Team for Autism and Social Communication (TASC)

About

The TASC (Team for Autism and Social Communication) is part of RANs (Rochdale Additional Needs Service).

Our service is available across the Borough to support and provide advice to mainstream schools and parents for the inclusion and participation of Children and Young People (CYP).

The team works closely with schools in offering advice and support for children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

We are a school based service and work with CYP’s who attend mainstream schools in the Rochdale Borough.

How to refer to the service?

 Who can refer:

We only accept referrals from the school the pupil attends.

We work closely with the SENCos in our schools and as such may already be providing help to the school without the need for a referral.

If you feel TASC could help a child you know please speak with the SENCo in school to discuss what is already in place and what TASC may be able to further help with.

Our criteria:

  • The pupil has a diagnosis of autism or traits that suggest autism and is struggling to access the curriculum and/or school life.
  • The pupil has a social communication difficulty, relating to autism, which is impacting on accessing the curriculum and/or school life.

In addition:

  • Any referral must be discussed with the TASC link teacher for the school, or has been discussed at the telephone helpline and/or the Hub prior to referral
  • Any referral should be accompanied by at least 1 reviewed SEN Support plan (or equivalent). This should help to identify the reason for a referral to TASC and strategies already tried.
  • We are not a diagnostic service and referrals for such will be declined.
  • We endeavour to avoid duplication with other services and as such we may decline a referral if another service has recently provided advice e.g. Educational Psychology or CAHMS
  • The referrals made to TASC are for specialist teaching and learning support to enable pupils to access the curriculum and/or school life. TASC are not mental health practitioners or medical professionals. Where specific support in these areas is required, referrals should be made to the appropriate NHS services.

Non-referral support:

You do not always need a referral to access advice from TASC. Sometimes a phone call or zoom appointment can address any concerns or provide useful information.

  • We have a telephone helpline on a Wednesday afternoon between 1 – 4pm – 01706 926400. A member of the TASC team will be available to answer any questions you may have relating to autism and social communication. The helpline is open to schools and parents / careers. If the team member is already on a call, our admin team may take your details and we will ring you back as soon as possible.
  • The team also run Hub appointments via zoom. The hubs are 40-45min appointments that you can book through the school SENCO. Parents or school staff can attend the Hubs (sometimes parents and school come along together which is great!). The Hubs run monthly and dates shared via school SENCo.
TASC coffee mornings for parents and professionals

TASC also hold coffee mornings for parents, this is an excellent opportunity to meet with other parents of children either with a diagnosis of ASC or are under assessment. It prides itself of being both relaxed and informal. Dates for the coffee mornings are advertised through a flyer in schools and through the Local Offer

The team is also available for general advice via the telephone helpline (Wednesday 1.30pm to 4.15pm). Parent's and professionals can access this on 01706 926400.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Karen Slack
Contact Position
Team Leader
Telephone
01706 926400 01706 926400
E-mail
karen.slack@rochdale.gov.uk
Parent Organisation
Rochdale Additional Needs Service (RANS)

Where to go

Address
Number One Riverside
Smith Street
Rochdale
Postcode

OL16 1XU

View OL16 1XU on a map

Related Links

Local Offer

Local Offer Age Bands
4-10 (Primary School)
11-16 (Secondary School)

Actions

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