Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Autism outreach service

The Autism Outreach service supports the needs of pupils with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who attend mainstream schools.

The team is available for school-age pupils, their schools and families.

Specialist staff work in an advice-giving capacity for pupils who have been identified as having any form of ASD.

Advice and training is offered to schools staff, parents and other professionals.

What does the autism outreach service offer?

The team may:

• Assess the individual needs of pupils with ASD in school
• Help schools prioritise needs
• Give general and specific advice to individual members of staff
• Provide mentoring and modelling where appropriate
• Provide advice and support to parents
• Provide training to school and other professionals on any aspects of ASD
• Provide training courses to parents on understanding and managing ASD
• Act as a link to other agencies and voluntary bodies
• Provide training and group work for young people

Team composition

The team currently consists of:

• Senior educational psychologist (diagnosis and team co-ordinator)
• Specialist teacher (Reception to Year 3)
• Specialist teacher (Year 3 to Year 6)
• Specialist teacher (Year 7 to Further Education)
• Specialist teaching assistant (all age groups)

Accessing the service

• Access is through schools and the Diagnostic teams
• The team is alerted to new diagnoses by the multi-agency diagnostic teams
• Schools can request involvement by returning a pupil referral information form
• Contact may also be made by parents and other professionals and the team may then initiate contact with the school
• Pupils must have a clear documented diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and be attending a mainstream school in the Stockton Borough
• Parental consent must be granted for the team to become involved