“Girls with Autism; flying under the radar” – a new mini guide for schools and child based services.

To mark World Autism Awareness Day, nasen has launched a new mini – guide highlighting the needs of girls with , or without a diagnosis of Autism. Written by Jo Egerton and Barry Carpenter, with contributions from the Girls with ASC Working Party, the guide is a free download to schools and services.

The guide aims to articulate the current needs and issues surrounding girls with Autism . They are an under-diagnosed group , whose needs often go unmet in schools , and whose mental health in the teenage years often rapidly deteriorates. The Working Party, chaired by Professor Carpenter, realised that they did not have a common language to express these concerns, and their goal in preparing this Guide has been to improve the foundation knowledge and understanding in schools and other child based settings.

As their work drew to a conclusion, they realised that there was so much more to do . The Group will continue its work under the auspices of the National Association of Headteachers, and specifically the National Forum for Neuroscience in Special Education (www.naht.org.uk ). This will include a major National Conference in London early in 2017; detail will be posted on this website.

Click the thumbnail below to open and view.

Girls and Autism - Flying Under the Radar - PDF
Girls and Autism – Flying Under the Radar

SSAT Children’s Charter: A Pledge for Children

“On Wednesday 26th April 2023 school leaders across all phases and settings, along with partners and organisations joined the online launch of the SSAT Children’s Charter: A Pledge for Children.

SSAT Chief Executive, Sue Williamson, welcomed Professor Barry Carpenter, and Matthew Carpenter, Principal of Baxter College who, together, shared the rationale and context behind the creation of the charter and what our children and young people need now: our response to a reshaped, redefined 21st century childhood.

SSAT, with Professor Barry Carpenter and Matthew Carpenter, led a seminar in December 2022 ‘Thinking about Children’; where leaders from secondary, primary, special schools and universities, together with partner organisations met to consider the daily lived reality of children and young people now, post pandemic, in order to shape the detail within the Children’s Charter.  We are delighted to be able to share our charter and those six principles with you now.

Individually, we all bring our unique experiences and expertise but together we are stronger.”

A call to action

  1. Join us in making your pledge to all children and young people:

By making your pledge to our Children’s Charter, you are recognising the needs of children and young people now, and making your commitment to the 6 principles that underpin the charter.  

Sign up here

  1. Spread the word:

Share the document Children’s Charter: A Pledge for Children widely with your colleagues and networks and invite them to join us with these calls to action. 

Join us in spreading the word on social media using the hashtag #ChildrensCharter.  Don’t forget to tag us @ssat

Download a copy here

  1. Share your voice to bring the Charter to life:

We invite you to share how your school or organisation is seeking to make a difference to children and young people and the impact that your work is having. 

We will bring your voices together to share best practice, recommendations and actions to policymakers. 

Get in touch

  1. Keep up to date:

Look out for further opportunities to be involved and upcoming events we will share through email or on our website.  Be part of the response and help build momentum – together we are stronger.

Children’s Charter webpage

Whole School Approach to Mental Health – Free Webinar

FREE webinar bringing together experts from a range of settings to consider both classroom and whole school approaches on supporting pupils in the school to understand pupil mental health.

Tuesday – Click here to book.

Are they in your school? The rise and impact of children born prematurely on the school SEND register

I find during SENCO training, and conversations with colleagues,  that there is still a lack of recognition of the significance of prematurity , as an underlying cause of the changing pattern of childhood disability in the 21st Century.


For those wishing to either revisit, or update on this fact, attached is a position statement I wrote a few years ago, which, combined with the new Report posted on this website on Prematurely Born Children, from Dr Patricia Champion in New Zealand , will give and overview of the developments we have seen in the last quarter of a century .

ms-word-logo-download-link
position-statement-on-prematurity-sen-neuroscience-forum-ssat-may-2013.docx

New Book | Understanding and Supporting Refugee Children and Young People

A Practical Resource for Teachers, Parents and Carers of Those Exposed to the Trauma of War.

 – Dr Tina Rae

“This book is the go-to resource for those parents and professionals seeking to support children through the trauma of war and conflict.”

Direct link: https://www.routledge.com/Understanding-and-Supporting-Refugee-Children-and-Young-People-A-Practical/Rae/p/book/9781032405506

A free webinar for education professionals exploring the experience of neurodiverse professionals working in schools and colleges and how colleagues can be supported in the workplace.

In Conversation with Matt Carpenter and Gemma Alldritt,

Tue, Feb 7, 2023 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM GMT

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7689815427479625310

Webinar flyer