Supporting Autism & Dyslexia In Early Childhood Education

Learn How to Identify and Support Autism & Dyslexia in Early Childhood with Proven Special Education Tools

What you'll learn

Understand Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its various types, including Asperger’s and Rett Syndrome

Identify early signs, causes, and symptoms of autism and dyslexia in young learners

Gain insights into the screening, diagnosis, and communication strategies for individuals with autism

Explore learning difficulties associated with dyslexia and how it differs from other developmental conditions

Learn practical classroom interventions for supporting children with autism and dyslexia

Create inclusive learning environments and foster social-emotional growth in neurodiverse learners

Understand the responsibilities of SENCOs and implement school-based support strategies

Recognise the unique strengths and cognitive styles of children with dyslexia and autism

Requirements

No prerequisites required Whether you’re starting fresh or enhancing your existing skills, this course welcomes all learners interested in creating supportive and inclusive early learning environments.

Description

With growing awareness around neurodiversity, early years educators and support staff are expected to play a vital role in ensuring inclusive education. This Supporting Autism & Dyslexia in Early Childhood Education course is a comprehensive, CPD-accredited program designed to equip you with practical knowledge, empathy, and actionable teaching strategies.Every child deserves a fair start in life—but for children with Autism and Dyslexia, early intervention and appropriate support are critical. This in-depth course, Supporting Autism & Dyslexia in Early Childhood Education, is designed for educators, caregivers, and teaching assistants committed to making a real difference in the lives of neurodiverse children.Through a well-structured, CPD-accredited curriculum, you will gain a clear understanding of Special Educational Needs (SEN), with a particular focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Dyslexia in early years settings. From recognising the subtle early signs to exploring the neurological foundations of these conditions, the course provides you with essential tools and actionable teaching strategies for inclusive practice.You’ll begin by examining what Autism is—its social perceptions, types (including Asperger’s, Rett Syndrome, and CDD), and key challenges faced by children with ASD. You'll learn how to communicate effectively with autistic learners, support their cognitive development, and create structured classroom environments using frameworks like S.P.E.L.L. and techniques rooted in child psychology.The second half of the course focuses on Dyslexia, explaining the categories, causes, symptoms, and associated learning difficulties. You will discover how to differentiate Dyslexia from other neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and dyspraxia, and apply practical classroom adaptations that support reading, writing, and confidence building.You’ll also explore the role of assessment, both for Autism and Dyslexia, and learn how to contribute to Individual Education Plans (IEPs), collaborate with SENCOs, and promote emotional resilience in children. Finally, the course highlights the strengths and unique abilities of children with learning differences—helping you shift from a deficit-based approach to a strengths-based perspective.Whether you're working in a nursery, primary classroom, or home setting, this course offers the knowledge and confidence to support neurodiverse learners and foster a truly inclusive early childhood environment.

Overview

Section 1: Intro

Lecture 1 Intro

Section 2: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Lecture 2 2.1 What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Lecture 3 2.2 Global Statistics on Autism

Lecture 4 2.3 Social View on Autism

Lecture 5 2.4 Challenges That People with Autism Face

Section 3: Types of Autism

Lecture 6 3.1 Asperger’s Syndrome.

Lecture 7 3.2 Different Types of Autism

Lecture 8 3.3 Rett Syndrome

Lecture 9 3.4 Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)

Lecture 10 3.5 Kanner’s Syndrome

Lecture 11 3.6 Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

Section 4: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of Autism

Lecture 12 4.1 Autism Symptoms and Signs.

Lecture 13 4.2 Causes of Autism

Lecture 14 4.3 Treatments for Autism

Section 5: Diagnosis of Autism

Lecture 15 5.1 Screening and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Lecture 16 5.2 Diagnosing Autism in Adults.

Lecture 17 5.3 Diagnosing Autism in Children.

Lecture 18 5.4 Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder in Girls.

Section 6: How to Communicate with People Who Have Autism

Lecture 19 6.1 Communication with People with Autism.

Lecture 20 6.2 Communication Challenges.

Lecture 21 6.3 Helpful Strategies to Develop Communication.

Section 7: Cognitive Styles and Functions in Autism

Lecture 22 7.1 Cognitive Style.

Lecture 23 7.2 Attention.

Lecture 24 7.3 Memories According to Preferred Modalities.

Lecture 25 7.4 Perceptual Thinking

Lecture 26 7.5 Sequential and Spatial Thinking

Lecture 27 7.6 Imagination.

Section 8: Autism Awareness

Lecture 28 8.1 Importance of Knowledge in Autism

Lecture 29 8.2 Autism Awareness and Its Purpose

Lecture 30 8.3 Importance of Autism Awareness

Lecture 31 8.4 How Autism Awareness is Helpful

Lecture 32 8.5 Autism Awareness Campaign in the UK

Lecture 33 8.6 World Autism Awareness Day

Lecture 34 8.7 Autism Awareness Ribbon

Section 9: Approaches to Helping People and Children with Autism

Lecture 35 9.1 Autism and Play

Lecture 36 9.2 Social Play Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Lecture 37 9.3 Interventions in Place.

Lecture 38 9.4 Lackings of Social Skills

Lecture 39 9.5 S.P.E.L.L Framework

Section 10: An Overview of Dyslexia

Lecture 40 10.1 What Is Dyslexia

Lecture 41 10.2 Symptoms of Dyslexia

Lecture 42 10.3 Different Types of Dyslexia

Lecture 43 10.4 Categories of Dyslexia

Lecture 44 10.5 How to Diagnose Dyslexia

Section 11: Identification of Dyslexia

Lecture 45 11.1 Causes of Dyslexia

Lecture 46 11.2 Dyslexia Risk Factors

Lecture 47 11.3 Most Common Characteristics Of Dyslexia

Lecture 48 11.4 Common Signs in Teenagers

Lecture 49 11.5 Myths about Dyslexia

Section 12: Impact of Dyslexia on Learning

Lecture 50 12.1 Impacts on Writing Skills

Lecture 51 12.2 Impacts on Reading and Auditory

Lecture 52 12.3 Learning Problems of Mathematics & Science

Lecture 53 12.4 Problem with Phonics

Lecture 54 12.5 Impact on Second Language Learning

Section 13: Dyslexia & Other Learning Challenges

Lecture 55 13.1 Dyspraxia & Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Lecture 56 13.2 Dyscalculia

Lecture 57 13.3 Dysgraphia

Lecture 58 13.4 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Lecture 59 13.5 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Section 14: Dealing with Dyslexia

Lecture 60 14.1 Being Dyslexic

Lecture 61 14.2 Dealing with Everyday Life

Lecture 62 14.3 Dyslexia & Self-esteem

Section 15: Assessment for Dyslexia

Lecture 63 15.1 Educational Psychologist’s Assessment

Lecture 64 15.2 Assessment of Listening & Reading Comprehension

Lecture 65 15.3 Assessment of Math Concepts, Computations, Problem Solving, & Related Skill

Section 16: Treatment of Dyslexia

Lecture 66 16.1 Speech & Language Therapy for Dyslexia

Lecture 67 16.2 Coping Strategies Development

Lecture 68 16.3 Auditory Integration Training (AIT)

Lecture 69 16.4 Education Intervention

Lecture 70 16.5 Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy

Section 17: Dyslexia Strengths & Rewards

Lecture 71 17.1 Developing Inclusive Learning Environment

Lecture 72 17.2 Systematic Phonics

Lecture 73 17.3 Helping Students with Homework

Lecture 74 17.4 How School Can Help

Section 18: Dyslexia Strengths & Rewards

Lecture 75 18.1 Positive Sides of Dyslexia

Lecture 76 18.2 Advantages of Dyslexia

Lecture 77 18.3 Importance of Identifying The Dyslexia's Strengths

Early Years Practitioners and Teaching Assistants,Aspiring or practicing SEN Teaching Assistants,Primary school teachers and nursery staff,Parents or caregivers of children with SEN,Education coordinators, SENCOs, and childcare providers,Anyone passionate about inclusive education