School ethos and leadership responsibilities

The senior leadership team should ensure that:

• School staff have completed AET Level One training.
  
  
• At least one member of the leadership team has completed AET Level 2 and/or Level 3 training.
  
  
• The AET Autism Standards Audit has been completed and an Action Plan  has been developed which outlines at least one key standard to develop in each of the 4 different themes.
  
  
• The  AET Competency Framework has been considered and individual staff have identified areas of strength and development in order to inform their professional development action plan, using the DfE Teacher Standards within this framework.
  
  
• Associated school policies such as Equality, SEND and Behaviour are implemented and regularly reviewed.
  
  
• All staff in school are aware of the key content in the relevant documents, including:
  
  
  • The SEND Code of Practice (2014)
    
    
  • Equality Act (2010)
    
    
  • NICE guidelines on Autism
    
    
  • Autism Education Trust website information.
    
    
• There is a designated lead for supporting social communication needs in school (this may be the SENCo) who is responsible for:
  
  
  • provide support and guidance to all staff around supporting social communication needs.
    
    
  • being one point of contact for external support services, e.g. health professionals and providers of specialist equipment.
    
    
  • engaging parents/carers in supporting children’s social communication needs.
    
    
  • maintaining awareness of relevant research and policy updates in this area.
    
    
  • identifying the potential risk factors within the vulnerable groups in school.
    
    
  • ensuring that care plans are in place and reviewed when necessary.
    
    
• A team approach to support social communication needs is encouraged. In particular:  
  
  
  • Staff are given encouragement and opportunities to discuss concerns, problem solve and provide support both practically and emotionally to each other.
    
    
  • There are planned opportunities for key staff to share good practice with staff from other schools.
    
    
  • Senior staff actively promote and facilitate these networking and mentoring opportunities.