Understanding Autism for Education Practitioners
Blending the very latest thinking, with contemporary research into autistic experience in the classroom, this course is specifically designed for teachers, Support for Learning Assistants, SENCO, and other teaching professionals.
Understanding Autism for Education Practitioners
Blending the very latest thinking, with contemporary research into autistic experience in the classroom, this course is specifically designed for teachers, Support for Learning Assistants, SENCO, and other teaching professionals.
What You’ll Learn
Creating inclusive learning environments begins with understanding the diverse ways students experience the world. This course is designed for teachers, teaching assistants, school leaders, and support staff who want to better support autistic learners. It introduces key concepts around neurodiversity, communication, and sensory differences, helping education professionals build more supportive, flexible, and inclusive classroom practices.
In this course, you’ll explore what autism means within the wider context of neurodiversity and how our understanding has developed over time. You’ll learn to recognise autism as a developmental difference that can affect communication, social interaction, and thinking styles. The course also covers the impact of sensory differences and how they may influence a learner’s experience in school. Through practical insights and reflective learning, you’ll gain tools to help make your educational setting more accessible and supportive for autistic students.
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Understanding Autism
We’ll introduce autism as a neurodevelopmental difference and explore why the language we use in education shapes how learners are understood and supported.
Barriers in Education
This section looks at the challenges autistic learners may face, from sensory overload in classrooms to communication differences and rigid learning environments.
Creating Inclusive Learning Environments
Finally, you’ll learn practical strategies to make learning more accessible – from adapting teaching approaches and communication to celebrating diverse thinking styles and strengths.
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This course is ideal for teachers, classroom assistants, support staff, and education leaders who want to improve their understanding of autism and make their learning environments more inclusive.
No previous knowledge of autism is required – this course is an accessible introduction to supporting autistic learners and colleagues in education settings.
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By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand autism as a neurodevelopmental difference and why inclusive language is important in education
- Recognise the barriers autistic learners may face in accessing education
- Learn simple, practical strategies to make classrooms and learning spaces more supportive
- Gain confidence in understanding communication needs, sensory differences, and diverse strengths in education
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After this introductory course, you can develop your practice further with Step 2 courses such as Autism and Sensory Processing, or Autism and Communication, to build a deeper understanding of autistic experience in education.
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We also offer autism consultancy in this sector.
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