Family learning courses and seminars for parents and carers
Family Learning courses and seminars for parents and carers
What Family Learning courses we offer and how to add yourself to the waiting list for one.
All our courses and seminars are run by trainers who have previously run National Autistic Society (NAS) family training courses.
The courses are free for families and carers.
All courses will be online because of coronavirus (COVID-19)
If you're already on the waiting list, you'll be contacted and offered a new date.
To join the waiting list, fill in the referral form at the bottom of this page and email it to autismfamilycourses@bristol.gov.uk
Bristol Autism Team Key Facts workshop for 3 to 9 year olds
The Key Facts workshop is a free one day course for parents or carers of a child aged 3 to 9 years who:
- has recently been diagnosed with autism
- is going through the diagnosis process
The course covers:
- understanding autism
- key strategies for supporting communication, sensory needs and behaviour
- education
- the services and support that are available to you
You'll receive a copy of the presentation as PDF by email.
National Autistic Society (NAS) EarlyBird Programme for 2 to 5 year olds
The NAS EarlyBird Programme is a three month course for parents and carers of children between two and five years old, with a diagnosis of autism.
The NAS EarlyBird programme works with parents to help them:
- understand their child’s autism
- develop their child’s communication skills
- use and apply practical strategies to manage their child’s behaviour
It combines:
- group training
- individual sessions for parents or carers
- home visit sessions with the child and parent or carer
Parents and carers need to commit to:
- a weekly two and a half hour training session, for 8 weeks
- four home visits
- ongoing work with their child during the three month programme
NAS EarlyBird Plus for 5 to 9 year olds
EarlyBird Plus is aimed at parents and carers of autistic children aged five and under ten and is delivered over a three-month period.
The EarlyBird Plus Programme consists of eight sessions, each of which are 2.5 hours in length, and two home visits.
The content of the programme addresses three strands in a specific order. The initial sessions support parents to develop their understanding of autism and encourage them to consider how the key areas of difference impact on their child. The programme then moves on to look at communication differences before thinking about and discussing behaviour.
Teenage Life for 9 to 18 year olds
Teenage Life is a course for parents who have a child with autism aged between 9 and 18 years.
This programme is also open to parents whose child is going through the diagnosis process with a social communication and interaction need.
Teenage Life is a five session course covering:
- what autism is
- SEND and education
- self esteem
- behaviour difficulties
- puberty and sexuality
Each session lasts for 2.5 hours. The course has a maximum of eight families attending.
Each family can bring up to two family members, for example grandparents, but not siblings or young people.
One day workshops for 9 to 18 year olds
We also throughout the year run one day workshops.
The one day Key Facts Autism course covers:
- what is Autism
- education
- self esteem
- behaviour difficulties
- puberty and sexuality
We also run one day workshops on topics such as:
- Autism and anxiety
- managing anger
- preparing for adulthood
Each workshop session is four hours long.
These workshops are open to parents whose child is going through the diagnosis process or has social communication and interaction needs.
How to add yourself to the waiting list
Use our form to add yourself to the waiting list for our online courses.
Contact us
For more details, contact:
Family Learning Courses Admin Support Officer
Bristol Autism Team
Family Learning and Family Support Hub
Bristol Autism Team (CH)
P O Box 3399
Bristol
BS1 9NE