Autism Education Trust (AET)
Who we are
Shared Vision for Neuroinclusive Education
The Autism Education Trust (AET) was formed as a partnership in 2007 to help improve the quality of education for all autistic children and young people.
We are a not-for-profit organisation supported by the Department for Education and founded by two national autism charities – the National Autistic Society and Ambitious about Autism.
We support schools and trusts to improve educational access, experience and outcomes for autistic children and young people.
Our work centres around upskilling educational professionals and supporting school and trust leaders to promote a neuroinclusive education experience for learners through our professional development training and peer learning programmes.
Our Vision: Our World of Neuroinclusive Education
Our vision is a world where all autistic children and young people experience a neuroinclusive education that promotes their wellbeing.
Our Mission: Empowering the Education Workforce
Our mission is to empower every educational professional with the right training, support and resources to create a neuroinclusive learning environment where all autistic learners can achieve their full potential.
Core Principles:
Our Work is guided by three core principles:
- Upskilling the education workforce: We offer comprehensive training programmes that equip educators with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to effectively support autistic students.
- Supporting system leaders: We support schools and trusts to foster a culture of inclusivity. We work closely with system leaders and help to implement culture change that promotes the wellbeing of autistic students across whole schools and trusts.
- Promoting good autism practice: Our training materials are all co-produced with autistic individuals, leading autism and topic experts, and parents and carers. Our training reflects the latest evidence-based research and lived experiences of autistic people and is the industry ‘gold standard’ in good autism practice.
What we do
A Commitment to Excellence
When you partner with the AET, you unlock access to award-winning, evidence-based training programmes that are DfE supported. All our materials are uniquely co-created with autistic individuals, their families and leading autism experts.
- Tailored Training Programme for Schools and MATs (Work-Based CPD Training)
Our schools and trusts training programme is designed to be flexibly delivered in-house to meet the needs of your school or trust. When every member of your workforce is trained to a consistent and high standard, a school-wide culture of inclusivity and support can be created.
- Strategic Partnership and Leadership Support
We work closely with schools and trusts leaders to provide strategic support and guidance on embedding good autism practice. Our collaborative approach ensures that the changes implemented have a long-lasting, positive impact on all students and staff.
- Co-Created Resources for Every Classroom
Our extensive library of practical resources is built upon the lived experiences of autistic individuals and the expertise of leading professionals. Our toolkits, lesson plans, guides, and interactive materials are designed to seamlessly integrate into any classroom routine, providing tools and strategies to support autistic learners effectively.
- Ongoing Support and Measurable Impact
Schools and trusts working with our highly experienced team benefit from access to a network of autism experts and follow-up consultations, ensuring the resources and guidance to continue long-term professional development of the workforce.
The in-house delivery of our training programme empowers and inspires an appointed member of staff (the ‘Autism Champion’) to share knowledge and skills across a whole setting - ensuring consistency of quality and best practice, whilst also saving practitioner training time, and meeting budgetary constraints.
When your school or trust joins the AET's CPD Training Programme it can expect positive outcomes for its neurodivergent learners, and a more confident and skilled workforce.
Partner with the AET and enjoy building a reputation for inclusivity, leadership and neuroinclusive provision in your school and trust.
How we help
The Autism Education Trust (AET) is dedicated to improving outcomes for neurodivergent learners, including autistic students, through evidence-based, CPD accredited professional development programmes.
At the heart of the AET is the belief that good outcomes can only be achieved by working in partnership.
The AET partnership of autistic young people, parents/carers, academics and professionals, coupled with our approach to research and evidence based resources, means that we have expert knowledge to share.
AET training programmes are relevant, evidence-based and robust enough to meet the practical challenges schools and trusts face, whilst remaining sensitive to time and budgetary constraints.
Our acclaimed video ‘
Why Autism is a Difference not a Deficit’ describes autism from a unique and strengths-based approach. We encourage all education professionals and their communities to watch and share this video to promote a better and wider understanding of autism.
By partnering with the AET, schools and trusts are investing in expertise that supports a comprehensive, consistent and affordable approach to professional development, and creates neuroinclusive learning spaces for all to thrive.
