Practitioner-Led Action Research 2014-15Paul BurnettNorth 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)

Background (personal)English/maths tutor since 2004Worked with many learners with

autism during this timeInterest in autism developedPost Graduate Certificate in Autism

(Sheffield Hallam University) November 2013 – August 2014

How can I put this to good use?

Background (wider implications)Around 1 in 100 people in the UK

have autism 1

There is NO cure for autism but a wide range of strategies can help people with the condition 2

Fewer than 1 in 4 people with autism access education beyond school 3

Research questionHow can we improve the services

we offer to people with autism?

Research strandsAutism training/CPD – personal

and staff

Initial assessment of needs ongoing support – person with autism

Networking/raising profile

Method – training/CPDPersonalMaking sense of

autism. Two day training for practitioners. Autism Education Trust 4

Read further literature about autism

StaffOwn Autism

Awareness trainingNorth Lincs Council

Intralinc autism training

Ad-hoc support

Method – initial assessment/ongoing supportAll potential learners undergo initial

assessmentPeople with autism undertake

additional specific assessmentShare findings/support needs with

tutor(s)Ongoing support throughout course

offered (email contact) for learners with autism

Method – networking/raising profileNorth Lincolnshire Autism

Partnership Board (health, education, social care, charities, housing, etc)

Local Learning Disabilities/Vulnerable Provider Network Group (education)

Research problems and solutionsProblemsSmall sample size (our

cohort is also 1:100)Few new learners with

autism Intralinc staff training –

poor responseSnow on my training

days!First initial assessment

proforma didn’t fully address needs

SolutionsContinue networking

though new groups/existing contacts

Reminder email sent re: online training

Rescheduled training

Amended accordingly

The futureShare ideas with other providers

through network groups

Continue to offer support service and amend to meet changing requirements

Persevere with staff training issues!

References1 National Autistic Society (NAS)

http://www.autism.org.uk/0078742 National Health Service (NHS)

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autistic-spectrum-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx

3 Ambitious about Autism http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/articles/stats-and-facts

4 Autism Education Trust http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/aet%20programme.aspx