When people choose Learning SPACE, they're choosing more than sensory equipment, educational resources or specialist products. They're choosing a team that understands the challenges, celebrates the milestones, and genuinely cares about making a difference.
Since 2007, Learning SPACE has remained proudly family-run, built on a simple belief: every child, family, school and professional should have access to the right support, delivered with knowledge, compassion and real-life experience.
A Family Mission That Started With Love
The story of Learning SPACE begins with three sisters and one very special person at the heart of it all - their younger sister, Emma, who has Soto syndrome.
Growing up alongside Emma gave sisters Lorraine and Mary McAleer a unique understanding of the challenges families face when searching for specialist resources, sensory equipment and trusted advice. They experienced first-hand how difficult it could be to find products that genuinely met individual needs and how overwhelming navigating support services could sometimes feel.
Determined to make that journey easier for others, Lorraine, a teacher, and Mary, a social worker, founded Learning SPACE in 2007.
Their goal was never simply to sell products. They wanted to create a place where families, schools and professionals could find carefully selected resources backed by genuine expertise and understanding.
In 2015, sister Naomh joined the business, making Learning SPACE a true family venture united by one shared mission: helping every child reach their potential through the right support and resources.
As Lorraine often says:
"We created Learning SPACE because we knew firsthand how hard it could be to find the right support. Every product, every piece of advice, every training session - it all comes from a place of genuine understanding and care."
Experience You Can Trust
What makes Learning SPACE different isn't simply the products on the shelves - it's the people behind them.
Lorraine McAleer – Co-founder & Director
Lorraine brings over 25 years of experience in education, alongside a deeply personal understanding of neurodiversity as a late-identified autistic woman. Holding a Graduate Certificate in Autism, she combines professional expertise with lived experience to help families and educators make informed choices.
In 2024, Lorraine also co-founded Diverse SPACE, extending Learning SPACE's mission through specialist training and education.
Mary McAleer – Co-founder & Director
With a professional background in social work, Mary has always been passionate about supporting families. Since co-founding Learning SPACE in 2007, her knowledge and commitment have helped shape the compassionate, family-centred values that remain at the heart of the business today.
Naomh McAleer – Director
Joining the family business in 2015, Naomh brought fresh energy, expertise and vision. Together, the three sisters continue to lead Learning SPACE with the same purpose that inspired them from the very beginning.
Sisters from left to right: Mary Leonard, Naomh Judson, Lorraine McAleer & Emma McAleer
Why Families & Professionals Choose Learning SPACE
Over nearly two decades, Learning SPACE has grown into an award-winning supplier trusted by parents, schools, therapists, hospitals and nurseries across the UK and Ireland. That trust has been earned through a commitment to quality, expertise and genuine care.
Carefully Chosen Products
Every product available through Learning SPACE has been selected with guidance from an expert panel of therapists, teachers, parents and children. Working with more than 200 trusted suppliers ensures customers have access to resources that are practical, effective and fit for purpose.
Real Lived Experience
The Learning SPACE team isn't just knowledgeable - they understand. Many members bring lived experience alongside professional qualifications in education, childcare and specialist support, allowing them to offer advice that is both informed and empathetic.
Trusted Across the UK & Ireland
Learning SPACE is proud to work with organisations including Family Fund, Education Authorities, Health Trusts, the National Autistic Society and many other respected partners. These relationships reflect years of delivering outstanding service and trusted expertise.
Making Support More Accessible
Every family deserves access to the right equipment without unnecessary financial barriers. That's why Learning SPACE offers competitive pricing and will always do its best to match or beat a lower price whenever possible.
Growing Beyond Products
As Learning SPACE continued to grow, one thing became increasingly clear: providing equipment was only part of the solution.
Families, schools and organisations also wanted practical knowledge, meaningful training and deeper understanding.
In response to this growing need, Lorraine co-founded Diverse SPACE in 2024.
As Learning SPACE's sister company, Diverse SPACE is a neurodivergent-led training organisation delivering immersive learning experiences for schools, families and workplaces. Its mission reflects a simple but powerful belief: Tools alone are never enough.
By combining specialist resources with expert training, both organisations work together to create environments where children and young people can truly thrive.
Looking Ahead
From its beginnings as a small family business inspired by one remarkable sister, Learning SPACE has grown into a trusted name supporting thousands of families and professionals across the UK and Ireland.
Yet despite its growth, the values remain unchanged.
Real support.
Real experience.
Real impact.
Every conversation, every recommendation and every product is driven by the same purpose that started it all in 2007: helping people access the resources, understanding and confidence they need to make a meaningful difference in children's lives.
Because for the team at Learning SPACE, this has never been just a business.
It's family.
