need. This isn’t about adding more; it’s about creating conditions where anxiety is less likely in the first place.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand what drives anxiety in neurodivergent learners, including sensory overwhelm and masking
• Create sensory, social and emotional safety through practical adjustments and routines
• Support cognitive safety by making mistakes feel safe and reducing fear of failure
• Be the calm, regulating adult neurodivergent students need, including managing your own anxiety in the moment
• Work together as a staff team to create consistent safety across your setting