Motivation
16% of autistic adults are in full time employment
Often overlooked by the constraints of mainstream schools with the result that only 16% of adults who are autistic are in full time work (Source National Autistic Society). In addition to this children and young people with undetected Speech Language and Communication Needs have a greater risk of exclusion. The current model of mainstream often does not allow for the variety in learning experiences required to support the needs of many of these children and young people.
Values
63% of autistic children are not in the kind of school their parents believe is best for their needs
Provision of the correct environment, people and curriculum to allow children and young people with additional needs to aspire to full time employment in a future proof career either through a medium term intervention and a successful reintroduction back into a mainstream school or through a longer term intervention alongside the curriculum provided by more specialist settings. Currently 63% of autistic children are not in the kind of school their parents believe is best for their needs (Source National Autistic Society).
Method
35% of teachers think it has become more difficult to access specialist support for children with autism
Small group learning in professional environments
Social Communication skills workshops using I CAN trained staff
Digital technology curriculum including programming and software development through the iDEA Award for Digital Enterprise
Personal Development and Employability skills through the Prince's Trust Achieve Award.
Travel training to and from co-working spaces in Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Many mainstream settings are not able to provide the right sort of learning environment because of staffing, funding, curriculum and building design issues and as a result 35% of teachers think it has become more difficult to access specialist support for children with autism (Source: Ambitious about Autism).
Impact
The primary need of Autistic Spectrum Disorder accounts for 28.2% of all Education and Health Care Plans
Supports schools struggling to provide an appropriate environment and curriculum
Builds capacity for Local Authorities unable to meet need for growing numbers of SEND learners
Improves the Health and Well Being of young people
Improves attendance of young people
Supports parents and families finding it difficult to function due to young people not leaving the home
Reduces the likelihood of young people becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
According to the Department for Education figures from January 2018, the primary need of Autistic Spectrum Disorder accounts for 28.2% of all Education and Health Care Plans. With 17% of all exclusions being autistic children there is a need to build capacity to meet their needs, on a much smaller scale than is possible in many mainstream secondary schools.