- For residents
- Schools, learning and early years
- Adult courses and learning
- Subsites
- SEND Local Offer
What Family Learning courses we offer and how to add a child to the waiting list for one.
About the courses
The Bristol Autism Team runs a range of courses throughout the year. The courses are:
- free
- for parents and carers
- face to face and online
All courses are for parents and carers of children who are:
- autistic, or
- waiting for an autism assessment, or
- neurodiverse with social communication and interaction needs
If you're not sure if a course is suitable for your child, email autismfamilycourses@bristol.gov.uk
Our courses are for parents and carers only. You cannot bring your children with you to the courses.
Course length varies. You should attend all sessions wherever possible.
Course referrals
If you're a parent or carer, you can refer yourself for a course. You can also refer on behalf of a parent or carer, but you must get their consent. You cannot refer someone if you don't have their consent.
We prefer it if parents and carers who want to attend the course do the referral themselves.
Our courses fill up quickly. If you've made a referral and we don't have space, we'll contact the parent or carer when there's space on an upcoming course.
National Autistic Society (NAS) EarlyBird Programme for 2 to 5 year olds
The NAS EarlyBird Programme Go to https://www.autism.org.uk/earlybird (opens new window) is a 3 month course for parents and carers of children between 2 and 5 years old who are:
- autistic
- waiting for an autism assessment and have social communication and interaction needs
The NAS EarlyBird programme works with parents and carers to help you:
- understand your child's autism, social communication and interaction needs
- develop your child's communication and interaction skills
- use and apply practical strategies to manage your child's behaviour
It combines:
- group training
- individual sessions for parents or carers
- home visit sessions with the child and parent or carer
Parents and carers need to commit to:
- a weekly 2.5 hour training session for 8 weeks
- 2 home visits
- ongoing work with your child during the 3 month programme
NAS EarlyBird Plus Programme for 5 to 9 year olds
The NAS EarlyBird Plus Programme is a 3 month course for parents and carers of children aged 5 to 9 who are:
- autistic
- waiting for an autism assessment and have social communication and interaction needs
The course:
- supports parents and carers to develop your understanding of autism and social communication, interaction and sensory needs
- encourages parents and carers to consider how the key areas of difference affect your child
- looks at communication differences and behaviour
We ask parents and carers need to commit to:
- 8 sessions, which are 2.5 hours long
- 2 home visits
There's space for up to 8 families on each course. Two places for parents and carers are allocated to each family.
Each family will get an EarlyBird Plus Programme book.
NAS Teen Life Programme for 10 to 18 year olds
The NAS Teen Life Programme is a 6 week course for parents and carers of children aged 10 to 18 who are:
- autistic
- waiting for an autism assessment and have social communication and interaction needs
The course aims to help parents and carers to understand how autistic teenagers experience autism.
Topics covered include:
- understanding autism in teenagers
- autism in women and girls
- self esteem
- spending time with other people
- stress and anxiety
- behaviour
- puberty
- independence skills
- planning for the future
Managing Anxiety course for 8 to 18 year olds
The Managing Anxiety course is a 6 week course for parents and carers of children aged 8 to 18 years old who are:
- autistic, waiting for an autism assessment or neurodiverse with social, communication and interaction needs
- experiencing anxiety that affects their wellbeing and ability to access a range of different environments, including family life, school and activities outside of school
The course aims to:
- allow parents and carers to share your experiences of managing your child's anxiety
- explore how autism and social communication and interaction needs can influence children and the anxiety they experience
- consider strategies that may be helpful for parents, carers and children to understand and manage anxiety
Topics covered include:
- what is anxiety
- sensory needs
- parent wellbeing
We ask parents and carers to commit to 6 weekly sessions, which are 2.5 hours long.
There's space for up to 10 families on each course. Two places for parents and carers are allocated for each family.
Understanding and Responding to Distressed Behaviour for 8 to 18 year olds
The Understanding and Responding to Distressed Behaviour course is a 6 week course for parents and carers of children aged 8 to 18 years old who are:
- autistic, waiting for an autism assessment or neurodiverse with social, communication and interaction needs
- frequently becoming overwhelmed and experiencing meltdowns, which lead to distressed behaviours
The course aims to:
- allow parents and carers to share your experiences of your child's distressed behaviours
- explore how autism and social communication and interaction needs can influence children and how they respond to feeling overwhelmed
- consider strategies that may be helpful for parents, carers and children to understand, prepare for, de-escalate and respond to distressed behaviours
Topics covered include:
- understanding distressed behaviours
- identity, self esteem and wellbeing
- sensory needs
- recognising feelings
- strategies
We ask parents and carers to commit to 6 weekly sessions, which are 2.5 hours long.
There's space for up to 10 families on each course. Two places for parents and carers are allocated for each family.
Parents Plus Special Needs Programme
The Parents Plus Special Needs Programme is a 7 week course for parents and carers of children aged 9 to 18. The programme supports parents to manage common issues in families with a child who has social communication and interaction needs, including autism.
Parents Plus is a charity which designs evidenced based parenting programmes and trains professionals in delivering them. Bristol City Council also runs the Parents Plus Adolescents Programme. The Special Needs Programme was originally designed for parents of children with a learning disability. The Bristol Autism Team has worked with Parents Plus to adapt the course for parents and carers of children who have social, communication and interaction needs, including autism.
The course aims to:
- allow parents and carers to share your experiences of parenting a child with social communication and interaction needs, including autism
- focus on parent and carer wellbeing
- consider siblings, the whole family and their support network
- maximise opportunities for parents and carers to connect with each other throughout the course
Topics covered include:
- understanding the journey of parenting a child with social communication and interaction needs, including autism
- managing stress and looking after yourself as a parent
- supporting brothers and sisters and family relationships
- establishing good family routines
- managing behaviours
- supporting good friendships and social opportunities
- building self esteem, confidence and independence
- supporting teenagers' education and development
- dealing with puberty, sexuality and relationships
- preparing for future transitions and adulthood
We ask parents and carers to commit to 7 weekly sessions, which are 2.5 hours long.
There's space for up to 10 families on each course. Two places for parents and carers are allocated for each family.
Add a child or children to the waiting list
You can add up to 4 children on the form.
Add a child to the Family Learning courses waiting list
Contact us
Email autismfamilycourses@bristol.gov.uk
Write to:
Family Learning Courses Admin Support Officer
Bristol Autism Team
Family Learning and Family Support Hub
Bristol Autism Team (CH)
PO Box 3399
Bristol
BS1 9NE
Resources and information to support autistic children and young people through coronavirus changes.
These resources have information to support:
- autistic children and young people through emotional changes due to coronavirus
- children returning to their education setting
Resources
Emotional support
- pdf Coping with sleep, anxiety and distress (1.22 MB)
- pdf Emotional coping with coronavirus transitions (1.35 MB)
- pdf My lockdown experience (1.10 MB)
Signposting for parents and carers
Autism transition resources
Family Hub trainers from the Bristol Autism team have created some helpful videos and resources for parents of children on the autism spectrum. They're designed to help parents and carers support children as they transition back into their education settings. These resources and materials have been collated from parents and carers during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Settling back into school: discussing emotions Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LtTVnkfxwo&list=PLzBMJEVI_oKksuUoIVmCwHcpvxBS1AUUZ&index=1 (opens new window) (Josie Ball and Katrina Brooks from the Bristol Autism team)
- pdf Settling back into school: discussing emotions video transcript (117 KB)
- Settling back into school: using social scripts Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFxutftr604&list=PLzBMJEVI_oKksuUoIVmCwHcpvxBS1AUUZ&index=3 (opens new window) (Josie Ball and Katrina Brooks from the Bristol Autism team)
- pdf Settling back into school: using social scripts video transcript (99 KB)
- Settling back into school: using visuals Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCMKhErKJvM&list=PLzBMJEVI_oKksuUoIVmCwHcpvxBS1AUUZ&index=2 (opens new window) (Josie Ball and Katrina Brooks from the Bristol Autism team)
- pdf Settling back into school: using visuals video transcript (94 KB)
- pdf Example of a social script to help your child when they go back to school (149 KB)
- pdf Example of how to use a whiteboard as a visual aid for your child's daily activities (432 KB)
Find out about support available for autistic children and young people and their families.
Support for autistic children and young people, those on the autism pathway, and those with social, communication and interaction needs and their families.
Bristol Autism Team (BAT) support in education settings
The Bristol Autism Team (BAT) supports children and young people from the age of 4 to 18 who:
- have a formal diagnosis of autism
- are on the pathway to an autism diagnosis
- have social, communication and interaction needs
We support these children and young people through:
- primary school
- secondary school
- post 16 education settings
We also support children under the age of 4 with a formal autism diagnosis through early years settings such as nurseries and pre-school.
The BAT offers mainstream education settings:
- a named BAT link from early years through to post 16 (sixth form and college)
- annual cohort meetings with their named BAT link to plan autism support for their setting (a cohort meeting is where the school talks to their BAT link worker about specific children who have social, communication and interaction needs, including autism)
- annual advice clinics
- advice for parents and carers through our online referral system, which parents and carers can access by emailing bristol.autism.hotline@bristol.gov.uk, or through the BAT link for your education setting
- nationally recognised Autism Education Trust training for all education settings, endorsed by the Department for Education
For information and advice, email bristol.autism.hotline@bristol.gov.uk
How to get support in education settings for an autistic child or young person
SENDCOs can refer children from reception age upwards for support from the Bristol Autism Team (BAT) through the setting's cohort meeting and advice clinic. Each setting refers a specific number of children and young people depending on the setting's size and needs.
Children in early years settings must have been referred to the Early Years Portage and Inclusion Service.
How the support works
When the BAT gets a referral, the BAT link meets with education staff and the parents or carers. The BAT link will ask the education staff to invite the parents or carers to the meeting.
The BAT link will visit the education setting, where the:
- BAT link will observe the child or young person, and talk to them if appropriate
- BAT link will talk to the staff working with the child or young person to gather information about the 3 main needs
- parents or carers are invited to the education setting to discuss needs
After the visit, the BAT determines if the child or young person's case requires the education setting to:
- implement the BAT's advice and strategies ahead of further consultation (informal casework)
- do more consultation with strengths and needs analysis and observation (active casework)
If the child or young person moves to active casework, the BAT:
- do an in depth strengths and needs analysis
- do further observation
- meet with the parents or carers
- do a detailed report with SMART outcomes related to the key areas for support, detail the provision the education setting need to put in place to achieve the outcomes and review the child or young person
- email the Pupil Record to the education setting (requesting a copy be sent to parents/carers) to identify strengths and needs
The case is then made open to review so that the education setting can:
- go ahead with recommendations without any more help
- ask for more help within the same academic year
During a review visit, the BAT:
- supports the education setting to ensure their recommendations are fully and correctly implemented
- records progress towards agreed outcomes for the child or young person
At any point during the visits, the BAT can review progress and agree to make the case open to review.
Some cases might need further input. The BAT will discuss these cases individually to identify the areas still causing concern.
Support outside education settings
National Autistic Society (NAS)
The UK's largest autism support charity with lots of advice and guidance. Visit National Autistic Society or call 0808 800 4104.
They have a Bristol branch which supports their members, most of whom are parents of autistic people. They provide:
- parent-led exclusive access play opportunities for families
- guest speakers on topics related to autism
- book and resources that parents may borrow
For more information on the Bristol branch visit NAS Bristol Branch.
Bristol Autism Team (BAT) support for families
The Bristol Autism Team (BAT) offers family learning courses, which you can access through a referral process.
These courses offer:
- information and advice on autism
- information on ways to support your child
- opportunities to meet other parents or carers
- information and signposting to services and benefits
Bristol Autism Team Advanced Project Workers
The BAT's Advanced Project Workers offer family support to supplement our family learning courses.
They also offer advice and support to services working with families with an autistic child, or a child with social, communication and interaction needs.
Referrals can be madeby a:
- social worker
- mental health professional
- member of the Bristol Autism Team (BAT)
- member of the Families in Focus team or a Children's Centre
If you'd like to make a referral for support from the BAT Advanced Project Workers, email autismfamilycourses@bristol.gov.uk to request a referral form.
The BAT reviews referrals. If they agree to allocate an Advanced Project Worker to work with the family, the Disabled Children's Service (DCS) Children's Resource Panel for Specialist Services (CRPSS) confirm this at their monthly meeting.
The Advanced Project Worker will do:
- an assessment that takes into account the view of the child or young person and their family
- a short-term intervention based on a plan agreed with the child or young person and their family
- a review meeting with the child or young person, their family and any other people it's important to involve (including workers)
- a closure plan that identifies what positive changes have happened and considers what needs to be in place to sustain these changes
Bristol Autism Team Pathways to Short Breaks Project
This project supports children and young people aged from 8 to 18 with social, communication and interaction needs, who are experiencing anxiety and are socially isolated. The project is funded until the end of March 2024.
The project offers access to targeted and innovative community based groups, offered by our partners, Neon Daisy, Exar and FACE.
- Neon Daisy run the Freedom Club, a neuro-affirmative space in the woods for young people, with autistic mentors.
- Exar run the Without Walls Project, which supports self-isolating young people to reconnect, socialise and access education using virtual reality.
- FACE run youth groups across Bristol. Numbers are lower than typical youth groups and the content is based around the young person's interests. We commission FACE to run the Bristol Autism Project.
Advanced Project Workers provide support to children and young people who would be otherwise unable to access the community groups. This support involves working with the child or young person and their family, in their homes and local communities.
The goal of the project is to increase the child or young person's social connection and education opportunities.
Who can be referred
To be referred, the child or young person must:
- be attending school part time or not at all
- have a social communication need (a child or young person does not need a formal diagnosis of autism to access this service)
- be experiencing high levels of anxiety that impact their daily life (a child or young person does not need a formal diagnosis of anxiety to access this service)
- be experiencing social isolation (for example, school avoidance or significantly reduced school attendance)
- live in Bristol
- be aged 8 to 18
The project is not taking referrals for children and young people who attend school full time.
Refer a child or young person
Anyone can refer a child or young person and their family, including:
- the child or young person
- a parent or carer
- parent carer advocates
- school based professionals (such as SENDCos, speech and language therapists and specialist teachers)
- charities and community groups
- external education professionals (such as the Bristol Autism Team, educational psychologists or The Hope Virtual School)
- social care professionals
If you make a referral on behalf of a parent, carer or child or young person:
- get the parent or carer's consent first
- speak to the child or young person first and get their consent, especially if they're over the age of 14
Referrals are reviewed at a monthly panel meeting. The team may contact the family before making a decision about what support they can offer.
To request the referral form, email pathways@bristol.gov.uk
Advice and support for autistic girls
- National Autistic Society: autistic women and girls
- Nasen: Girls and autism
- Auti-Ms: Girls have Autism too! Go to https://www.girlshaveautismtoo.org.uk/ (opens new window)
- Neon Daisy: for autistic girls or those who find socialising tricky, their Facebook page promotes events run by parents and carers
Short breaks for disabled children
You can find information about the different types of short breaks available to disabled children and their families.
Holiday activities with the Bristol Autism Project
FACE, a youth and community charity based in Filton run the Bristol Autism Project. This is a holiday activities programme for 4 to 18 year olds who live in Bristol. The activities are also open to siblings and family members.
Families must be a member of the Bristol Autism Project to sign up for their holiday activities. Fill in the registration form and email it to bap@facecharity.org.uk
Local groups
Bristol Autism Support (BAS)
A not for profit social enterprise. It provides information, support and training for parents and carers of autistic children, either diagnosed, undiagnosed or suspected in:
- Bristol
- North Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
There are more support services for parents on Advice and support for parents and carers page.
What autism is and what to do if you think your child is autistic.
Autism is a lifelong condition that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them.
Autism is known as a spectrum condition (ASC), which means each autistic person will be affected differently. It is still sometimes referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Asperger's Syndrome.
Autism can be understood as a neurological difference in brain development, with key differences in the areas of:
- language and communication
- social awareness and emotional literacy
- flexibility of thought
- sensory processing
Find out more about autism and its spectrum of diagnosis on the National Autistic Society's website Go to https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asd.aspx (opens new window) and the Autism Education Trust website Go to https://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/about/what-is-autism (opens new window).
Ambitious about Autism have a collection of videos and blogs, featuring young autistic people talking about diagnosis, identity and their experiences.
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West have a collection of films and fact-sheets Go to https://arc-w.nihr.ac.uk/research/projects/evidence-based-short-films-about-autism-for-the-somali-community/ (opens new window) made with the Somali community in Bristol.
If you think your child might be autistic
Your child is under five years old
You can talk about your concerns with:
- your GP
- your local Children's Centre inclusion lead
- your child's nursery manager
- the speech and language therapy service Go to http://cchp.nhs.uk/cchp/explore-cchp/childrens-speech-language-therapy (opens new window)
- the early years portage and inclusion service
- the health visiting service Go to http://cchp.nhs.uk/cchp/explore-cchp/health-visiting (opens new window)
Your child is over five years old
If your child goes to school, speak to their school's:
- class teacher
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
You can also:
- talk about your concerns with your GP
- contact the speech and language therapy service Go to http://cchp.nhs.uk/explore-cchp/childrens-speech-language-therapy/childrens-slt-how-get-help (opens new window)
Read about support available after diagnosis of autism.
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