The Thomas Outreach Project (TOP): an early years intervention for children with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)

The Thomas Outreach Project (TOP) has developed from the Hampshire outline for meeting the needs of under fives on the autistic spectrum (THOMAS) course and has been in operation for over five years in Hampshire, supporting pre‐schools and families with a range of strategies for use in all settings. In reviewing the service delivered we have assessed some of the more measurable outcomes with a view to establishing the success criteria and core components for successful early interventions with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). It appears clear that visual structure is a key component of curriculum delivery, together with the development of play through child centred approaches such as “special time”. In examining parents’ views of celebrations at the end of service delivery, the importance of tolerance and social interaction skills seem to have been of most value, and contribute to the “feel good” factors evident from the input of TOP services across the county.