Autism in Schools
What is happening in Dorset?
The ‘Autism in Schools’ project was a cross system project funded by NHS England, to improve outcomes for autistic children and young people in mainstream schools. Dorset Parent Carer Council, Dorset Council and NHS Dorset are working together to deliver the project locally which ran up to July 2024.
The pilot project has now come an end and has proved to be a positive project. Schools engaged well in the training that was offered which has resulted in notable changes to benefit children and young people. It was positive to see that schools were engaging with parent and carers, sharing experiences, setting some achievable goals and aims to benefit the children and young people. It was a project that brought collaborative working and was a pleasure to be involved with and see everyone working together.
Dorset Council hold a 3 year Autism Education Trust (AET) licence which will enable a range of local practitioners from across the Dorset Partnership to deliver the AET training to the mainstream schools involved.
Project Pilot
The projects main aim is to support the training of school staff and leaders to ensure that mainstream schools offer environments in which autistic students thrive, supporting good mental health and promoting inclusion.
There are four key elements of the pilot;
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• A Learning and Development Programme which seeks to develop a positive school environment for autistic pupils through reasonable adjustments and understanding.
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• Developing school-based parent carer participation building on and supported by the Parent Carer Forum (Dorset Parent Carer Council).
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• Building a new relationship between Child Adolescent Mental Health Service and schools which is focused on developing autism friendly environments and practice.
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• Hearing from autistic Children and Young People and developing their self-awareness and resilience.
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The pilot will run in the following Dorset schools until the end of this academic school year (2023/24).
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Chesil Locality (Weymouth & Portland):
Budmouth Academy
Wyke Regis Primary Federation
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Dorchester Locality:
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Thomas Hardye School
Dorchester Middle School
The Prince of Wales School
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East Locality:
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Queen Elizabeth School
St Michaels School
Allenbourn Middle School
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Purbeck Locality:
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The Purbeck School
Bovington Academy
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North Locality:
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Shaftesbury School
Blandford School
Milldown CE Academy
Shaftesbury CE Primary School
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West Locality:
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Beaminster School
Beaminster St Mary’s School
The Pilot follows on from work originally developed in the Northeast region, which was based on feedback from parent carers about their autistic children's experience of school.
You can read more about the background to the Autism in Schools pilot on the links below. The following buttons will let your view both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Evaluation Reports from the Autism Learning Programme, North Cumbria and the Northeast Accelerator Project.