Autism and Girls: Foundational knowledge and key skills for effectively supporting girls in school

Autism and Girls

This session has specially designed to significantly deepen understanding of female students with autism in their schools. This course is suitable for a wide range of staff including SEND staff, inclusion leads, teaching and pastoral staff, and medical staff.

The session will initially focus on developing a deeper understanding of autism in girls, with particular attention to the occupational functioning, executive functioning, and sensory challenges they experience—and how these may present differently in female students.

Drawing on extensive anecdotal examples from her daily practice, Jessica will help shed light on the lived experience of autistic girls, offering insight into why many remain unidentified, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood, and how this impacts their functioning, mental health, and engagement in school.

Jessica will also explore evidence of what works, alongside approaches that can be adopted to more effectively support these students in educational settings.

This workshop will include an extended Q&A, enabling practitioners to bring “live” material and case studies for discussion.

Key learning objectives:

• Understanding current definitions of autism, with a focus on female presentation
• Recognising the impact of gender bias in diagnosis and referral pathways
• Identifying the often hidden functional challenges autistic girls experience
• Developing awareness of executive functioning, sensory processing, and motor planning differences
• Understanding masking and why many girls “appear to cope”
• Recognising how behaviour may reflect underlying dysregulation rather than intent
• Considering the mental health impact of late or missed diagnosis
• Gaining practical insight into how to support autistic girls in school environments
• Developing more effective communication approaches with students and staff

Course fees are £155+VAT with discounts for 2+ colleagues from one establishment