24th June 2024

• Autism in Schools is a national scheme which aims to improve support for autistic children and young people in mainstream schools. It has been running successfully at 15 secondary schools in Sheffield. Our project workers are currently phasing out their involvement in some of those secondary schools where the work has become embedded. These schools will continue with the project themselves, with our project workers offering support as needed.

  The project is now expanding into the primary sector, thanks to national funding through Partnerships for Inclusion and Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS). In order to improve primary-to-secondary school transitions, we are focussing on primary schools that feed into some of the secondaries that have taken part in the project.

  So far, seven primary schools have signed up to the project, and a further three schools have expressed an interest. The confirmed schools are:

  1. Bankwood
  2. Carfield
  3. Ann’s Grove
  4. Foxhill
  5. Mundella
  6. Monteney
  7. Meynell

  In addition, we are in discussion with two post-16 settings to explore how the project could support their students with a focus on preparation for adulthood.

  What to expect if your child’s school is taking part

  A key part of the project are in-school groups for autistic students, facilitated by national charity KIDS. These meetings provide a safe space where students can learn more about their autism, boost their self-esteem, provide mutual support, and educate school staff about how best to meet their needs.

  This is mirrored by monthly parent meetings, facilitated by our SPCF project workers at the participating schools. These meetings are open to ALL parents of pupils with additional needs, not just those with autism. Not only have these groups helped parents to feel less isolated, they have also served as a platform for discussing concerns and coming up with solutions. Where schools have taken this feedback on board, the effect has been transformative.

  If your child attends one of the primary schools listed above, you should have received an invite to a parent meeting. If you haven’t, and you’d like to get involved, please contact the relevant Autism in Schools Project Worker (see below).

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  Project workers
  

  School	SPCF Project Worker
  Firth Park Yewlands Meadowhead Foxhilll	Sharon Court sharon.court@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk 0300 321 4721 ext 109
  Sheffield Park Academy	Anna Marie Emmett annamarie.emmett@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk 0300 321 4721 ext 108
  Oasis Don Valley Outwood Academy Newfield Stocksbridge High School	Kathleen Green kathleen.green@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk 0300 321 4721 ext 110
  Ann’s Grove Bankwood Carfield Mundella Monteney Meynell	Susan O’Shea susan.oshea@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk 0300 321 4721 ext 117