Our Education Support Service provides specialist support to professionals working with children and young people with autism, aged 3 to 19, in a range of educational settings.

Pupils with autism may have very specific, and individual, support needs. Our professional team can assess what these needs are and work alongside staff to develop support programmes which benefit the pupil with autism and the school.

We provide:

  • a bespoke service, with support tailored to meet the needs of each pupil, classroom or educational setting
  • advice on adapting the learning environment for pupils with autism
  • support in raising attainment and increasing inclusion for pupils with autism and/or with social communication issues
  • support to promote knowledge, understanding and skills for pupils with autism and/or with social communication issues
  • opportunities for clients to observe teaching and learning in one of our own schools across the UK.


Our team has extensive training and experience of working with children and young people with autism in a range of educational settings. The team offers three main areas of support.

Consultancy

As part of our early intervention work, we can develop a support programme for individual pupils or as part of a block placement over the year for a school or cluster of schools.

This programme will be based on initial observation by our team. Our hands-on approach, with opportunities for team teaching and mentoring, will help your staff to implement each support programme. Ongoing development and review meetings will help to ensure that the programme is meeting the needs of the pupil and the school, and achieves realistic targets.

We can provide formal reports, strategies and interventions to reflect on issues and ways forward, and provide block review meetings for senior management teams to discuss action plans.

We also can give advice on:

  • creating an autism-friendly environment
  • managing challenging behaviour
  • creating social skills and communication programmes
  • target setting
  • writing individual education plans
  • curriculum development
  • support for transition.

Observation and assessment

Our observations are designed to gauge the needs of pupils with autism and to support teaching and learning in their existing school placement. Assessments inform best practice for managing anxiety, addressing sensory issues and developing positive behaviour support strategies.

Training

We offer a range of training sessions, which may take the form of practical workshops that are tailored to your needs. Training sessions can be delivered according to areas identified for development and, for example, can include making playtime autism friendly, managing staff in the classroom or transition training.

Costs are calculated per bespoke package.

Contact us

Education Support Service (For local authorities, schools and educational specialists/professionals)
The National Autistic Society
Helen Allison School
Longfield Road
Meopham
Kent DA13 0EW

Tel: 01474 814878
Fax: 01474 812033
Email: educationsupport@nas.org.uk
Website: www.autism.org.uk/educationsupport

  • Parents and carers who require general educational support should call our Autism Helpline on 0808 800 4104.
  • For advice and information about your child's educational rights and entitlements, contact our Education Rights Service on 0808 800 4102.