School support

Some children and young people with autism and/or social communication needs will require direct support alongside their key staff. 

The Enhanced Provision Team can become involved to help build capacity and develop skills. They work in mainstream primary and secondary schools, as well as specialist school settings. 

We are also a licensed training hub for the Autism Education Trust’s Schools Programme.

In order to request support from the Enhanced Provision Team (via the school SENCO), certain requirements must first be met: 

• the pupil's primary need is autism or social communication
• the placement is at risk of breakdown, and/or 
• the pupil is experiencing a significant transition (e.g. change of school or key stage).

Additional criteria includes:

• The school must already be receiving support from an appropriate educational professional
  • this can include support from an Educational Psychologist, Advisory Teacher, or Speech and Language Therapist
• The whole school staff team must have accessed accredited autism/social communication training within the last three years.
  • being booked for an upcoming event also qualifies
• The school can identify how Enhanced Provision involvement can support their overall autism development as well as the individual pupil.

How to request support

School SENCOs can request support with consent from parents. To begin the process, please request a copy of our application form from the Enhanced Provision Team. Contact details are included on this page. 

Requests for support are considered by one of two Specialist Autism Advisors - Kate Campbell and Kim Kettle. They will work directly with the pupil and alongside key staff for a block of time according to need. Dates will be set to review outcomes and involvement. 

Parents will be asked to give consent for the support at the time the request is made by school. 

Placement breakdown support 

Placement breakdown support will depend on the individual and is likely to be bespoke.  

This usually involves:

• an initial observation of the young person
• a consultation meeting with staff and parents to draft outcomes
• approximately 6 fortnightly sessions of direct support alongside key staff to model approaches and share resources
• another meeting iafter this to review outcomes and discuss next steps. 

Significant transition support 

Significant transition support will depend on the individual and is likely to be bespoke.  

Key Stage 3 and post-16 transitions are requested by the end of term four (before the Easter break, with schools made aware of the deadline date). These transfers are proactively supported into the start of the new academic year. 

Our work to date

In the academic year 2024/25 the team supported 28 placement breakdowns. 76 individual KS3 transitions were also supported from spring 2025. These took place in over 48 North Somerset primary and secondary schools.