“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

NEW PUBLICATION: Beyond Manifestos 

I am delighted to share a publication I have recently contributed to. With a general election on the horizon, SSAT (The Schools, Students and Teachers Network) asked leaders in the education sector the question ‘What does education need next?’ You can view the pamphlet here: https://www.ssatuk.co.uk/beyondmanifestos/

Beyond Manifestos shares the views of numerous school leaders, leading academics and other highly experienced educationalists.

If you would like to join the conversation, share your thoughts on the question ‘What does education need next?’ by emailing us at hello@ssatuk.co.uk or join the conversation online – #BeyondManifestos.

Download now
Beyond Manifestos
https://www.ssatuk.co.uk/beyondmanifestos/

SSAT’s Childrens Charter webinar series

Children’s childhoods have been reconfigured by the pandemic.

To explore this more fully SSAT are launching a free webinar series. Details are on this weblink: https://www.ssatuk.co.uk/childrens-charter/what-our-learners-need-now/

SSAT’s Children’s Charter webinar series: What our learners need now

The webinars build on their recently published Children’s Charter.

The attached blog was published recently to further promote and stimulate discussion around the issues and challenges currently facing Teachers, And the Children they teach.

“Relationships and Rebuilding; Schools as Congregations of Compassion”

ssat-piece-june-2023Download

FASD Awareness Month

May this FASD Awareness Month bring greater understanding, compassion, and support to all affected. Let’s unite in our efforts to educate, prevent, and uplift. Wishing a brighter future for every individual touched by FASD.

Why dont you check out some of the websites :-

EUFASD – www.eufasd.org

National FASD (UK) – https://nationalfasd.org.uk/fasd-awareness-month-2023/

Trauma Informed Insights – Exploring Sports Sanctuaries

In this blog Vicci Wells from the Youth Sports Trust , and discusses the creative use and development of her concept of Sports Sanctuaries .

Using the Inquiry Cycle developed by Professor Barry Carpenter, Riverside School in Northern Ireland, went about researching the impact of co-creating sanctuaries with learners with special needs, to support their wellbeing.

The positive outcomes are described below

Trauma Informed Insights – Exploring Sports Sanctuaries (futureaction.net)

ADHD and Girls

ADHD is one of many conditions which can make it harder to learn in a traditional classroom and exam environment. With the right adjustments many children with ADHD will thrive, but first we need to be able to recognise a child’s needs and how to support them to do their best.

In this new film from ‘‘Nip in the Bud‘ , you’ll hear directly from Debbie about her experience having undiagnosed ADHD in school, and the impact this had on her.

“From as young as I can remember, I’ve always thought there was something wrong with me…If I’d had my diagnosis at school, everything would have been different.”

As a young black girl, Debbie didn’t fit the stereotype of a child with ADHD. As a result, her learning differences weren’t recognised and she would get into trouble at school. Because ADHD typically presents differently in girls, the signs can be overlooked, and it is thought girls may also be better at ‘masking’ their difficulties to fit in. 


“It’s well known that women with ADHD are really good at hiding things.”
As Debbie got older she was able to find some coping strategies which work for her. However, her story shows how it can be life-changing to receive a diagnosis from a younger age, and highlights the importance of challenging our assumptions about a child’s behaviour and experiences.

* Debbie volunteers for ADHD Babes, a community group for Black Women and Non-Binary people of African-Caribbean descent with ADHD.

“We’re just wired differently… someone getting there in a different way can also open up something new that people didn’t know, and that can be really amazing.”

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.