Autism Outreach Programme

 

The Autism Outreach Offer is a joint offer from Essex County Council and four special schools across Essex. Schools can request outreach from their local special school provider to support them to be able to meet the needs of autistic pupils at their school. 

Who is Autism Outreach for? 

The Autism Outreach service is for pupils with identified autism and those on a waiting list for an autism assessment. Support can also be provided for pupils with learning needs where the barrier to learning is autism, or to those pupils who have co-occurring conditions such as ADHD or anxiety. 

Why has my child’s school requested outreach? 

With your permission, your child’s school will have requested outreach from their local provider to support them to better be able to meet your child’s needs in their current school. The autism outreach service is provided by special schools, but it is not a means to access a placement at one of these settings and requesting support from the service does not mean that your child’s school thinks they should attend special school. The purpose of the autism outreach service is to support your child’s school to maintain their placement and better meet their needs within their current setting. 

What will the Outreach Provider do? 

Support from the outreach provider will depend on the needs of your child. It might involve:

• Support with planning and provision in class 
• Coaching on specific interventions that might be helpful for your child 
• Working directly with staff to share knowledge and skills If your child receives Autism Outreach, you will be sent a report outlining what the involvement has been and what recommendations are being made for your child. 

What if I have concerns? 

If you have concerns or queries about the Autism Outreach Service you should try to speak to the SENCo at your child’s school in the first instance. If you still have concerns, please email autismstrategy@essex.gov.uk and we will support you to liaise with the right person to address your worries.