1. Practitioner-Led Action Research 2014-15 Paul Burnett North Lincolnshire Council Adult Community Learning This project has been developed and supported by the Foundation's Practitioner-Led Research Programme (2014-2015) and the East Midlands Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (emCETT)

2. Background (personal) English/maths tutor since 2004 Worked with many learners with autism during this time Interest in autism developed Post Graduate Certificate in Autism (Sheffield Hallam University) November 2013 – August 2014 How can I put this to good use?

3. Background (wider implications) Around 1 in 100 people in the UK have autism 1 1 There is NO cure for autism but a wide range of strategies can help people with the condition 2 2 Fewer than 1 in 4 people with autism access education beyond school 3 3

4. Research question How can we improve the services we offer to people with autism?

5. Research strands Autism training/CPD – personal and staff Initial assessment of needs  ongoing support – person with autism Networking/raising profile

6. Method – training/CPD Personal Making sense of autism. Two day training for practitioners. Autism Education Trust 4 4 Read further literature about autism Staff Own Autism Awareness training North Lincs Council Intralinc autism training Ad-hoc support

7. Method – initial assessment/ongoing support All potential learners undergo initial assessment People with autism undertake additional specific assessment Share findings/support needs with tutor(s) Ongoing support throughout course offered (email contact) for learners with autism

8. Method – networking/raising profile North Lincolnshire Autism Partnership Board (health, education, social care, charities, housing, etc) Local Learning Disabilities/Vulnerable Provider Network Group (education)

9. Research problems and solutions Problems Small sample size (our cohort is also 1:100) Few new learners with autism Intralinc staff training – poor response Snow on my training days! First initial assessment proforma didn’t fully address needs Solutions Continue networking though new groups/existing contacts Reminder email sent re: online training Rescheduled training Amended accordingly

10. The future Share ideas with other providers through network groups Continue to offer support service and amend to meet changing requirements Persevere with staff training issues!

11. References 1 National Autistic Society (NAS) http://www.autism.org.uk/007874 http://www.autism.org.uk/007874 2 National Health Service (NHS) http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autistic-spectrum- disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autistic-spectrum- disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx 3 Ambitious about Autism http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/articles/stats- and-facts http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/articles/stats- and-facts 4 Autism Education Trust http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/aet%20program me.aspx http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/aet%20program me.aspx