EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus

The National Autistic Society (NAS) EarlyBird & EarlyBird Plus Programmes are available for families of autistic children under the age of 6 (EarlyBird) and between the ages of 5 & 10 years (EarlyBird Plus) across Dorset. They are delivered at Westfield Arts College in Weymouth.

What is the NAS EarlyBird/ EarlyBird Plus Programme?

These programmes focus on understanding autism and supportive approaches for autistic children.  It consists of 6 group sessions (of 2 ½ hours each), plus an individual home visit, to personalise the Programme content.

Who runs the Programmes?

The Programmes are co-ordinated by Westfield Arts College, Weymouth, and are delivered by teams of Licensed Trainers across Dorset.  Trainers are local professionals with experience and understanding of autism.

Who can attend the programme?

Each family of an autistic child or child on the neurodevelopmental pathway, aged 10 years and below, will be offered three places, two places for parent/carer plus a supporting professional.

What are the aims of the programme?

To empower parents / carers.

To encourage a consistent approach between home and school by supporting parents and professionals together.

To share approaches to support your child now and in the future.

The NAS EarlyBird/ EarlyBird Plus programme will help you to:

Build understanding of your child’s individual autistic profile and how they experience the world around them.

Understand communication styles, how to support communication and using visuals. Develop interaction and communication with your child.

Support your child’s health and wellbeing by exploring experiences, understanding feelings and supporting daily living.

Each session is a mixture of information, activities, videos and sharing/listening to experiences, with time to reflect on how the topic relates to your individual child/family.

The Value of the EarlyBird Course

“We have learnt so much about EarlyBird Plus. We were at a low point feeling like everything was against us and that we wouldn’t be able to understand our child’s needs. Visuals have been key to communication and understanding for our child and us”. (Parents)

“This programme is fantastic. Dealing with an autistic child as a new parent is overwhelming. The advice given has really helped to demystify autism and make home and school life more balanced, and hence, easier” (Parent).

“Being able to reflect on school practice and support staff to understand and adapt provision to meet needs. Highlights the constant analysis needed to make the environment a less anxious place”. (Professional)