Skip to content ↓

Fierté Multi-Academy Trust

Our Family of Schools

Autism

What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), usually called autism is often referred to as a hidden condition as the child may appear to be like any other. However, autism affects how the brain functions and how a pupil perceivesprocessesunderstands and responds to information. This effect is not always obvious to others.

 Pupils on the autism spectrum can be affected in three areas, known as the triad of impairments:

  • Social and emotional understanding: Children on the autism spectrum all have difficulty understanding social behaviour and conventions. They are also less able to recognise their emotions and those of others.
  • Communication and language: Children on the autism spectrum have problems understanding communication and language and in developing and using effective communication and language skills including speech, gesture, facial expressions and intonation.
  • Flexibility of thought and behaviour: Children on the autism spectrum have difficulty problem solving and in knowing how to adapt when a familiar situation is changed.

 A fourth area, differences in sensory perception, may also affect pupils on the autism spectrum.

The three main areas affected all need to be present for a diagnosis to be made.

Pupils on the autistic spectrum are often very different even though they all have needs in the three areas. Some pupils are very able intellectually, whereas others have considerable learning difficulties arising from their autism.

HOW CAN WE IDENTIFY AUTISM?

Characteristics to look out for... 

  • Lack of speech, or delayed or deviant speech, although some have fluent speech and language from an early age
  • Social avoidance or unusual social behaviour
  • Lack of pointing to draw attention and lack of shared attention with others
  • Unusual play in particular unusual social play
  • Resistance to change in familiar routines
  • Difficulties in relating to peers and adults
  • Unusual communication and conversations
  • Strong focus on particular activities or interests. 

For a child with Autism, school can be a very challenging environment. Pupils may face... 

  • Difficulty communicating effectively with others
  • Problems listening and attending to things which hold little interest for them
  • Pressure to be sociable when they want time alone and no space to get away
  • Difficulties understanding and gaging their own emotions and those of others
  • A lack of friends; teasing and bullying
  • Difficulty understanding and accepting the opinions of others
  • The impact of sensory issues
  • Difficulties understanding abstract language and concepts
  • Difficulties with personal organisation.

"Understanding social interaction, what to do and what to say is like doing quadratic equations in your head."

(Temple Grandin)

HOW CAN A PARENT SUPPORT A CHILD WITH AUTISM? 

  • Know your child. The school and staff should be well-informed about the needs of the pupils. It may be useful to have a home/school diary to communicate with your child's teachers.
  • Prepare your child for change and transition- have a visual timetable, use social stories to explain what might happen, act out scenarios, have options. 
  • Keep communication clear- short instructions, clear, mean what you say- be aware that children on the autistic spectrum can take communication quite literal- i.e. wash your hands in the toilet!.
  • Don't allow special interests to disrupt- use them to your advantage- base activities around the interest, or use as a reward (y) to get x completed. Give your child a set time in the day to talk or interact with a special interest so that it doesn't dominate at home.
  • Set up communication systems - feelings chart, feelings diary, time to talk, time out space. Not all children verbalise their feelings. 
  • Help your child with organisation- checklists, keyring with pictures of things needed, visual timetable, homework written down clearly.