TAG Tots - Supporting parents and carers
The Autism Group is a Maidenhead based charity, committed to supporting and enhancing the lives of young people on the spectrum, their parents and carers. We offer a warm, well informed welcome through our special interest clubs, workshops and parent support services.
We know the struggles that parents and carers are having on a regular basis. They tell us that they feel uncomfortable joining mainstream parenting groups for fear of being judged and it was because of this clear need that we applied to the Innovation Fund to run support and information sessions for parents/carers whose preschool children have an Autism diagnosis or are on the pathway to assessment.
We already offer workshops and 1-1 support as part of our work with GEMS - Autism and ADHD support services East Berkshire. However, we recognise the importance of bringing parents together to share their experiences as a reinforcement to learning and to reduce their feelings of isolation.
We operate a crèche alongside the parent sessions to better facilitate attendance and provide the chance to demonstrate strategies to help parents help their children and to introduce some structure that mirrors what the children might expect to see in the Foundation stage of school - eg practice sitting in a group circle for snack time/ tidy up time
Getting the right venue was important to us and we have partnered with Larchfield Children’s Centre in Maidenhead where the group meets. Our parent support session are facilitated by two of our autism trained support workers who have been delighted to be working with pre-school children in such an ideal environment. Larchfield Children’s Centre has toys, a sensory room and a small enclosed outdoor area, is close to the town centre, on bus routes and has local on-street parking.
The space has enabled parents to mingle with each other and see their children being supported by autism trained workers using tried and tested strategies which they could then use themselves in the home environment.
It feels so positive to be bringing together a like-minded set of parents with young children, recently diagnosed, and to be able to offer them support and information as well as facilitating a group that has already begun to form bonds and friendships outside of our sessions.
The Children’s Centres consider this is much needed and are very keen to work with us going forwards: The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Family Support Worker for Early Years, identified families for our pilot group and is asked to attend the groups on occasion. We know of nothing like this currently running in the area and understand the isolation parents describe.
The Innovation Fund has not only provided us with the opportunity to test this idea but also connected us with key members of staff from supportive organisations who have been able to input to our plans, providing advice and guidance.
We would like to expand this type of support group across the other local authorities once we are sure we have the best practicable model shaped by listening to parents, carers, families and our partners.
You can view a copy of our original Innovation Fund application presentation HERE