Training courses for educators
A growing number of children and young people are being diagnosed as autistic, with special educational needs data suggesting that 1.8% of all pupils in England now have an autism diagnosis. In spite of this, we know that many autistic children and young people are still having poor experiences in school, are not reaching their potential, and are struggling in the transition to adult life. The APPGA’s The Autism Act, 10 Years On report showed that autistic children and young people often find it difficult to get the help they need at school due to poor understanding of autism among education staff. It also highlighted that less than 5 in 10 were confident about supporting autistic children and young people, and this can result in missed opportunities to help children reach their potential or prevent children’s needs or distressed behaviour from escalating.
Our professional development courses are:
- CPD-certified
- Supported by the Department for Education
- Developed by leading autism education specialists and researchers
- Delivered by autism education specialists in partnership with the Autism Education Trust (AET)
- Designed to help you meet requirements from Ofsted, the SEND Code of Practice, the Equality Act 2010, and the Teacher’s Standards.
Our courses will:
- increase your understanding of how autistic learners experience the world around them
- provide easily implementable strategies to adjust your own practice and the learning environment, which benefit a wide range of differences
- give you a set of resources and tools commissioned by the Department for Education, to take away and use in your practice
- boost your confidence in working collaboratively with autistic learners to deliver a positive education, improve outcomes and increase well-being.
All our courses can be made bespoke, tailored to your setting’s needs.
Please note, Ambitious about Autism have the licence to deliver AET courses within the London Boroughs of Kingston, Haringey and Hounslow only.
If your setting is located within any other area, please visit Autism Education Trust.
You can also email info@autismeducationtrust.org.uk.
Click on the courses below to find out more, and enquire today.
Courses for schools
- Making sense of autism
- Good autism practice
- Progression Framework
- Anxiety and autism
- Exclusions and autism
- Suite of resources for leaders
Courses for post-16 settings
- Making sense of autism
- Good autism practice
- Anxiety and autism
- Transition to employment
- Progression Framework
- Suite of resources for leaders
Courses for schools
Making sense of autism
This course is for every staff member in schools, from catering to leaders, and support staff to admin.
The most difficult parts of the school day for autistic learners are often outside the classroom. Sensory differences can mean that the lunch hall is a sensory overload. The lack of structure at break times can be stressful for those who have communication and interaction differences.
Having all school staff trained in understanding autism is crucial for a successful school day right the way through.
Learning objectives:
- to understand the best way to get to know the learner as an individual and why this is so important
- to learn strategies for identifying the strengths, needs, and differences of autistic learners
- to know how to adapt your own practice to improve the school experience for autistic learners
- to appreciate the importance of listening to autistic learners about their experiences of their education and the world around them.
The minimum duration for this course is 90 minutes and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Good autism practice
This course is for staff who work with autistic learners, including leaders, teachers, and support staff.
Creating a whole-school approach to implementing inclusive strategies is the best way to ensure all learners succeed and understanding how these strategies positively impact autistic learners from their own perspective will help staff to implement them more effectively.
Learning objectives:
- to develop knowledge of the key areas of difference that can affect autistic learners
- to gain strategies in tailoring a learners-centred education and why they make such a positive difference
- to consider adaptations and reasonable adjustments that can be implemented to remove barriers to learning and participation for autistic learners
- to learn the best ways to support autistic learners in building positive relationships with their peers and school staff.
The minimum duration for this course is three hours and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Progression Framework
This course is for staff who work with autistic learners, including leaders, teachers, and support staff.
The Progression Framework is a tool that was commissioned by the Department for Education and was designed specifically for autistic learners. The framework has hundreds of pre-set learning intentions within eight specific areas, which are based on the key areas of difference that can affect autistic learners.
It is designed to be used throughout all stages of education and for all levels of ability but can be started at any point in the learning journey. Our course will show you exactly how and why the framework is used.
Learning objectives:
- to identify autistic learners’ strengths and interests as starting points to build upon and improve their general wellbeing
- to learn how to use the Progression Framework for any autistic learner of any age or ability level
- to know how to set appropriate, personalised learning intentions for autistic learners, using the bank of learning intentions within the framework
- to understand that progress is dependent on identifying the areas within which autistic learners may need support.
The minimum duration for this course is 90 minutes and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Anxiety and autism
This course is for every school-staff member, from catering to leaders, and support staff to admin.
Anxiety disorders affect 42% of autistic children compared with just 3% of children who are not autistic. This course goes into detail about how and why autistic learners experience anxiety, common triggers, and how they may express their anxiety. You will then learn many strategies for supporting autistic learners in preventing a rise in anxiety.
Learning objectives:
- to be able to recognise when and how an autistic learner may express anxiety
- to learn common triggers of anxiety for autistic learners and ways to identify other triggers
- to gain strategies and resources to help prevent and reduce the anxiety an autistic learner may experience.
The minimum duration for this course is 90 minutes and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Exclusions and autism
This course is for staff who work with autistic learners, including leaders, teachers, and support staff.
Autistic learners are twice as likely to be excluded compared with peers who are not autistic, and the exclusions of autistic children and young people have more than doubled in the last decade.
Exclusions should be avoided as much as possible but when exclusions are given, it is crucial to ensure the right support is in place throughout the exclusion period, which this module covers. You will also learn how to avoid and reduce distressing behaviours that often precede exclusions, which will reduce the risk of exclusions happening.
Learning objectives:
- to understand the law around exclusions, and how to avoid the risk of illegal exclusions occurring
- to learn the triggers and strategies in managing distressed behaviours
- to consider ways of supporting autistic learners and their families during exclusion periods, and how to support transitions back to school.
The minimum duration for this course is 90 minutes and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Suite of resources for leaders
This suite is for all leadership team staff.
The most efficient and effective way to embed good autism practice and culture change across your provision is by ensuring your school leaders know exactly what makes good autism practice. The suite of resources for leaders contains two modules, which will support you in auditing your school staff against the AET Frameworks and will provide you with steps needed to meet the legislation and guidance around inclusion.
Learning objectives:
- to create a long-lasting culture change across your setting
- to understand how to use the AET Frameworks to ensure all staff have good autism practice
- to learn about the eight Principles of Good Autism Practice and the eight Inclusion Promises that emerged and why they are important
- to know how to deliver a positive education to autistic children and young people.
The duration of this course is six hours (full-day session) and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Courses for post-16
Making sense of autism
This course is for every staff member in a Post 16 setting, from catering to governors, and careers advisors to transport staff.
Many autistic learners have difficult experiences in school that can include exclusion, and the transition to a new setting or a new education stage can be a source of great anxiety. This course will give every staff member in your setting a broad understanding of autism and how it can affect autistic learners. You will learn how to make adjustments, whatever your role may be, that will support autistic learners and improve their learning experience.
Learning objectives:
- to have a greater understanding of autism and the areas of difference that can affect autistic learners
- to learn strategies for identifying the strengths, needs, and differences of autistic learners
- to learn strategies that support autistic learners in having better outcomes
- to gain tools and resources that support you in your practice and save you time.
The minimum duration for this course is 90 minutes and it can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Good autism practice
This course is for all staff who work directly with autistic learners, from tutors to assessors, job coaches to support staff.
To support autistic learners, we need to understand how they experience the world and why certain strategies are helpful for them. This course will give you a deep understanding of autism, the areas of difference that affect autistic learners, and how you can adapt your own practice to make learning a positive and successful experience for all your autistic learners.
Learning objectives:
- to have a greater understanding of autism and know what makes good autism practice
- to learn strategies that support autistic learners in having better outcomes
- to gain tools in your own reflective practice and in your post-16 setting.
The duration of this course is six hours (full-day session) and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Anxiety and autism
This course is for every staff member in a post-16 setting, from catering to governors, and careers advisors to transport staff.
Anxiety disorders affect 42% of autistic young people compared with just 3% of peers who are not autistic. This course goes into detail about how and why autistic learners experience anxiety, common triggers, and how they may express their anxiety. You will also learn effective strategies for supporting autistic learners in preventing a rise in anxiety.
Learning objectives:
- to know what anxiety is and why people experience it
- to be able to recognise when and how an autistic learner may express anxiety
- to learn common triggers to anxiety for autistic learners and ways to identify other triggers to gain strategies and resources to help prevent and reduce the anxiety an autistic young person may experience.
The minimum duration for this course is 90 minutes and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Transition to employment
This course is for all staff who work directly with autistic learners, from tutors to assessors, job coaches to support staff.
As reported by the ONS only 29% of autistic adults are in full- or part-time, paid employment, which is the lowest rate of all disabled groups. This module was developed by Ambitious about Autism in partnership with AET, to support practitioners in using the Transition to employment toolkit.
Learning objectives:
- to learn ways to support autistic young people to transition successfully from a post-16 setting into employment
- to better understand how to work collaboratively throughout the transition with the student and their family, and other key stakeholders in the process
- to learn about interview practices and reasonable adjustments that can support autistic individuals when seeking employment.
The minimum duration for this course is three hours and can be split across more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Progression Framework
This course is for all staff who work directly with autistic learners, from tutors to assessors, job coaches to support staff.
The Progression Framework is a tool that was commissioned by the Department for Education and was designed specifically for autistic learners. The framework has hundreds of pre-set learning intentions within 8 specific areas, which are based on the key areas of difference that can affect autistic learners. It is designed to be used throughout all stages of education and for all levels of ability but can be started at any point in the learning journey. Our course will show you exactly how and why the framework is used.
Learning objectives:
- to identify autistic learners’ strengths and interests as starting points to build upon and improve their general wellbeing
- to learn how to use the Progression Framework for any autistic learner of any age or ability level
- to know how to set appropriate, personalised learning intentions for autistic learners, using the bank of learning intentions within the framework
- to understand that progress is dependent on identifying the areas within which autistic learners may need support.
The minimum duration for this course is 90 minutes and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Suite of resources for leaders
This course is for all staff in a leadership role or have a responsibility for the development of provision for autistic learners within a post-16 setting. This includes lead practitioners as well as managers of learning support staff, curriculum and/or inclusion.
The most efficient and effective way to embed good autism practice and culture change across your entire provision is by ensuring that your leaders know exactly what makes good autism practice. The suite of resources for leaders contains two modules, which will support you in auditing your staff using the AET frameworks and will provide you with steps needed to meet the legislation and guidance around inclusion.
Learning objectives:
- to have a complete understanding of autism and of good autism practice
- to learn techniques for the evaluation and development of autism practice within the post-16 setting, including how to audit staff in autism-specific knowledge and skills to identify needs for professional development
- to understand the importance of pursuing good autism practice in terms of regulatory compliance.
The duration of this course is six hours (full-day session) and can be split into more than one session if required. Please contact the training team to enquire about costing. See the courses we have available.
Book now
