The Autism Outreach Team

The Autism Outreach Team is part of the Specialist Support Service (SSS). This is part of the Disability and Safeguarding Division within the Children and Lifelong Learning Directorate.

The SSS works with children who have sensory, physical or communication difficulties. The aim of the Autism Outreach Team is to offer advice and training to schools supporting pupils with an autism spectrum disorder. The Team is made up of:

Specially trained teachers who have experience of working with children who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Qualified Communication Support Workers experienced in working with children who have an ASD

In addition a Specialist Educational Psychologist supports the work of the team.

Contact Details

The team covers the whole of the county. It is based at The Flash Ley Centre, Hawksmoor Road, Stafford, ST17 9DR.

Julie Birchall
Manager of the ASD Team
Tel: 01785 356977

Debra York
Head of Specialist Support Service
Tel: 01785 356830

sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk

Referrals to the Service

All referrals are made through school SENCOs or Headteachers, with accompanying parental consent. Any other services wishing to make a referral are directed back to the pupil's school. Pre-school pupils are referred through District Early Years panels.

On receipt of a referral an initial visit is made to the school in order to discuss the needs of individual pupils.

Referrals are accepted as follows:

Where pupils have a diagnosis of an ASD

When a diagnostic agency/individual has provided written confirmation that the pupil has been identified as having an ASD but, as yet, has not been given a formal diagnosis.

What we do

The team provide awareness training to any school that may request this.

Casework with pupils in mainstream schools takes a variety of different formats, designed to suit the individual needs of the pupil and the school. The service provides:

Initial awareness training of ASD and follow up practical training including TEACCH, PECS, Social Stories, comic strip illustrations and classroom strategies in both Primary and High School settings
Advice and support to mainstream teachers and teaching assistants
Advice on how the pupil with ASD can access the curriculum effectively
Individual or small group staff training
Liaison with parents and provision of resources for use in the home
One to one or small group work with pupils
Social skills sessions
Peer awareness sessions
Circle of friends
Provision of resources including visual supports e.g. timetables, sequence charts, Social Stories
Advice on writing ASD friendly IEPs
We liaise with Speech and Language Therapists, CAMHS, CASDAS, Paediatricians, Educational Psychologists and any other relevant professionals.

Equipment

We have a small number of Alpha Smart laptops we are able to loan to pupils to ascertain whether it would be suitable to purchase one for that individual pupil.

Further information

The following leaflets give further information about how to support children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Please note that they contain general information. If you have a specific concern please discuss it with a member of the Autism Outreach Team of the Specialist Support Service.

Accessing the Team
Accessing the Team