Autism Advisory Service

The Lambeth Autism Advisory Service (LAAS) gives advice, support and training to schools and families and helps them to meet the needs of children and young people with autism.

We work with any child already diagnosed with autism or on an assessment waiting list.  

Our team of specialist teachers are trained to use methods like TEACCH, Attention Autism, SCERTS, Social Stories.

We promote the AET National Autism Standards across schools, and support regular evaluation of effective, inclusive practice. 

We work with:

  • parents and carers 
  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinators (SENDCOs) and other school staff 
  • Educational Psychologists (EP), Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs) 
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) 
  • Children’s Services staff 

Support for parents and carers 

We run NAS Early Bird Plus and Teen Life courses for parents during school term-time. 

We also hold half-termly drop-in parents' support groups and workshops. They are held across mainstream schools across Lambeth. Parents and carers can: 

  • meet other parents of children and young people with autism 
  • share experiences 
  • discuss strategies and share ideas with both parents and professionals 

We also support schools to hold their own coffee mornings to help parents meet, talk and share their experiences. 

This academic year, the half-termly parent sessions will be open to all families across all schools and provisions The key topics are as follows, but there will be flexibility for parents to request certain additional areas too. 

Key topics are:

  • Understanding Autism and Strategies
  • Sensory Awareness
  • Autism and Co-occurring Conditions
  • Anxiety and Social, Emotional and Mental Health
  • Understanding Behaviour
  • Transitions and Changes

If you know who your designated advisory teacher is, please contact them directly for more information.

For those parents who do not know or have access to an advisory teacher, please email LAAS@lambeth.gov.uk and you will be assigned one of the team. 

Support for schools 

We work closely with Lambeth primary and secondary schools to create inclusive and autism-friendly learning environments. 

Our support allows schools to help children and young people reach their full academic and social potential and become more independent. We help school staff understand autism better and use the best practice

The local authority funds the service. Every school is offered an agreed level of monitoring and support. 

We provide the following to all primary and secondary schools: 

  • free training and workshops across the school year for primary and secondary school staff 
  • advice and modelling of resources and interventions 
  • tailored in-school training from their advisory teacher 

This academic year, the free half-termly professional sessions will be open to all school staff and services across Lambeth. All of the professional workshops will be held at Lansdowne School.

The key topics are as follows:

  • Understanding Autism and Strategies 
  • Sensory Awareness 
  • Anxiety and Social, Emotional and Mental Health 
  • Understanding Behaviour 
  • Autism and Co-occurring Conditions 
  • Transitions and Changes

Please contact your advisory teacher to reserve a place on the workshops.

Support for other professionals 

We work with other Lambeth professionals, like EPs, SLTs, OTs, health professionals and social care practitioners. This helps make sure children get the best all round support and make good progress. This support is usually started by the school SENDCO once a referral has been made. 

Contact us

You can contact the LAAS by: