Supporting Autistic Children in the Early Years
Date:
Thursday 27th February 2025
Thursday 16th October 2025
Time:
9:00am – 3:30pm
Venue:
The Autism Training Hub, Building 21, Suttor Street, Gladesville Sydney
Cost:
$280
Course Description
The early years of learning and development are foundational for all children but are particularly important for Autistic children who often require additional considerations and adjustments to support their engagement within the early childhood setting. This course is specifically designed for Early Childhood Educators who are keen to foster participation and inclusion of all children in the Early Learning setting including children with diverse needs. The full day course will help improve educators understanding of Autism by exploring four fundamental topic areas.
Firstly, the course explores differences in the way Autistic children process information. Secondly, it addresses communication and a range of considerations in exploring the communication profile of students, both receptive and expressive communication. It also explores sensory processing differences and how these are different for Autistic children. Finally, the course looks at the importance of using routines and how they support Autistic children to become more active and engaged members of their Early Years setting. The use of routines in supporting transitions will also be explored.
Educators are offered practical strategies for supporting all of these key considerations for Autistic children, in particular related to early childhood learning environments and teaching and learning experiences in these settings.
Topic 1: Cognitive Differences
Participants will:
• Broaden their understanding of Autism to include the different strengths and preferences Autistic children have in thinking, socialising and processing information from the world around them
• Explore some of the challenges that Autistic children may experience in your early childhood setting
• Consider how practical supports and strategies might be implemented in your setting to enhance a child’s independence and engagement
Topic 2: Communication Supports
Participants will:
• Understand how to support the comprehension of children in an early childhood setting
• Acknowledge the different ways children communicate
• Multimodal communication
• Echolalia (gestalt language processing)
• Communication as a function of behaviour
• Learn about key strategies to support a child’s understanding and use of communication
• Brainstorm practical strategies to implement with a focus child
Topic 3: Sensory Processing
Participants will:
• Develop an understanding of sensory processing
• Acknowledge the impact of sensory processing throughout the day
• Consider how sensory processing styles may present within the early childhood setting
• Learn about key strategies for supporting sensory processing
Topic 4: Routines and Transitions
Participants will:
• Understand the importance of establishing routines to help children learn
• Learn how to establish routines
• Understand what is involved in a transition
• Learn creative strategies to support transitions
Presenter – Cheryl Toth
Cheryl has worked at Giant Steps since 2017. Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Health Science (honours) and Masters of Occupational Therapy from the University of Western Sydney. She is currently completing her PhD titled “Cognitive strategies to help improve function for children with spinal cord injury or disease”.
Cheryl is particularly interested in working with children and young adults with autism and disabilities and has a growing interest in the ways cognitive rehabilitation can impact children with spinal cord injuries. Cheryl is passionate about assisting children to progress in their levels of independence and maintain or improve personal productivity in self-care skills, emotions, regulation, sensory processing, engagement and overall quality of life. Cheryl enjoys working as a part of a transdisciplinary team to support children not only in a classroom but also in the community to generalise skills across all contexts.
Presenter – Sarah Rawlins
Sarah holds a Master of Special Education, University of Newcastle, Bachelor of Education (Music Education), University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Music Therapy.
She has worked closely with both families and mainstream Early Childhood education and care settings to foster and support successful partnerships and collaborative teams around the child and family. Additionally, she has provided training and support to mainstream settings to build capacity and develop quality inclusive practices to support the inclusion of all children within Early Childhood settings.
For enquiries specific to this course please contact autismhub@giantsteps.net.au
The Autism Hub professional learning courses aim to increase participants knowledge and confidence to best support the learning of autistic children and adults. Proudly supported by Future Generation Australia.
For enquiries specific to this course please contact autismhub@giantsteps.net.au
Face-to-face professional learning courses are held in accordance with Covid-19 health regulations. Please note, dates are subject to change dependant on Covid-19 health advice. In the event of a course date changing, all participants will be contacted and registrations will be transferred to the new date.
The Autism Hub professional learning courses aim to increase participants knowledge and confidence to best support the learning of autistic children and adults. Proudly supported by Future Generation Australia.
