Helping to transform autism education: the AET’s 5 year national programme Steve Huggett Director Autism Education Trust Swindon April 2016

What is the Autism Education Trust and why it might be helpful to you The structure of the training programme for schools Autism standards and competency framework for schools Early years and post 16 programmes Materials for LAs and parents Helping to transform autism education: the AET’s 5 year national programme

Primary needs identified on SEN

Founded in 2007 Funded by Department for Education All the main autism organisations from the voluntary sector Increasing numbers of LAs and schools actively involved in developing and delivering the programme People with autism involved in all aspects of the AET The Autism Education Trust A national partnership between the voluntary sector, LAs, schools and universities

Underpinning foundations of the AET offer Strong research base Practical tools for use in schools Ofsted compatible Wide community of educational practitioners Good practice for ALL pupils

The structure of the main elements of the 2011/13 programme

The four themes 1.The individual (how to understand and address their strengths and needs) 2.Building relationships (with staff; parents/carers and peers) 3.Curriculum and learning (adjustments to the way in which activities are presented, selection of priorities and modifications to the timetable) 4.Enabling environments (how to create good classroom and school environments for pupils with autism).

Over 90,000 people trained since 2012

Autism standards

What are the standards for? To enhance educational practice in schools and settings working with pupils with autism aged 5 to 16 years To enable staff to self-evaluate current practice To form the basis of an ‘action plan’

What are the AET standards? A set of 40 standards grouped under four headings:  The individual pupil  Building relationships  Curriculum and learning  Enabling environments For each standard there are examples of how a school or setting might action this, plus a selection of resources (weblinks; papers; videos )

AET autism standards

What type of evidence should be produced? There are three types of evidence to illustrate the extent to which each standard is met : 1.Documents; D 2.Observations; O 3.Verbal reports from staff; pupils; parents/carers. V AET autism standards

What are the AET standards? For each standard the staff will consider the extent to which it is met, as follows: Schools will then consider whether work on each standard is low, medium or high priority to create an action plan

AET autism standards

Development of an AET autism competency framework A set of knowledge and skills that are required for professionals in educational settings working with pupils on the autism spectrum

-self-evaluation tool practitioners can use to rate their current practice and understanding against a set of descriptors (knowledge, skills, personal qualities) -those descriptors are aligned with: -AET autism standards -AET training objectives - TDA teaching standards -Can be used by staff working in all types of educational settings What is the AET autism competency framework?

58 competencies: 34 core & 24 advanced competencies Resources and links illustrating the competency Teachers’ Standards SEND code of practice Links to the AET standards

Using the AET autism standards, competency framework and training programme: Facilitates the evaluation, planning, monitoring and review process. Ensures senior leaders can analyse the extent to which the needs of pupils with autism are addressed through policies, systems and whole school development work. Can ascertain whether practice is developing, established or enhanced and allows schools to plan accordingly Provides a shared language and framework for talking about the next steps.

AET programme

AET post 16 programme

Parents’ guides

AET LA standards

A guide to the use of the AET programme materials by local authorities, support services and schools School improvement and preparing for Ofsted The Local Offer Quality assuring provision Evaluating and developing provision within school settings using the AET standards Supporting staff development - the AET competency framework Lead practitioners - how does the AET programme support their role?

AET programme

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Key features of the AET programme It’s national It’s local It’s a partnership It’s organic