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ABOUT
US

Fran Open Lines Coaching.jpeg

"Hi, my name is Francesca Biscotti, but please call me Fran.

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Once I was doing what you are doing right now… looking for a coach!

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I was diagnosed as an Autistic Adult (with a PDA profile) with ADHD;

and I soon realised that I was in need to find answers to my questions and guidance

to make order in my brain and, consequently, in my life.

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Being a woman with a neurodivergent brain is beautiful. But let's be honest...

REALLY challenging!

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Hiding our true self to be seen, listened to or validated, while dealing with different

symptoms, trauma and executive functions challenges it is not easy for anyone.

 

But if you have to consider hormones on top of everything else,

you will soon find out another dimension of the word challenge!

 

​And we know how exhausting that is!

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Knowing my diagnosis helped me understanding my challenges and overcoming them. Discovering myself, encouraged me to speak my truth and allowed me to show up (proudly) for who I really am!

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My Top Signature Character Strengths are: Love, Humor, Hope, Honesty,

Love of Learning, Curiosity and Bravery."

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EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES:

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Fran graduated with a Foundation Degree in Early Years, and a 1st Class BA Hons Degree in Special Needs and Inclusive Practice.

 

She has studied at ADDCA (ICF and PAAC accredited course - New York) and obtained the AACC Certified ADHD and Life Coach Accreditation. Fran is working towards her Professional Coach Certification (PCC) with ICF.

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Fran is a Trauma Informed Coach, Member of the ICF (International Coaching Federation), ICO Registered (Information Commissioner's Office) and has an updated DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).

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Fran is a specialist in Autism and ADHD and has first-hand experiences. She is passionate about Sensory Processing Differences (The D normally stands for Disorders, but she prefers to call it differences), the Nervous System and the Brain, Co-regulation and Self-regulation, and the Vagus Nerve.

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She has 15 years experience in working with families, which includes 8 years experience in the field of Special Needs.

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Fran has worked in the education field as key worker, SENCO, Deputy Manager,  and 1:1 SLA in Early Years and Primary Schools settings. She delivered groups such as the 'Attention Autism' (The Bucket), 'The Zones of Regulation' and the Siblings Group for children from 2 to 10 years old. She also worked for her local Children and Family Centre and delivered the SEND playgroup 'Somewhere to Belong'. Fran has also delivered training in schools, nurseries, workplaces, and charities - both in the UK and in Italy.

 

Additionally, Fran worked for the NHS as Play specialist for children with Special Needs (complex needs, Down Syndrome, Autism, etc.). She contributed to the Autism diagnostic assessments, provided Play reports for the EHCP (Educational Health and Care Plan) and worked with many professionals i.e. Speech and Language Therapists (SALTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs) Physiotherapists, Educational Psychologists (EPs), Paediatricians, and Social workers.

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Fran speaks Italian and English both fluently, and offers services in both languages.

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​​​​QUALIFICATIONS:

 

August 2021 - March 2022

ADD COACH ACADEMY

ADHD COACH AND LIFE COACH

ADDCA - 109 hours

New York 

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September 2020 - July 2021

BA in SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND INCLUSION

Kingston University, UK

Passed with First class

 

September 2018 - July 2020

EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION DEGREE

Kingston University, UK

Passed with merit

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February 2013

NVQ LEVEL 3,

CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (QCF)

 

July 2005

Liceo Socio-psycho-pedagogical, “Gianni Rodari” (Italy)

GCE Advanced level, RQF level, SCQF level 6-7, CQFW level 3.

 

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TRAINING:

 

 

​October 2024

'ICF Internal Coaching Community of Practice - Spark New Insights in Your Coaching Sessions'

ICF CP - Presented by Marcia Reynolds, MCC - 1.00 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 0.50 Resource Development Credits 

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September 2024

'ICF Coaching Science Community of Practice - Neurodiversity Coaching: Creating Agency'

ICF CP - Presented by Nancy Doyle - 1.00 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 0.50 Resource Development Credits 

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September 2024

'ICF Life Vision Enhancement Coaching Community of Practice - Discover The Potential of Somatic Coaching Confirmation'

ICF CP - Presented by Alexandra Fay, PCC - 1.00 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 0.50 Resource Development Credits 

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September 2024

'Career Coaching Coaching Community of Practice - The Intersection of Neuroscience & Career Decision'

ICF CP - Presented by David Ogle - 1.00 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 0.50 Resource Development Credits 

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September 2024

'Internal Coaching Community of Practice - Empathetic Coaching: Results without Burnout'

ICF CP - Presented by Loren J. Sanders - 1.00 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies (ICF Continuing Coach Education)

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September 2024

'Unstuck' - 'Connect with your clients', 'Unstick your clients', 'Motivate your clients', 'Design your dream, Profitable Coaching Business'

NLP for Coaches - 4 Masterclasses of 90 minutes each - ICF Accredited for a total of 6.00 CCEUs completed 

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September 2024

'Trauma Informed Coaching Practice - When Should I refer a client to therapy?'

ICF Netherlands Chapter event - Presented by Nina Saunders - 1.50 CCEUs completed in Resource Development Credits (ICF Continuing Coach Education)

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September 2024

'HW Coaching Community of Practice - Unlocking ADHD: Coaching for Neurodiversity Success'

ICF CP - Presented by Farah Jamil - 1.00 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 0.50 Resource Development Credits 

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August 2024

'Professional development: Coaching Individuals on the Autism Spectrum to Employment Success'

ICF Charlotte Area Charter Chapter - Presented by Barbara Bissonnette - 1.25 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 0.25 Resource Development Credits (ICF Continuing Coach Education)

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July 2024

'Professional development: The 3As of Coaching: Adjectives, Adverbs & Absolutes'

ICF Charlotte Area Charter Chapter - Presented by Daniel Olexa, MCC - 1.25 CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 0.25 Resource Development Credits (ICF Continuing Coach Education)

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June 2024

'Competency Masterclasses in: Demonstrates Ethical Practice, Embodies a Coaching Mindset, Establishes & Maintains Agreements, Cultivates Trust & Safety, Maintains Presence, Listens Actively, Evokes Awareness, Facilitates Client Growth'

Clare Norman, MCC- CCEUs completed in Core Competencies, 10hours (ICF Continuing Coach Education)

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December 2023

'What is the Felt Sense' 

The Polyvagal Institute (PVI), Jan Winhall, MSW, FOT - Introductory Webinar 

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November - December 2023

'The Neurobiology of Trauma' 

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine (NICABM) 

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July 2023 to present

'The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Hormones Series' 

 Kate Moryoussef - Ongoing Workshop

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January -March 2023

'Navigating your Nervous System' 

Sarah Baldwin - 6 Weeks Course 

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December 2022

'Trauma-Informed Certificate for Coaches' 

The Centre for Healing - 20 Credit CPD Hours 

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May 2022

'Vagus Nerve Masterclass' 

Jessica Maguire - Sydney - Online Masterclass

 

April 2022

The PDA Space Summit 2022

London 

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March 2022

Women and ADHD Webinar

London - Live Webinar

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May 2021

Understanding + Supporting ADHD Webinar.

London - Webinar

 

March 2021

ADHD, Clarified: New Research and Essential Strategies for Thriving with ADHD.

London - Live Webinar

 

February 2021

Training session on Understanding PDA - Pathological Demand Avoidance.

London - Live Webinar

 

September 2020

Just a few more minutes please – Sleep problem in neurodiverse people.

Online training - London

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January 2020

Care Certificate

London

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April 2019

Safeguarding training

London

 

October 2018

Zones of Regulation

Lea Kuyper, NEW YORK

 

September 2018

Complete Teaching Assistant Diploma (TA, SEN, Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia)

Online Course, Adams Academy, USA   - CiQ, CPD, Istudy

 

February 2018

Women and girls on the autistic spectrum

The National Autistic Society (NAS), UK

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June 2017

PECS

PECS – 13 hours of training completed with Hannah Steward, UK

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May 2017

Siblings

SIBS, London, UK

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May 2017

Complex needs and participation

Autism education trust and Department for Education, UK

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April 2017

In house Makaton

Hillyfield Academy, UK

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June 2016

Autism and Sensory Experience

Online Course, The National Autistic Society (NAS), UK

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June 2016

Prevent

E- learning Course HM Government, UK

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June 2016

Female Genital Mutilation: Recognizing and Preventing FGM V1.3

Online Course, Home Office, UK

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May 2016

Safeguarding  

Waltham Forest, UK

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May 2016

Attention Autism – “Bucket”

Gina Davies – Educational Psychology Service Waltham Forest, UK

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April 2016

Safe Recruitment

High Speed Training, UK

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April 2016

Total Communication and Key words signing for children with Multi difficulties

Wood Street Clinic, Waltham Forest, UK

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February 2016

Early Help Assessment (EHA) and E-Learning

Waltham Forest – Daniel Phelps.

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February 2016

Early Years SENCO Course

Waltham Forest – Zoe Wells.

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January 2016

Introduction to 5p Approach with ASD Children

Caroline Keaney and Sean Highton, - Educational Psychology Service Waltham Forest, UK

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December 2015

Understanding Autism

Online Course, The National Autistic Society (NAS), UK

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December 2015

Autism & Communication

Online Course, The National Autistic Society (NAS), UK

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December 2015

Autism, Stress & Anxiety

Online Course, The National Autistic Society (NAS), UK

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November 2015

Talking table

Jo Quinlan SALT, Waltham Forest UK

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November 2015

Anxiety and Autism

Online Course, Autism West Midlands, UK

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November 2015

Introduction to the SEN Reforms

Online Course, Autism West Midlands, UK

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November 2015

Special Interests and Autism

Online Course, Autism West Midlands, UK

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November 2015

Autism and Sensory Issues

Online Course, Autism West Midlands, UK

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January 2013

Indoor and Outdoor play

EYTC (Early Years Teaching Centre), UK

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May 2012

Embedding the EYFS into quality practice

Teresa Asquith and Sheryl Henry, Haringey Council, UK

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April  2012

Observation, Planning and Assessment training 

Jude Patton, Haringey Council, UK

 

February 2012

Introduction to Child Protection

LSCB Haringey, UK

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October 2012

Attachment: Nurturing Children Emotional Wellbeing in the Early Years

Maxine Aboagye – Educational Psychologist, UK

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September  2012

The revised EYFS Briefing session

Jude Patton, Haringey Council, UK

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September 2012

Developing the role of the Key Person throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage 

Teresa Asquith and Sheryl Henry, Haringey Council, UK

 

February 2011

“Fun on the Floor” – Exploring a nursery through the eyes of a child 

Mary Barlow – The Totem Pole, UK

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