About Us
When children feel better, they learn better. At Dandelion Training and Development our mission is to improve mental health knowledge and understanding in education and care settings, to ensure that children have the best possible chances.
Early intervention and support improves children’s outcomes. With 1 in 6 children experiencing mental health issues, we know that if education and care staff know more, they can support more effectively.
So, Dandelion offer high quality, current and practical mental health training to parents, early years’ providers, schools and further/higher education facilities.
Supporting children to develop a positive sense of self and mental well-being relies on strong partnerships with all those who care for and work with children and adolescents. Which is why our courses are focussed on:
- Providing engaging learning about the causes of mental health issues
- Offering high-quality information about the signs that indicate a child’s mental health may need support
- Supporting you to feel more confident in recognising and responding to mental health issues in your home or setting
- Teaching relevant and easily implemented strategies to support parents and professionals to offer children and adolescents high-quality care at home and in learning environments
- Guiding professionals to create relevant mental health care plans for children and adolescents to ensure that care and education are accessible whilst ensuring that mental health is well supported.
- Providing resources to support positive well-being and emotional literacy in education settings and at home.
Nicky brings to Dandelion Training and Development over 25 years of experience in education and therapy. Her passion is child and adolescent mental health, focussing on supporting young people, parents and professionals to promote emotional literacy and resilience. She utilises neuroscience and traditional coaching and therapeutic methods to support young people to manage their mental health.
Her experience includes:
- Working as an Early Years Professional and manager in nurseries, SureStart Centres, creches and early years chains.
- Positions as an early years advisor and inspector.
- Lecturing Level 1, 2, 3 early years, health and social care and public service courses in the Further Education sector.
- Lecturing on the Foundation Degree in Early Years.
- Since 2014, she has worked as a child and adolescent therapist, supporting young people and their parents to navigate their mental health journeys.
- She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health with Kings College University.
- She completed her MSc in Psychology focusing on the role of therapy dogs in the emotional regulation of children with Autism Spectrum Condition
- Author of Don’t Panic: The Official Dad’s Guide to Parenting
Nicky works with her registered therapy dog ‘Brian’, providing 1-2-1 coaching and therapy with children and young people, as well as offering guest talks and training in a range of settings.
Together they are the authors of the Adventures of Brian Children’s Books, a children’s story book collection to support children to develop emotional literacy skills.
Having committed the last 10 years to mental health support, Nicky developed Dandelion Training and Development with a desire to make a valuable difference to children. To move out of the current system of ‘ticking boxes’ and instead change attitudes and approaches, so that children receive more effective and faster mental health support. Too many children are left too long, or failed by long waiting lists, and worst case scenarios being caught in a trap of attendance monitoring when they require effective support to enhance their emotional literacy and respond to their mental health needs with compassion.
At Dandelion Training, children are at the centre of all that we do. In our qualifications, practitioners learn the WHY to support the HOW, allowing them to become exceptional resources and supporters to those who want to enhance their well-being.
Nicky's Qualifications
- SACPA Membership (2026)
- Life Story Coaching (2025)
- Masters in Psychology (2024)
- NICABM – Working with the Fear of Rejection (2023)
- Integral Eye Movement Therapy (2023)
- Supervision Certificate
- ADHD in the Therapy Room (2022)
- Advanced Course in Working with Trans and Gender Diverse Clients (2022)
- Neuroanalysis (2022)
- Hypnotherapy Supervision Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health (2022)
- NICABM – How to work with a client’s perfectionism (2021)
- BWRT Generation Z (2021)
- Level 2 – CBT for Non-Suicidal Injury (2021)
- NCFE Understanding Autism (2020)
- Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early Trauma (2020)
- Cache Level 2 Child and Young People’s Mental Health (2020)
- Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health (2020)
- Autism Awareness (2020)
- Autism, stress and Anxiety (2020)
- ADHD Awareness (2020)
- Trauma Basics for Youth Workers (2020)
- BluePrint (2020)
- Treating Children with Tics and Tourettes (2019)
- Lego Based Therapy Practitioner (2018)
- OldPain2Go (2017)
- Reiki Level 2 (2017)
- Reiki level 1 (2017)
- BWRT Level 2 Advanced Practitioner (2016)
- BWRT Level 1 (2016)
- Diploma in Life Coaching (2015)
- Advanced Practitioner Eating Disorders (2015)
- Diploma in Hypnobirthing (2015)
- Advanced Diploma in NLP (February 2015)
- Diploma in Hypnotherapy for Children (December 2014)
- Advanced Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis (October 2014)
- Diploma in Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis (September 2014)
- Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Counselling Skills (May 2014)
- Introduction to Counselling (2012)
- Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes Management (2010)
- Level 3 (Active IQ) Diploma in Personal Training (2009)
- Level 3 (Active IQ) Certificate in Exercise Prescription for Pre and Post Natal Clients
- Level 2 (Active IQ) Certificate in Gym Instruction
- Level 2: Health Related Exercise Instruction for Children
- Advanced Certificate in Nutrition for Weight Management
- Ba (Hons) Professional Studies of Learning and Development (2009)
- Early Years Professional Status (awarded February 2009) – Level 6
- Certificate of Education (2007) – Level 5
- EZL124 Supporting Children’s Learning in the Early Years (October 2007)
- ED209 Child Development (December 2004)
- E123 Working with Children in the Early Years (January 2003)
- City & Guilds NVQ Level 3 – Early Years Care and Education
Dandelion's Associate Trainers
Shawn
Associate Trainer
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Level 3 Emotional Literacy Mentor – Level 4 Child Coach – Level 5 Parent Coach for Neurodivergent Families
Shawn is an associate trainer on the Level 4 Child Coach and Level 5 Parent Coach Qualifications, running our online course location. He is a qualified coach and holds a degree in Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Practice. He has committed his career to working in the education sector in SEN, child mental health and Safeguarding.
He shared ‘I strongly believe in what Nicky has created and the model she has put together makes me excited. I want to be able to use all of my skills and expertise gained throughout my career to empower the next generation of coaches’.
Shawn holds his SACPA Membership (2026).
Amy
Associate Trainer
Level 4 Child & Adolescent Mental Health Coach
Amy is an associate trainer on the Level 4 Child Coach qualifications, running our online course. Amy is a qualified coach and works with families through her own private practice, as well as having her own social media marketing company.
She shared ‘I truly believe in everything Dandelion stands for, and having personally completed the Level 4 course online, I experienced firsthand the supportive, well-structured, and engaging approach to learning. The qualification has had a huge impact on my life, reinforcing my belief that change is possible when you have the right skills, mindset, and determination to make a difference.’
Ayesha
Associate Trainer
Level 4 Child & Adolescent Mental Health Coach
Ayesha is an associate trainer on the Level 4 Child Coach qualifications, running our online course. Ayesha’s background is embedded in mental helath through both social work and mental helath support in schools, she also runs her own private coaching practice working with young people.
She shared ‘Studying at Dandelion has been absolutely life changing for me and it was be an honour to support Dandelion Training & Development on their journey and growth to continue empowering and teaching individuals who would like to support children’s mental health in a meaningful and impactful way.’
Every month, new courses and resources are added to our course page and shop to offer an extensive support network to parents and professionals who want to provide the best quality interactions, care and mental health support to children from the early years to adulthood.
Dandelion offer a wide range of support including:
Webinars
Dip your toes into our introduction courses to learn about mental health issues. Exploring the causes, contributory factors and signs and symptoms that may affect children and adolescents.
Short Courses
Resources
A wide range of resources to support children and adolescents, at home or school, including free eBooks, podcast, audios, therapeutic stories and workbooks. As well as our weekly articles and activities.
Dandelion Training and Development offer theoretical training for professionals working with children and young people. Our professional courses are accredited by the CPD agency and certificates carry their logo. Please note that these courses do not offer CPD points.
Dandelion Training and Development offer theoretical training for professionals working with children and young people. Our professional courses are accredited by the CPD agency and certificates carry their logo. Please note that these courses do not offer CPD points.
