Area of learning need
COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION
This category includes children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN). The table below breaks down the SLCN elements, any of which could apply to children with ASD or SLCN.
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) covers all aspects of the autistic spectrum, including Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism.
ASD is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them.
Watch this fantastic short video for a simple introduction to autism here
SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS
To get started with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) it is important to understand the differences between them. Knowledge of these differences and how they impact a child is central to specialist SLCN interventions. Teachers and teaching assistants are less likely to have had training in the area. This short video provides a brief but clear overview of speech and language components click here
IMPACT OF SLCN
- Reading difficulties - the reading age gap can go from 3 months at age 6 to 5 years by age 14
- 15% of children with SLCN achieve 5 or more GCSEs at grade C or above
- Children with SLCN are more likely to be bullied, feel less able or popular than peers, and at higher risk of mental health difficulties
- May exhibit behavioural difficulties designed to mask their underlying difficulties
TEACHER TALK - CHECK YOURSELF!
- 37% of teacher instructions contain multiple meanings and 20% at least one idiom
- Have a volunteer time how long you speak to the whole class for in a lesson. You are likely to be shocked!
- How do you introduce new vocabulary?
- When a child says "yes" when you've asked if he/she understands, how do you know?
- Do you assume children understand the 'everyday' words you are using?
- Do you ever stop and say "Who can tell me what that word means?"
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES
- An excellent checklist of simple classroom strategies
- Another checklist, and includes reminders of the difficulties faced by children with SLCN
- A great teacher guide to SLCN - page 10 has the suggested strategies
- Another good teacher guide to SLCN- page 32 has the suggested strategies
- Some more reading if you are interested in this area