Education and AT: Best Practice for Schools and Colleges
The AT Society provides support and guidance to Schools, Colleges and Education Professionals to help them understand the needs of a child with AT and to assist the professionals involved in their care. Our Support Team, Kay Atkins and Anne Murray, can visit education settings to discuss the child’s individual needs and to help staff learn more about the condition.
They can also support the process of applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Due to the complex and progressive nature of AT, we recommend that every child with AT has an EHCP in place. A full‑time Learning Support Assistant is also advised — not only to provide support in the classroom, but also to help the child move safely around the school environment.
Children with AT do not have associated learning difficulties. However, they may experience a difficulty in learning because the physical limitations of the condition can make it harder to keep pace with their peers and meet expected targets. It is important to strike a balance between supporting the child’s achievements and recognising the challenges created by the condition. 
Some young people with mild variant AT are able to progress to further education and university. Sadly, for children with classic AT, this is unlikely due to the progressive nature of the condition.
If you have a child with AT in your School or College, we encourage you to download our Factsheet for Schools. It provides detailed information about the condition and explains how it may affect the child’s educational needs.
Our Support Team, Kay and Anne, are always happy to offer advice and can arrange a visit to your School or College. You can contact them on 01582 760733 or by emailing [email protected].
We would like to thank you for coming to meet with us today. Having the opportunity to talk to you about AT was extremely valuable. It has opened our eyes to the challenges that our pupil and his family have faced and will face in the future. It has certainly given us food for thought on how we can effectively support them whilst he attends our school.
W. Howlett, Acting Head Teacher, Primary School in North Lincolnshire.
