‘Raising staff awareness and conducting a school audit in a

large secondary school: The Pros and Cons.’

Deborah Millington and

Stuart Gopsill

Connah’s Quay High School, Flintshire

Raising Staff Awareness

• Initial ASD training

• Resources - posters, literature, media

• Whole staff inset

• List of characteristics

• LINK teacher

• Future staff meeting agenda item

Activity 1

Scenarios

• There are a list a potential problems you may encounter in the envelope

• Discuss amongst you how you could overcome these

Conducting a school audit

• Characteristics

• Link teacher meeting - names

• Identification of students

Activity 2

Pen portraits

• Look at the pen portraits of fictitious pupils

• Decide which of them would require intervention as a pupil with ASD

Pros and Cons

• Pros • Identification of students• Improved relationships –

staff, pupils and parents• Improved learning

environment• Corporate responsibility• Raised awareness• Happier child• Staff expertise

• Cons• Time consuming• Communication • Variable staff

commitment• Lack of staff expertise• Unchartered water

Next Steps

• Gather evidence

• Consultation with external agency and parent / carer

• Referral

• Action Plan