Advisory Teaching Service - wonderful support

[Triggles]

In our area (Gloucestershire) we have the Advisory Teaching Service (ATS) that comes in and works with DS2. There are actually 2 people - one is a preschool worker (as DS2 is in reception) and another person. They are absolutely brilliant.

They come in for regular assessments, speak to us (parents), teachers, DS2, 1:1, senco, and anyone else that they need to in order to make sure things are going well for DS2. They have put together tons of visual aids and are present for any IEP reviews as well as multiagency meetings. The preschool worker met with me this morning to offer assistance with any visual aids we might like to have at home. She offered to do a home visit, but my home is not "visit-friendly" right now . She was happy to meet me at the school and has offered to make and post to us any visual aids we would like to try. So she is putting together a social story for stranger danger (something we've been struggling to get DS2 to understand), a communication book, 20 "stop" signs to place on various things at home that we are trying to teach him not to touch, and a bunch of small visual cards for a keyring that we can use to show him where we're going now/next and such (supermarket, doctor, and so on). So incredibly helpful - and no hassle whatsoever!! She basically said that any social stories or visuals that we think of that we'd like, just email her and she'll put it together for us.

The reason I'm posting this is that I'm sure there are other children who are very visual learners (like DS2) and if there is an ATS attached to your schools, PLEASE make sure to contact them and see what they can do to help! An absolutely invaluable resource - they have been wonderful for us! From doing a little digging, it appears they have them pretty much everywhere in the country, but I'd never heard of them until our senco brought them in to meet with us.

The advisory service our LEA provides has been brilliant with my boys, too. They are so supportive and full of really good ideas and really good at securing training and funding from various sources.

I think it's something that can be overlooked as parents aren't aware of it. I just wanted to mention them so people will know that these kind of things are available.

Hi Triggles. I'm in Gloucestershire! The advisory teaching service (Communication and Interaction) are fab, aren't they? Someone who works for the LA, but actually seems to be on your side. My DS is 11 and soon moving to secondary, and it comes with a different Advisory Teacher. I'll be so sad to lose our old one. Her report was basically what my DS's statement says. Without her support I don't know what would have happened. She feels like a real friend, must remember it's just her job.

I think in other LAs they have similar services but with different names, outreach, inclusion, autism advisory teachers etc. What I like about ours is that you don't need a DX, so long as they have C & I difficulties. But the school/nursery has to call them in, you can't self -refer I don't think.

I know 3 of the C & I teachers, now, through being a TA myself for a DC with ASD, and so I've been on courses they give. They all seem universally lovely and helpful. So different from other people's stories. Mind you, the LA itself is 'not so good.' My case worker in the SEN team is ignorant as shit not very bright.

PM me if you get lonely!