The Early Bird Programme The N.A.S. Early Bird Programme is a three-month programme designed to help you understand your child's autism and find ways to communicate, interact and generally make contact. Parents will learn how to understand a child's behaviours,  to pre-empt and cope with problems. The scheme was designed by the National Autistic Society,  who operate a training school near Barnsley,  South Yorkshire.   They have trained and licensed more than 180 teams to operate the programme in the British Isles,  with more in Europe and even a team in Japan and New Zealand. Up to two parents (or carers) from the family will commit to a weekly group training session of about two-and-a-half hours for about eight weeks plus individual home visits for three weeks. The group sessions involve up to six families  at a time.                                                                                                                     Link to NAS Early Bird Site Early Bird is for the parents of a pre- school child with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.   For parents of a child who has received a later diagnosis and the child is between four and eight years old, there is available-                             The Early Bird Plus Programme The N.A.S. Early Bird Plus programme involves eight weekly group sessions, again of about  two- and-a-half hours, plus two home visits during a three-month period with a follow-up session three months after the program ends. Two places on the course are allocated to each family, with a third place available for a professional who works with the child,  e.g. a classroom support assistant, or speech and language therapist, nurserynurse etc.   The Early Bird Plus programme is only available in some areas of the country, but we are fortunate in Lincolnshire to have both programmes delivered by professionals who have been trained at the National Autistic Society Early Bird Centre at Barnsley.  Early Bird Plus was first held in the county of Linconshire in 2004 and in the year to Sept  2009 there were eight programmes delivered. The programmes are held at various locations  in the county to meet the local demand. Those who wish to seek further information and perhaps register an interest,  can find the contact details at the bottom of the page.                                                                               Link to NAS Early Bird Plus Page               Contact Information      Earlybird Team      Lincolnshire County Psychology Service      Lincoln Base      49 Newland      LINCOLN      LN1 1YQ     Tel   01522  554673       Email   earlybird@lincolnshire.gov.uk                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Return to Top