Support for children with autism at school
Children on the autism spectrum often find school to be noisy, unpredictable and full of unwritten rules. This takes a lot of energy – and can quickly obscure the immense potential within every child. Our school support workers create the calm and structure your child needs to learn, participate and be themselves again. As much support as necessary, as little as possible.
Free consultation How to apply
How autism manifests in everyday school life
Every child on the spectrum is different. However, families particularly often experience the following situations:
- Sensory overload: Noise, light and commotion in the classroom and playground become too much – leading to withdrawal (shutdown) or overwhelm (meltdown).
- Transitions and changes: Changing subjects, supply teachers, school trips or a changed timetable can be unsettling if the routine isn’t clear.
- Social situations: Unwritten rules, irony and group work are difficult to decipher – misunderstandings and conflicts can easily arise.
- Understanding tasks: Open-ended or multi-part tasks seem overwhelming, even though the ability is there.
- Strengths that go unnoticed: In-depth specialist knowledge, precision and reliability often fail to shine through in the hustle and bustle.
How our support helps
We don’t focus on simply ‘making things work’, but on what your child really needs:
- Structure and predictability through visual plans and clear routines → find out more in our ‘Structuring & Visual Plans’ method.
- Calm rather than escalation: We recognise when a child is becoming overwhelmed at an early stage and reduce demands before things get out of hand → Low-Arousal & De-escalation.
- Social support: We explain situations, facilitate group work and mediate in conflicts → our methods.
- Making tasks manageable: breaking large tasks down into steps without taking over the teaching – that remains the teacher’s responsibility.
- Independence as a goal: We deliberately withdraw our support as soon as your child no longer needs it.
Legal basis & application
In cases of autism, the Youth Welfare Office is usually responsible: school support is applied for as integration assistance for (impending) mental disability under Section 35a of SGB VIII. If there is also an intellectual disability, the application for integration support is made to the social services office under Section 112 of SGB IX. We will work with you to determine which route is the right one – and guide you through the entire process.
Qualifications of our support workers
Supporting children with autism requires specialist knowledge. Our school support workers are selected through a multi-stage process and trained at our own Academy – including in autism-specific approaches, sensory regulation and de-escalation. This ensures that your child has someone by their side who understands what they need.
Frequently asked questions
Will my child with autism automatically be allocated a school support worker?
No. The decisive factor is the individual need for support, not the diagnosis alone. We will work with you to assess whether a support worker is appropriate and eligible for funding.
Who decides on approval?
The relevant funding body – in the case of autism, this is usually the Youth Welfare Office (Section 35a of Book VIII of the Social Code). The school and, where applicable, the MSD will provide their assessment.
Does my child have to attend a special school?
No. School support is available at mainstream schools as well as at special schools. The aim is to enable participation in the chosen environment.
How soon can this start?
That depends on the application and approval. We start looking for a suitable support worker at the same time, so that things can move quickly once approval has been granted.
Is the support always one-to-one?
Often yes, but sometimes as a shared support arrangement for several children. The best option depends on your child’s needs.
Let’s talk about your child
In a free initial consultation, we’ll discuss your child’s needs, the application process and the next steps – with no obligation.
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Our own Splash Academy · Multi-stage selection process · Support at mainstream and special schools
This page is for information purposes only and does not replace medical or legal advice. The decision as to whether school support is appropriate and eligible for funding is made by the relevant funding body on a case-by-case basis.