Autism in Schools pilot launched

Autistic children and young people in Dorset will have a better educational experience following the recent launch of the Autism in Schools Project which will improve the approach of the whole school, both students and teaching staff, to understanding autism.

Autism in Schools is a national project which aims to ensure mainstream schools offer environments in which autistic students can thrive, supporting good mental health and promoting a sense of belonging for this group of young people.

It will help schools to develop an inclusive environment which will improve the experience autistic young people have at school and will also improve the confidence of their parents and carers that the school truly understands their child.

Young people who are autistic will be able to share with their peers what it is like to be autistic in school and what adaptations would make a difference to them. They will have greater opportunities to meet and socialise with others who have similar interests which will reduce social isolation.

Making improvements to the sense of belonging and inclusion for autistic young people will lead to better attendance and a reduction in suspensions from school, which currently sees high rates for young people who are autistic.

Tamsin, from the Parent Carer Forum said: “involving parents and carers of autistic children and young people who go to the schools taking part in the project will be key to its success.  Co-production is a feature of the project and our ambition is for all the schools and families (via the Parent Carer Forum) to collaborate with each other and with outside agencies to develop strategies for more personalised child centred support giving children and young people the best possible outcomes with the right support so they can thrive in education.”

Each school will receive Autism Education Trust (AET) training, the AET is the only training provider approved by the Department for Education. It is important that each setting takes a ‘whole school approach’ so the training will be given to all staff within each school.  The training takes a strengths based approach celebrating difference.

The project, which is funded by NHS England, is being jointly led by Dorset Parent Carer Council, Dorset Council and NHS Dorset.

Councillor Byron Quayle, portfolio holder for children, education, skills and early help, said: “I’m really pleased so see this project starting in Dorset as it will make such a difference to our young people.

“This is part of the government’s National Autism Strategy, but we also firmly believe it is the right thing to do for our young autistic people. It will help them to feel settled and secure in school and we know that school is the best place for our young people to be, not just for their education but also for their social development and their safety.”

Jenna, aged 12, was one of the young people who was at the launch event. When asked what would make things better for her in school she said: “Less noise would be amazing and being able to fiddle with Blutak rather than doing figures of eight on the table.”

16 schools from across the Dorset Council area have so far been invited to take part in this project which will be rolled out to the schools involved in this first wave during the next academic year. The schools include at least two from each of Dorset Council’s locality areas.

At the launch event the schools were celebrated for leading the way for others in Dorset. Teaching staff were encouraged to reflect on what they had heard, both from the young people and the practitioners, and to think what this would mean for them and their students.

Roger Haybull is the inclusion lead at The Blandford School which is one of the schools taking part. He said: “Everything we’ve heard so far fits with our vision and what we’re currently doing for an inclusive classroom.

“The guidance from specialists will help us to firm up what this will look like which will not only benefit our young people with autism but other students as well.”

The session was rounded off by a poem ‘Coloured Feathers’ written by Jenna. The poem describes how difference should be celebrated:

Coloured Feathers

Birds of a feather flock together.

At least that’s what everyone says.

But behind the child’s sweet little rhyme,

there’s a darker twist in time.

You see, birds will attack one more colourful than the rest,

because difference is dangerous

and that is a terrible threat.

This is awfully wrong,

for underneath the colourful feathers that bird is incredibly

strong,

fighting to survive almost all day long.

Instead they should celebrate the different,

because that one bird is magnificent.

So, take this message home,

and tell it to others please,

for birds of all feathers should flock together

together over the rough Seven Seas.