Education Resources for parents and teachers
BBC- bitesize -SEND resources
BBC -SEND
Activities, advice and personal stories about parenting and special educational needs and disabilities to help you support your family.
Refraining Autism - About me
A downloadable template – an ‘About Me’ you can fill in online, and email or print out and give to your child’s new teachers.
National Autistic Society website - Education
National Autistic Society website
information on education for autistic children. Our guides provide advice for parents/carers and teaching professionals.
Dr Pooky Knightsmith - Keynote Speaker, Author & Advisor
An autistic, with a PhD in Psychological Medicine from the Institute of Psychiatry, and a parent to neurodivergent children. Focuses on creating a positive environment for autistic learners via stepping into their shoes.
- Click here for Dr Pooky Knightsmith- Getting it right for autistic learners in mainstream settings
- Click here for Dr Pooky Knightsmith- 6 in 60: Emotional regulation at school for autistic students
Alternative Education resources
[accordion title="Soft Touch Arts"]Soft Touch Arts is a Leicester based arts education charity, who run a variety of projects for young people. These projects aim to improve the lives of those who may otherwise struggle to access services and activities.
Creative Studio is an alternative education scheme run by Soft Touch Arts – and funded by schools and local authorities.
It is a tailor-made specialist alternative arts programme for young people who need extra support and don’t fit into a traditional educational setting. The service specialises in working with young people who need extra support, including those who are autistic.
Soft Touch run regular evening music sessions led by instrumentalists, producers and contemporary musicians.
Click here for more information about the music sessions
Soft Touch have a constantly evolving range of projects on the go – for more information click here to go to their website.
Online education and learning
The Haven
The Haven is a specialist online school designed specifically for neurodivergent girls and non-binary young people in the UK. We offer a neuro-affirming learning environment where individuality is celebrated, and education is tailored to meet diverse needs.
The Haven
Online School for Neurodivergent Learners – The Haven
Traditional educational settings can often present significant challenges for neurodivergent learners. The Haven provides a much-needed alternative, offering:
- A Neuro-Affirming Approach: Our entire ethos is built on understanding, acceptance, and celebrating neurodiversity.
- Personalised Learning: Our flexible curriculum adapts to individual learning styles, paces, and interests.
- Strong Mentorship: Learners will benefit from 1:1 and group mentoring with experienced, neurodivergent-affirming mentors.
- A Supportive Online Community: Connecting with like-minded peers in a safe and understanding virtual space.
- Focus on Wellbeing: Prioritising mental and emotional health alongside academic growth.
- Empowering Future Success: Dedicated strands in self-advocacy, employability, and entrepreneurship.
Resources to support when children struggle to attend education
Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) Frequently Asked Questions
Send and You is a support service for Children and Young People with SEND and their families in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset (SENDIASS). Which has produced a useful document on frequently asked questions
Not Fine in School
Not Fine in School is a resource for families with children who struggle to attend school due to various barriers. They share a variety of resources for young people, parents and carers. This includes information (including on systems, services and the law), a blog and parent/carer Facebook support group which offers a space for shared lived experiences and peer empowerment.
Square Peg
Square Peg is a social enterprise set up and run by people with lived experience of family members who have found it too difficult to attend school. They aim to effect change for children who struggle to attend school – and for their families.
Their work includes building connections between relevant organisations, research, consultation and raising awareness on relevant issues – including what sorts of changes are needed. Resources for parents, carers, children and young people include a bank of videos where people with lived experience share their stories.
Calmer teens programme school refusal
Calmer teens programme school refusal
A website run by a parent with lived experience of their child refusing school for parents and teens
National Autistic Society website
National Autistic Society website – when my child wont go to school
Find information on education for autistic children when their is school refusal. The guides provide advice for parents/carers.
‘School stress and anxiety – How it can lead to refusal and impact on family life’
‘School stress and anxiety – How it can lead to refusal and impact on family life’
An excellent document to share with teachers on how to support an autistic student that is struggling with school related anxiety. Click here to access this document.
Define Fine’
Define Fine
A website supporting parent/carers to find solutions for school attendance difficulties. Providing peer support using resources to help parents advocate for the support their children and young people need to be able to learn and achieve. Define Fine is a parent/carer-led organisation set up in response to the growing number of children and young people who experience school attendance difficulties. Click this link to go to their website.
Dr Pooky Knightsmith - Keynote Speaker, Author & Advisor
Dr Pooky Knightsmith – Keynote Speaker, Author & Advisor
An autistic, with a PhD in Psychological Medicine from the Institute of Psychiatry, and a parent to neurodivergent children. Translates research into clear, practical strategies for schools and families
Click here to view ‘Supporting children struggling to attend school’
School Guide
School Guide
Dr Fisher is an Educational Psychologist
Dr Naomi Fisher
Dr Fisher is an Educational Psychologist with an interest in how the school system affects the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
National Autistic Society - resources to support with autistic burnout
National Autistic Society – resources to support with autistic burnout
How to get things done - Autism Space resource
Autism Space -printable/sharable PDF ideas on how to get things done (including ‘Now, Next, Later’ board)
Buckets for Brains visual to explain burnout
Buckets for Brains visual to explain burnout
By autistic artist Tzipporah Johnston
Autism Education Trust
Autism Education Trust
AET is website championing developing good autism practice in education from early years through to post 16, through training, good autism practice and free resources for teacher and parent/carers. Click this link to go to their website
Autism Education Trust - School stress and anxiety – how it can lead to school refusal and impact on family life
‘School stress and anxiety – How it can lead to refusal and impact on family life’ is an excellent document to share with teachers on how to support an autistic student that is struggling with school related anxiety.
Emotional health in education
Anna Freud -self-care plan for young people in school or college
Anna Freud -self-care plan for young people in school or college
A booklet to advise young people on how to make a self-care plan. It offers tips on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing, so that you feel happy in school or college and get the most out of school and college experiences.
Click here for the link to the School Self Care Plan
Exams
National Autistic Society- Exams
Resources for some of the particular challenges autistic students might face during exams, and what may help.
Books
Can’t Not Won’t - A Story about a Child who Couldn’t Go to School' by Eliza Fricker
‘Can’t Not Won’t – A Story about a Child who Couldn’t Go to School’ by Eliza Fricker
Amazon says: ‘Eliza Fricker gets it. Her compelling, hard-hitting and irreverently humorous illustrations follow a family through the early days of school avoidance, the process of accessing support and the challenges of coping in the meantime. Can’t Not Won’t illuminates the absurdity and frustrations that often arise when dealing with health, social and educational systems, and will help any parent in the same boat feel seen. This guide acts as a way to communicate these difficult circumstances with others.
Wonderfully relatable, the book also includes written guidance for parents and professionals on what works best when it comes to managing school avoidance’.
Championing Your Autistic Teen at Secondary School: Getting the Best from Mainstream Settings' by Debby Elly
‘Championing Your Autistic Teen at Secondary School: Getting the Best from Mainstream Settings’ by Debby Elly
From choosing the right school for your child (and spotting the tell-tale signs of the wrong one), to preparing both your child and the new school for the transition, to overcoming barriers and building a positive, collaborative and effective relationship between home and school. Tackling key topics from the point of view of both parent and teacher and using examples of great practice, this contains everything you need to know to build a more positive secondary school experience for your child.
Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person – A Parent’s Handbook to Supporting Newly Diagnosed Teens and Pre-Teens' by Cathy Wassell
‘Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person – A Parent’s Handbook to Supporting Newly Diagnosed Teens and Pre-Teens’ by Cathy Wassell
This book contains a wealth of information on autism related topics. It is for parents and would also be useful for any teacher who needs to know more about their autistic students. It includes the useful and informative chapter ‘Autism in School’
Autism, Bullying and Me: The Really Useful Stuff You Need To Know About Coping with Bullying' by Emily Lovegrove
‘Autism, Bullying and Me: The Really Useful Stuff You Need To Know About Coping with Bullying’ by Emily Lovegrove
Square Pegs: Inclusivity, Compassion and Fitting in – a Guide for Schools' by Fran Morgan and Ellie Costello
‘Square Pegs: Inclusivity, Compassion and Fitting in – a Guide for Schools’ by Fran Morgan and Ellie Costello.
This book is for educational professionals – but might give parents some ideas about what to expect and ask from schools.
Learning from Autistic Teachers: How to be a Neurodiversity Inclusive School' by Wood, Crane, Morrison and Moyse
‘Learning from Autistic Teachers: How to be a Neurodiversity Inclusive School’ by Wood, Crane, Morrison and Moyse
For links to all our school related articles, click on the link below:
Supporting your autistic child through school
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For links to all our school related articles, please click here
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