Functional Assessments
Functional behaviour assessments that look at the whole child, not just the moment that is hard. Skills assessments that will help them thrive and grow.
See packages →
Behaviour support
that actually
feels like
support.
For autistic children, the families who love them, and the schools that show up for them. Structured, evidence-based positive behaviour support, without the cold, clinical front.
Abbie Shorthouse
BCBA · UKSBA Certified
About me
Hi, I'm Abbie.
I'm a professional working with autistic children and their families in Bristol and the surrounds. Spectrum is my independent practice, built so that the families I work with get the kind of structured, careful, professional positive behaviour support that's still genuinely rare in the South West.
Before going independent, I spent years inside organisations and schools where the right intervention was often the slowest thing in the room. I started Spectrum because I think the families navigating this deserve better access, faster, without the lottery of waiting lists or the cold of a clinic.
My promise is simple: clinical rigour where it matters, warmth where it counts, and a plan written for the people who'll actually be using it.
BCBABoard Certified Behaviour Analyst
UKSBA CertifiedUK Society for Behaviour Analysis
Enhanced DBSCleared to work with children
Fully insuredProfessional indemnity & public liability
Families know their children better than any practitioner ever will. My job is to add the framework, not to override your instincts.
For families
Six ways we can help
your family.
Some families have just heard the word "autism" for the first time. Some have been navigating it for years. Wherever you are, we meet you there, and we go at your pace, never ours.
Written plans
Plain-English Behaviour Intervention Plans built around your family. Detailed progress plans to help your child learn the skills that are important to them.
See the pathway →Coaching
One-to-one coaching that makes you feel capable, not corrected. You know your child best; my job is to add the framework.
See packages →School liaison
Coordination with your child's school, SENCO, and any other professionals already in the team, so everyone's reading from the same plan.
For schools →EHCP/ISP support
Clinical reports and evidence for EHCP/ISP applications, annual reviews, and appeals, written to be understood by panels and parents alike.
Ask about EHCPs/ISPs →Ongoing Support
Programme oversight and data reviews so the plan stays alive and keeps working. Support when you need it.
See packages →For schools & SENCOs
Clinical support that
fits the school day.
Workshops, in-class coaching, and professional reports written to be read by panels, by parents, and by the staff doing the actual work.
Staff Workshops
Training built around your school's needs, with in-school training for as long as you need it. Covering topics such as functions of behaviour, managing behaviours that challenge, and meeting EHCP/ISP goals.
See more →1:1 staff coaching
In-class observation and personalised coaching for TAs, class teachers, and SENCOs managing specific complex cases.
See more →EHCP/ISP & clinical reports
Independent professional input for EHCPs/ISPs, annual reviews, tribunals, and multi-agency meetings. Clear, evidence-based, defensible.
Discuss a case →How we work together
A clear path,
no surprises.
Every family starts at step one. From there, the journey is yours, but you'll never wonder what's next.
-
We talk
A free 20-40 minute chat. No commitment, no forms first, just you, telling me what's going on.
-
We assess
A functional behaviour assessment across the settings that matter: home, school, or both.
-
We plan
A Behaviour Intervention Plan in plain English, built around your family's real life.
-
We walk it
Sessions, coaching, review. Monthly support that flexes as your child does.
Packages
Honest prices,
no hidden costs.
Every family starts with a free 20-40 minute chat. From there, you pick the assessment that fits, and we go at your pace into ongoing support, if and when that's right.
Start here: assessments.
Pick the depth that fits the caseEssential Assessment
A focused starting point, with clarity on what's happening and where to begin.
- Functional Behaviour Assessment or Skills-Based Assessment
- Initial assessment in one setting
- Written report of findings
- List of recommendations
- Feedback session
Comprehensive Assessments
My most-recommended package. Full FBA with a workable plan attached, which is what most families actually need.
- Functional Behaviour Assessment and Skills-Based Assessment in one setting
- Report for all assessments
- Recommendations
- Feedback session
Complete Assessment
For high-need cases requiring multi-stakeholder coordination and a fuller intervention design.
- Functional Behaviour Assessment and Skills-Based Assessment in all required settings
- Reports for all assessments
- Recommendations in each setting
- Feedback sessions
Keep going: ongoing support.
Monthly programmes · cancel any monthMonthly sessions are delivered by me and focus on the child. Parent workshops are used to discuss progress, next steps and any assessment work that still needs completing.
Getting started
For families who want one planned monthly session, email support and a light review rhythm.
- Written plan
- 1-hour monthly session each month
- Email support between sessions
- Quarterly parent workshop including data review, assessment work where needed and plan updates
Optimal Support
For families who want two planned monthly sessions and a steadier rhythm of review.
- Written plan
- 2 x 1-hour monthly sessions each month
- Email support between sessions
- Bi-monthly parent workshops including data review, assessment work where needed and plan updates
Frequent Support
For families who want the most monthly session time, with flexible contact and liaison where helpful.
- Written plan
- 1-hour monthly sessions as and when needed (max 4 per month)
- Email support between sessions
- Liaison with other professionals when needed
- Monthly parent workshop including data review, assessment work where needed and plan updates
For schools & organisations.
Day rates, workshops & consultancy hoursProfessionally led · UKSBA certified · DBS cleared · fully insured. Every engagement starts with a free, obligation-free chat, and I'll always tell you honestly whether positive behaviour support is the right fit for your child or setting before any package begins.
Common questions
What parents ask
before getting in touch.
If yours isn't here, drop me a note. Honest questions get honest answers.
What is positive behaviour support, exactly?
Positive behaviour support uses behavioural science to understand how behaviour works: what triggers it, what reinforces it, and how we can teach new skills or reduce harmful patterns. In practice, that means understanding your child carefully, then building a plan tailored to them, not to a textbook.
Good behaviour support is collaborative, neurodiversity-affirming, and led by what the child and family actually want from life. It's practical, respectful, and centred on quality of life.
Is positive behaviour support ethical and appropriate?
Yes, when it's done well, by a qualified professional, with the child and family as full partners. I work to the BACB ethics code and UKSBA's standards, and I'll only ever recommend a behaviour support plan where I genuinely believe it's the right fit. If it isn't, I'll tell you that during our free first chat and point you toward what is.
How long does a programme usually run?
That depends entirely on the child and the goals. Some families work with me for three months and have what they need. Others stay on a monthly programme for a year or more because the journey is longer. We review every 6–12 weeks together so you're never locked in.
Do you work in schools as well as at home?
Yes, I work in both, and often together. Multi-setting observation is part of the Comprehensive Assessment package, and ongoing programmes routinely include school visits, SENCO liaison, and TA coaching. Schools can also commission me directly via day rates or workshops.
Can you support an EHCP/ISP application or appeal?
Yes. I write clinical reports for EHCP/ISP applications, annual reviews, and tribunal appeals. Reports are independent, evidence-based, and written to be understood by a non-clinical panel. Contact me to discuss specifics, as every case is a little different.
What if I'm not sure behaviour support is right for us?
That's exactly what the free 20-40 minute chat is for. There's no commitment, no forms first, and no sales pitch. If we decide together that behavioural support isn't the right path, I'll suggest other professionals who might be a better fit, such as Speech and Language Therapy, OT, Educational Psychology, or other support services in the Bristol area.
Do you offer evening or weekend sessions?
Some, yes. Most of my work happens during the school day (because that's when school observations have to be), but parent coaching and family sessions are often held in the evening or at weekends. We'll find a rhythm that works for your household.
How do payments work?
Assessments are invoiced in two halves: half on booking, half on delivery of the report. Ongoing monthly packages are paid by standing order at the start of each month. You can cancel a monthly package any month with one cycle's notice. Schools and organisations are invoiced on standard terms.
Are you regulated and insured?
Yes. I'm a professional with internationally recognised credentials, and I work to the standards of the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis (UKSBA). I hold an Enhanced DBS check, full professional indemnity insurance, and public liability insurance. GDPR-compliant record keeping is built into every engagement.
Ready when
you are.
The first chat is free. The first chat is 20-40 minutes. The first chat is the only thing you need to do today.
Book a free chat →Get in touch
Let's talk.
Use the form below or email me directly. I reply to every enquiry personally within 2 working days.