{
  "abstract": "Background The Neurodevelopmental Assessment Clinic provides assessments for young people with autism and co-occurring complex needs. Gathering information from school is an important part of assessment. However, currently there is a lack of validated and standardised observation measures that can be administered in school settings, so primarily we rely on subjective feedback from staff. This literature review explored existing school-based observation tools used for autism assessment in children, aiming to inform the development of a specialised assessment tool within our clinic. Such measures enable care and assessment to extend beyond hospital walls and into communities.Method A systematic review identified 519 papers, yielding 40 that met inclusion criteria following screening. An additional 29 papers were identified through backward citation searching and grey literature sources.Results 44 tools were identified: two interview-based, 25 teacher-reported questionnaires, and 17 direct observation measures. Questionnaires were the most common form of tool; however, they were limited by subjectivity. Direct observation provided more objective insights into school behaviours, but these tools were fewer, less well validated, and not often autism specific. Some were developed for classrooms or playgrounds, though most lacked replication, long-term validation and wider adoption. Most tools focused on younger children, with limited application to adolescents.Conclusion The identified gap in validated, school-based observational tools for autism assessment highlights a need for the development of new tools specifically designed for use in educational settings. Developing a tool adapted to school settings could bridge the gap between healthcare and community contexts, improving early identification and ensuring more equitable access to timely support for autistic children and young people. Following this review we have designed a school-based observation measure, which can be administered by all staff. Our next steps will be to pilot its use and, over time, validate it as a standardised addition to assessment.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Francesca Riley"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Francesca Sawer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Elaine Clark"
    }
  ],
  "title": "68 A literature review of school-based observation measures that support in the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children",
  "uid": "e5517bd5-f793-514a-a482-849da061fc6a"
}