Yasmin A Darling
Equity means everyone can enjoy the sunset.
Systemic Equity Architect. Equitable education and neuroinclusion consultant. Rights based, trauma responsive and clinically trained. Thirty one years across education, children's rights, disability rights and community building.
My great grandfather, the modernist architect Maxwell Fry, built for light and air for ordinary people. I do the same thing with systems.
How the work happens
Where I see a need, I search and map for a solution. If it does not exist, I build it.
I design equitable systems, lead the change, and bring everyone with me, with warmth, humour, candour and efficiency. I build systems that work for the people inside them, especially the people most often left out.
I do it respectfully, without undermining the work of the people already inside the system. I legitimise what they have been holding, enable, inspire, and take people with me, then move behind and alongside them so that everyone is on board.
My practice is rigorous because it has to be. It is warm because that is how real change happens.
I do not consult on inclusion. I design the systems that make it real.Yasmin A Darling
Who I work with
Education settings
Nurseries, schools, colleges and alternative provision ready to build genuinely neuroinclusive, rights respecting environments, not just compliant ones.
Consultancy for education settingsOrganisations and companies
Public bodies, charities and private organisations who want disabled and neurodivergent people welcomed as a fundamental strength rather than accommodated as an afterthought.
Consultancy for organisationsSpeaking, writing and media
Keynotes, conference talks, panels, podcasts, articles and policy writing. Parliamentary review and Royal College of General Practitioners speaker.
Speaking, writing and mediaThe named work
Five frameworks, three instruments, one position and one campaign.
The Freedom Approach. The Maisie Poppins Way. The Early Years Ecosystem. The Neurodictionary. MeMap. Alongside them the HILP, the 6 Cs, Discovery Meadow, Holding both, and Too Hot To Be Safe with Keeping Cool, Staying You.
All of it built in practice first and written up afterwards, over thirty one years. Most of it is standard now, or close to policy. None of it was when I built it.
Standing
Credentials, not credentials in waiting.
Winner, Purple Pioneer, Scope Awards 2026
A national disability equality award for a disabled public figure who has brought about positive change, judged on impact, creativity, diversity, inclusion and reach. Presented at the Kia Oval on 30 April 2026. Scope called the work pioneering, and the dates are why.
Shortlisted, Mighty Roots Award
National Arts and Cultural Education Awards 2026, run by Curious Minds. From more than 250 submissions across ten categories. Ceremony 21 October 2026.
Ofsted Outstanding, twice
As a setting founder, inspected in 2012/13 and 2013/14 under the framework in place at that time. Both certificates signed by Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector.
Nursery World Newcomer of the Year 2014
Maisie Poppins. Joint winner.
Postgraduate study
Distinction in Autism at Sheffield Hallam University with the National Autistic Society. Merit in Psychoanalytic Observational Studies. Completing clinical training as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
LAMDA
Level 8 practitioner and registered Head of Centre, centre code NEURUK.
UK firsts, in food, forest school, the Living Wage and children's rights
Awards won, from Ofsted Outstanding twice to the Purple Pioneer
Trusteeships, including the PDA Society
Years of it
My consultancy is not commentary from a distance. It is informed by the work I am still doing this week, and every week.Yasmin A Darling
What people say afterwards
In other people's words.
Imogen Heap
“Yasmin is an exceptional person and I would recommend her every time for any parent looking to find better flow in their lives with their child. In my own little family, she recognised something so profound early on, literally saving us years of future headaches. Direct, skilled, kind, highly astute and also quite a laugh! I doubt she needs this review but felt compelled to write it nonetheless!”
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Ofsted
“The judgement of outstanding means that you are exceptional and significant elements of your work are exemplary. My thanks for all you are doing to raise standards and improve lives.”
Operational Director, England and South, Action for Children
“Your work formed the initial nucleus of the Action for Children campaign and consultation strategy on Gun and Knife Crime. You should be proud of your pioneering contribution to this important initiative which the organisation recognises and commends.”
Victoria Flint, Director of Communications, PACEY, 2017
“With her deep-seated understanding of both early years pedagogy and the key issues facing childminders, Maisie has become a powerful advocate for childminding. Maisie is a fantastic ambassador for early years and we are proud to have her as a PACEY member.”
Hilary Wilgress, childminding network co-ordinator, Hackney Learning Trust
“Maisie has a warm, friendly and caring approach, and offers a setting that is supportive to children and families. She is an excellent communicator with a real ability and passion for supporting children's emotional needs.”
Joan Semeonoff, Children's Quality Assurance Unit, Croydon Council
“A person of considerable integrity who always puts the needs of the children first.”
M. Milani, Addiction Professionals
“She brilliantly illustrated the challenges faced by people with neurodiversity and how services can adopt more inclusive practices and designs. I strongly recommend Yasmin.”
Kate Halliday, Addiction Professionals
“Yasmin has provided great expertise to our charity, Addiction Professionals, in providing webinars and conference workshops on neurodiversity. She is knowledgeable, insightful and great to work with.”
Claudia Weston, School of Larks
“Yasmin is super knowledgable and up to date with everything Neurodivergent. It was such valuable training and Yasmin is both kind and confident in her teaching with a great sense of humour.”
Harry, father of a ten year old
“Having a consultation with Yasmin was a complete game changer! Her personal and professional knowledge gave us insights into our child's condition that felt revelational and massively empowering. His behaviour has had a huge turnaround and we feel we have more energy and headspace for our children and life.”
David Kapur, parent
“This is a consultancy led by a wonderful person with deep knowledge who also benefits from both learnt and lived experience of children and families! If you are looking for what Yasmin offers I doubt you will find better.”
Sarah Dowie, teacher
“The best training I have received in 23 years of teaching.”
Rated 5.0 out of 5 across 23 Google reviews. Read them on Google. Vesna Glavas of Resources for Autism left a detailed five star review of the PDA workshop. Every quote above is reproduced exactly as it was written.
And from the parents at the nursery
On having a child with additional needs
“Maisie Poppins nursery is a haven for our little ones. Having special needs, we were very careful in our choice of nursery. Maisie and her team have surpassed any expectations we could have had. We have never felt that our little boy is being treated differently, rather the ethos of inclusion is lived and breathed every day.”
On the standard
“If there was a gold standard for nurseries, this would be it! Utterly wonderful, thank you Maisie, you have created something exceptional!”
On the ethos
“Child care, done the right way. The ethos of Maisie Poppins Nursery is unrivalled and the holistic approach to the care provided to the children is incredible, like nothing else out there.”
On the rooms
“The rooms and grounds that the children have access to are much more spacious and light than other nurseries we visited in the area.”
Getting in touch
I do not sell. People commission me because they recognise something in the work.
There is a free thirty minute discovery call for organisations and education settings exploring a commission. It is a conversation rather than a sales pitch, and an honest look at whether my approach fits what you need.