Autism family support programme

Overview

These support programmes are for families with a child who:

  • has been diagnosed with Autism
  • is aged 16 years or under

The programmes aim to work in partnership with parents to help them:

  • understand their child's autism
  • structure interactions in which communication can develop
  • better understand and support behaviour

These programmes run throughout the year, to find out when the next program is starting, please contact early.bird@southtyneside.gov.uk.

About the programmes

These support programmes are for families with a child who has been diagnosed with Autism.

There are three programmes, depending on the child's age:

  • up to 4 years old - EarlyBird programme
  • between 4 and 10 years old - EarlyBird Plus programme
  • between 10 and 16 years old - Teen Life programme

Aims

The programmes aim to help parents:

  • understand their child's autism
  • structure interactions in which communication can develop
  • better understand and support their child with challenges

Weekly sessions

For each programme, there will be one session per week.

All sessions will take place face-to-face at various locations around South Tyneside.

Sessions will last up to 150 minutes.

The sessions will include:

  • PowerPoint presentations
  • working through the programme handbook (you will get a handbook to use throughout the programme and to keep)
  • discussions to share information and experiences

Children up to 10 years old (EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus)

EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus focus on understanding autism and how that might impact on the child's world at school and home.

We will cover topics including:

  • understanding and supporting sensory differences
  • communication
  • supporting and developing interaction
  • understanding, interpreting and supporting behaviour

The EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus programmes will last for eight weeks (eight sessions) with two home visits.

Sessions will last for 150 minutes.

There will be up to six families in each programme.  

There will be two facilitators from the South Tyneside EarlyBird Team.

Children between 10 and 16 years old (Teen Life)

Teen Life builds on understanding from the EarlyBird programmes. It helps to prepare families to be able to support their child as they move through the teenage years towards adulthood.

We will cover topics including:

  • puberty
  • developing independence skills
  • spending time with other people
  • stress and anxiety
  • understanding the hidden presentation in women and girls
  • self esteem
  • planning for the future

The TeenLife programme will last for 6 weeks (6 sessions).

Sessions will last for 150 minutes.

There will be up to six families in the programme.  

There will be two facilitators (Educational Psychologists):

  • Maria Wilson
  • Claire Camsey

Start date

These programmes run throughout the year, to find out when the next program is starting, please contact early.bird@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Facilitators

The programmes are facilitated by the South Tyneside EarlyBird Team. The team includes:

  • Maria Wilson - Educational Psychology Service
  • Claire Camsey - Educational Psychology Service
  • Nicola Reed - Deputy Lead, Clervaux Nursery School
  • Edelle Salkeld - Portage and Preschool Service

How we store your information

We will store your contact information on a secure database until you complete a programme.

We will hold data in accordance with the data statement you sign when you apply.

How to apply

To sign up for a programme, families must attend an information session which is held via Zoom.

To recieve a link to the meeting, please email early.bird@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Families must receive their diagnosis before attending courses or information meetings.

Contact us

For more information about the programmes call: 

  • Claire Camsey and Maria Wilson: 0191 424 6030
  • Edelle Salkeld: 0191 424 6102 or 07484029990 (term time only)
  • Nicola Reed: 0191 489 7358 (term time only)

Or email Early.Bird@southtyneside.gov.uk

How we will allocate places

We will consider:

  • how long you have been waiting for a course
  • whether you have attended one of our programmes before
  • your child's age and which programme they are eligible for

If you are on our waiting list, we will contact you to see if you want to take part in an online programme. If don't want to, you can wait for an in-person programme or we can remove you from the waiting list.