Autism expert delivers guest lecture

We were thrilled to welcome autism expert Neil Stuart to the university in February.

Neil is the Training and Education Director at Autism New Zealand with over 20 years’ experience of working with autistic children. Neil is also a Brighton graduate having qualified to teach with us almost 40 years ago.

The talk was part of our annual SEND conference for postgraduate primary student teachers to develop their understanding of and practice in mainstream SEND provision.

The talk was attended by around 70 students studying on our Education BA, Early Childhood Education and Care BA, and postgraduate primary teaching courses. We were also delighted to welcome more than 20 external attendees including NHS early years teams, nursery leads, partner school SENDCos and Brighton & Hove Council’s inclusion team.

Neil spoke about the crucial importance of relationship-based interaction with children, and the key role that pattern, memory and variation play in helping find ways to engage joyously with young autistic children. He uses nine visuals to help neurotypical adults better understand autism and the young autistic children in their care.

One student said: “I thought it was excellent; I agree with Neil’s approach and philosophy. It was a great lecture.”

Chloe Berrisford, Senior Lecturer, who organised the talk said: “It was brilliant working with Neil, and I’m so pleased we were able to invite our external partners to join the student conference day.

“The university has a role to play in the wider Brighton and Hove community and Neil’s generous offer to lead a day for our students and local early years providers is going to impact upon the practice of our students and the education of children in the area. Already I am hearing from those external visitors about how Neil’s talk is changing their day-to-day practice.”

Comments from external guests included:

“I came back from the training and immediately started trying the approach with one particular child who was attending on that day.  I felt like I had a clear and simple structure to understand what I was trying to do and why.”

“It compounded what I already believe about the power of play and the importance of learning through play in the EYFS curriculum.”

“I loved learning about the pattern, memory catchphrase and variation technique to support development of social-communication in autistic children, and have started to implement it in playgroups.”

We are hoping to host Neil for another talk in spring 2026, so watch this space!

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