Autistic children in early years settings may have differences in their preferences around food and eating. It is important to make reasonable adjustments to best support a child throughout their education.

The reasonable adjustments duty is

“The duty is ‘to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the substantial disadvantage’ to a disabled person caused by a provision, criterion or practice applied by or on behalf of a school, or by the absence of an auxiliary aid or service.” (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2022)

Three main areas to consider for reasonable adjustments

• Auxiliary Aids and Services (a piece of equipment or support from a member of staff).
• Physical alterations (access for disabled pupils to the curriculum, the physical environment and to information).
• Provisions, criteria, and practices (the way in which a school operates on a daily basis, including its decision and actions).

Here are a few examples of reasonable adjustments that could be made for an autistic child with eating differences:

• Consider the environment that children are eating in (noise, lights, smells).
• Build upon what the child is comfortable with e.g. start with preferred foods.
• Make adjustments in collaboration with the family and what they know of their child.

Information and support

We understand that it can be difficult to know when and where to seek support or advice. We have collated a list of relevant organisations and information that may be helpful to look at (ctrk+click on links):

Feeding Young Children aged One to Five Years

A government report providing advice and guidance on food, nutrition, and early feeding.

Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years – summary report – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Understanding Sensory Issues and Their Impact on Mealtimes and Feeding

Information on how to understand and manage the impact of sensory differences on eating.

Toomey & Associates (stgeorges.nhs.uk)

Sensory help now

A website with free advice around sensory processing.

Sensory Help Now Home (sensoryintegrationeducation.com)

REMEMBER…

Each child is unique and has individual needs. Here are a few things to look out for if you are worried about a child:

• Losing weight.
• Not growing at the expected rate.
• Not functioning in a way that is typical for them.
• Other people raising concerns.

If you are concerned about a child’s mental or physical health, please consult your local paediatric or mental health services.