Mentoring training supporting autistic children and young people in school

April is World Autism Acceptance Month and Worcestershire County Council is highlighting the impact of that autism mentors are having on autistic children and young people.

World Autism Acceptance Month is an opportunity for everyone to come together and raise awareness, foster acceptance, and create a society where autistic people are supported, understood, and empowered.

Using a neuro-affirming approach and shaped by the voices of autistic individuals, WAM was developed into a structured training programme in 2020, with the first mentors completing their training in January 2021.

Since then, 119 mentors have been trained across Worcestershire schools, helping to create more inclusive and supportive learning environments.

The training empowers school staff with a special interest in autism to become mentors, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to support pupils in understanding their diagnosis through a personalised and supportive approach.

Rather than focusing on specific difficulties such as attendance or anxiety, mentors are guided and supported to have open conversations with the pupil in a balanced approach.

This includes looking at their strengths, likes and interests, as well as differences and difficulties, to help young people better understand themselves and develop strategies for moving forward.

The training is delivered by Specialist Practitioners at Worcestershire County Council’s Autism and Complex Communication Needs (CCN) team, who have captured the positive impact the mentors are having on pupils in their settings.

One of the programme’s many success stories comes from Ethan, a pupil at The Chase High School in Malvern, who has benefited from the support of his mentor Mr. Griffin.

Ethan shared how the programme has given him a trusted adult to talk to:

"It’s just been a good time. Like when I’ve had stress with various things, just to tell Mr. Griffin and share what was bothering me. Just talking about it and come up with ideas to solve whatever the issue is, if possible.”

Ethan’s mother, Dawn, also highlighted the value of the programme in reducing anxiety: "For a lot of autistic children and adults, anxiety plays a huge part in our lives, and it can be quite a barrier to learning. Having that mentor to help reduce that anxiety puts those barriers to learning down and I think allows them to really thrive.”

Stephen Fessey, Team Lead for the Specialist Teaching Service at Worcestershire County Council said: "We’re really pleased to be able to offer the WAM training to schools in Worcestershire and it is fantastic to see the mentors transforming the way we support autistic children and young people. By equipping mentors with the right training and resources, we are fostering environments where pupils feel heard, understood, and empowered to navigate their diagnosis with confidence."

Find out more about WAM training on the Neurodivergence Zone on the SEND Local Offer website.