The Autism Team are part of the Specialist Inclusion Support Service (SISS). We are all experienced practitioners, with a specialism in autism and experience of working with children of all ages in both mainstream and specialist settings.
The team comprises of a Team Co-ordinator, a Lead Professional, two full time specialist teachers and 2 part time specialist teachers. The team also has the support of five Inclusion Support Practitioners (ISPs).
What do we do?
We are an educational advisory service. We provide advice and support for children and young people who have a diagnosis of autism. When a child or young person received their diagnosis of autism a referral to the Autism Team will be agreed with parents. The Team offer a range of support dependent on a child’s needs at any particular time.
We provide support for settings and families in the Early Years. We support children transitioning into school settings offering support and advice for SENCO’s, Autism Leads, and wider school staff, to develop autism friendly approaches and environments. We do direct work with children who have higher needs, schools and settings access this service through completing a request for support form.
What support is available for children and young people with autism?
Our Inclusion Support Practitioners work directly with individual pupils or small groups on autism Specialist interventions identified through discussions from school/parents and observations over time. Their work is under the direction of a specialist teacher.
Parent Support
The Autism Team work closely with schools and parents through Team Around the Child meetings when support is
taking place for individual pupils.
The Autism Team offer both a face to face and virtual parent workshops. Information can be gained from the school SENCO.
Exclusion and autistic pupils - guides for schools, governing bodies and parents
- Steps to avoid exclusion of autistic pupils
- School exclusions: School stress and anxiety
- Successful reintegration following school exclusion
- School exclusions: A guide for parents
- Exclusion: a guide to help governing boards
- Exclusion England (autism.org.uk)
Autism Intense Monitoring Team
The focus of the Autism Intense Monitoring Team is to either maintain school placements, reintegrate fully back into setting or to support transition into another appropriate setting that has been identified through a Team around the Child meeting and has been agreed at the Local Authority Panel.
Useful information for schools
West Midlands Autism in Schools Project
This is a collaborative project partnership involving Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Authorities to promote better outcomes for autistic children and young people.
January 2023 – Autism in schools update