This resource offers advice based on the author's own experience as a practitioner and provides the reader with sound knowledge of the area to support and inform practice.

′An extremely helpful, compact guide for anyone working in early years education... provides clear information for all professionals who work with children from birth to five with autistic spectrum disorders... A short, accessible and reader-friendly book that addresses the key issues′ - Nursery Education Looking at the early years of a child′s life, this book provides information on the services that are available for those from birth to five years, and addresses issues related to identification, assessment, teaching and learning and family support. It is illustrated with case studies provided by parents and practitioners. The following areas are discussed: o the Code of Practice for SEN & the SEN and Disability Discrimination Act o identification and assessment o good practice examples of multi-agency collaboration and provision o partnership with parents o social skills and behaviour o alternative intervention and home-based programmes o the transition from pre-school to school. Professionals in Health, Social Services and Education, pre-school playgroups, nursery staff, parents and carers will all find this book useful. Conference Information The Good Autism Practice (GAP) conference is based on the successful foundations of the Good Autism Practice (GAP) journal, which provides a platform for acknowledging and sharing good practice in autism.

This book will help practitioners employ appropriate teaching and learning strategies when working with autistic spectrum disorder students.

The book provides focus on three areas of difficulties for children with autism, as well as the role of early years practitioners.

The authors describe the characteristics of autism as they present themselves in the early years, consider the nature of autism and the issues surrounding assessment and diagnosis, and offer practical strategies for effective intervention.

Provides practitioners, students, and parents with current examples of good practice and updated information on interagency issues and working with parents.

Autism is a baffling brain disorder that profoundly affects children's communication and social skills. This work provides a reference guide to this disease. It includes approximately 500 entries that address the different types of autism, causes and treatments, institutions, associations, leading scientists and research, social impact, and more.

′This resource will be very valuable for professionals planning in-service training to assist settings to develop as Autistic Spectrum Disorder-friendly environments...the training would also help all settings become truly inclusive and friendly for all children and young people′ - Special Children Includes CD-Rom A growing number of pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are educated in mainstream settings. To support them effectively and maximise their learning potential, it is essential that all school staff fully understand their needs. This complete training package can be delivered during staff meetings and on INSET days, to ensure autism-friendly practice throughout the school. This toolkit demonstrates the value of using self-evaluation tools to improve services and includes: - a CD Rom with PowerPoint slides - guidance on how best to deliver INSET - activities and case studies to facilitate discussion - discussions of issues for consideration in relation to School Access Plans and the Disability Equality Duty - advice on useful resources, literature and web sites. Teachers, SENCOs and management staff in primary and secondary schools will find this an essential training resource.

In order to achieve the best outcomes for all children and young people, schools must work in partnership with students, parents, other professionals and the wider community. In this changing landscape of education, the notion of the traditional school is fast disappearing. This book looks at what is possible in this exciting new world, and how some teachers and other professionals are putting into practice the best principles of multi-agency working. Finding innovative ways of supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in this context is more important than ever, as children are being diagnosed with increasingly complex needs. Those working with children need to be aware of the fresh opportunities that are opening up and which can help every individual to maximise their full potential. This book examines how partnership working affects children with SEND by considering: - the diversity of additional needs; - the role of specialist schools that have an SEN specialism; - partnership working between mainstream and special schools; - partnership working with groups of schools, including those that are co-located or federated; - the growth of academies and trust schools; - schools and other services working together; - the work of extended schools and children′s centres; - a wide range of other services for children, young people and families. Filled with case studies of effective practice from real schools and services, this book is a must-have for those looking at how to work together to achieve positive outcomes for all. Rona Tutt OBE is a Past President of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and works as a consultant, writer and researcher on all matters relating to education in general, and special educational needs and disabilities in particular.

This ground-breaking book gives an accessible overview and synthesis of current knowledge of relevance to the development of excellence in autism education. By situating understandings of autism within a ‘bio-psycho-social-insider’ framework, the book offers fresh insights and new ways of thinking that bring together global pedagogic practice, research, policy, and the insider perspective. Guldberg critiques current notions of Evidence-Based Practice and suggests ways of bridging the research-practice gap. She explores the interrelationship between inclusive principles, distinctive group learning needs and the individual needs of the child or young person. Eight principles of good autism practice provide a helpful framework for how education settings and practitioners can adapt classroom environments and teaching so that autistic children and young people can thrive. Written for anyone who wants to make a difference to the lives of autistic pupils, Developing Excellence in Autism Practice provides practitioners and students on education courses with tools for best practices, and shows how to draw on these to implement true positive change in the classroom.