A Guide for Families and Learners Who Would Like Additional Support

Autism support in Northumberland 2015-2016

A guide for families and learners who would like additional support.

Autism is also called Autistic Spectrum Disorder or ASD. It affects between 1 and 2 in every hundred children in England.

Many autistic learners are independent and do well in school and in adult life with low levels of support.

Some autistic learners will need higher levels of help as children, as young people and as adults.

This guide was written to help you quickly find support in Northumberland. It does not list everything that is available but it does tell you how to get in touch with people who will help you find what you need.

Where to start

Children who are 4 years old or younger
If your child is pre-school age and may be autistic these people will help you:
Portage Team
contact details / NHS Health Visitor
contact details / Your childcare provider or nursery
The Portage Team is a local authority service for pre-school children who have any kind of special need or disability.
They help families, childcare providers and nurseries to support children. / All young children can be supported by a Health Visitor.
They will make sure you have the Health support you need, including services for children who may be autistic.
Your GP can also help. / If your child attends childcare or a nursery there will be a member of staff who knows how to get in touch with the local authority to ask for advice or help.
They will get in touch with one of our specialist staff in the Portage Team or Early Years Team.
Children who are school-age, to 16 years
For school-age children the main starting point is at school, although you may also want to contact your GP or CYPS if you have health concerns about autism:
The SENDCO
(SEND coordinator at the school) / NHS Children and Young Peoples Service
(also called CYPS)
All academies and local authority schools must have a SENDCO. They have had training to help children when they have additional needs at school.
The school must also publish an SEN Information Report on their website. It lists all the different kinds of help the school can offer, including for ASD.
If you go somewhere else for your education – such as a college or independent school – they will tell you who helps SEND learners. / CYPS can help ASD young people with their health needs. Referrals are accepted from any professional working with a child or young person or their family, and self-referrals can be made. Referrals can be made in writing or by telephone.
Their contact details are: Northgate Hospital,
Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3BP
Tel: 01670 394 256 (8am – 8pm Mon – Fri)
Your GP can also help.
Post-16 learners, aged 16-18 years
Where you ask for help depends upon the choices you have made about education, employment or training:
At school in 6th form / At college or in training / NHS Children and Young Peoples Service
(also called CYPS)
Contact your SENDCO, as explained above.
The local authority Careers Guidance Team can also help if you are thinking about moving on to something new.
Contact details: / Your college will have a lead for SEND who will help you. There will also be information about SEND support on the college website.
Not all training providers will have a lead for SEND. If not, please contact the Careers Guidance Team. / For Health needs.
See contact details in the table above.
Your GP can also help.
Adult learners, aged 18 years plus
If you are still in learning or training and have an Education Health & Care Plan you may still receive help from the local authority – please contact the Careers Guidance Team.
If you are unemployed, in employment, at university or in school / college without an EHC plan these are your contacts:
At college or university / Help with independent living / NHS
There will be a lead person to help learners with SEND. Then website or information desk will
The local authority Careers Guidance Team can also help if you younger than 25 years and thinking about moving on to something new. / If you need help to become more independent you can seek advice from Adult Social Care.
Contact details: 01670 536400
or / Northumberland, Tyneand Wear NHS Foundation Trust - mental health and disability trust
Referral to the service is usually through your GP.

Other things to consider:

If you need information, advice and support about SEND issues or other services and organisations that can help,you can contact the Northumberland SEND Information, Advice and Support Service on 01670 623555 or

OR… search on the internet for Northumberland SEND Local Offer, which contains all the latest SEND information.

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