The Department of Education and Citizen Services has signed an agreement with Astrade to roll out the BBMiradas programme for the early identification and intervention of ASD traits in children aged 0 to 3
Murcia is one of the pioneering local authorities to implement the BBMiradas programme for the early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 0 to 3. To this end, the Department of Education and Citizen Services has signed an agreement with the Astrade association to roll out the programme in municipal nursery schools free of charge for two academic years, until 2026.
This initiative, which is currently underway in 10 other Spanish provinces, also includes training for the 26 teachers at the seven schools that make up the network of Municipal Nursery Schools, to ensure they have the necessary tools to provide educational support for children with a diagnosis, and to facilitate their integration into the classroom, since, according to the councillor responsible for this area, Belén López, “the City Council is working to ensure that Murcia is an inclusive municipality in every respect, helping children diagnosed with ASD to grow up in an educational environment adapted to support their development, as well as instilling in the rest of the pupils values that will benefit everyone in the classroom”.
The Councillor for Education and Citizen Services also highlighted “the importance of rolling out this BBMiradas programme free of charge in nursery schools, where nearly 500 pupils are enrolled this academic year, thereby facilitating the monitoring of the development of babies aged between 0 and 3 years. Participating babies will be assessed using standardised psychometric tests, observation during free play, and visual tracking techniques and social attention analysis using Eye Tracking technology”.
This is an initiative by Autismo Burgos and the Miradas Foundation, promoted by Autismo España and implemented by Astrade. Currently, 111 children in the Region of Murcia are taking part in the programme, of whom 21 cases of ASD have been identified (14 boys and 7 girls).
Thanks to early detection, educational programmes are tailored to individual needs
The aim is to contribute to the early detection and diagnosis of autism in children aged 0 to 3, so that educational programmes can be tailored to the immediate needs of pupils in municipal nursery schools, enabling them to be diagnosed, as well as facilitating comprehensive monitoring of their progress and providing specialist support for the child, the family and the educators.
Parents who wish to volunteer to take part in the screening programme – and who will be informed in advance via the municipal nursery service – may contact Astrade to arrange the relevant tests. In addition, participating families will receive follow-up support to address any concerns they may have, with guidance and resources provided to support their development within the family setting.
The agreement also includes the establishment of a parents’ workshop to address general aspects of raising children
The Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta Nursery School is set to launch a pioneering ‘Parents’ Workshop’, where education professionals will deliver quarterly talks and address any concerns parents may have regarding their children’s upbringing, such as how to deal with certain behaviours like tantrums and how to get them to sleep, amongst other issues.
In the municipality of Murcia, there are a total of seven nursery schools, located in both neighbourhoods and districts, including: in El Palmar, the “San Roque” and “El Lugarico” municipal nursery schools; the Beniaján Municipal Nursery School; “La Ermita”, in La Alberca; “La Paz”, in Murcia; “Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta” in Santiago el Mayor; and the “Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles” Municipal Nursery School in Sangonera La Verde.