Environment
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Ensure the child can hear you and see your face. Reduce background noise and sit them away from distractions.
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Remember cluttered and busy displays/spaces can be distracting too.
Support attention
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Start all interactions and instructions with the child's name (to ensure attention), pause... (to allow processing time), followed by a specific instruction. e.g. ‘James... you need a protractor now', as opposed to 'Use a protractor James'.
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Allow the student additional time to process and respond. If a student is feeling stressed or overwhelmed, pause and reduce communication to support them.
Use visuals
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Make instructions and activities as visual as possible, e.g. demonstrate, write it down, use pictures or draw it.
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Verbal instructions disappear straight away, but visuals enable the child to look over it as many times as they need.
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Use visual timetables, visual schedules/task plans, graphic organisers, and visuals to support good listening and positive behaviour.
Simplify language and chunk information
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A useful strategy to use is:
CHUNK – give one instruction at a time and say things in the order you want them to do them (e.g. ‘pack your books away, then go to lunch’ rather than ‘before you to lunch, pack your books away’).
CHILL – some students may find it helpful if you pause between instructions to support their processing of language.
CHECK – ask the child to repeat back task instruction to check understanding.
Vocabulary
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Consider the vocabulary you use. If it is new or difficult use a visual cue to explain e.g. objects, pictures etc.
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Pre-teach key words by linking new vocabulary with words they are already familiar with. Use words maps to make it more visual and display for future reference.
Be prepared to repeat questions and information
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Some children benefit from hearing things more than once (check you have prefaced questions/instructions with their name and simplified your language) so be prepared to repeat.
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Be aware that if you rephrase the question or the information, this is new language the child will have to process again.
Modelling language
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Repeat back what the child says using the correct grammar and vocabulary and/or expand the sentence by adding more information. Don’t correct them, e.g. child says ‘I feeded the cat’, adult says ‘yes, you fed the cat his tea’.
Asking for help
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Check the child knows how to ask for help and teach them if needed. Scripts can be helpful.
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Speech sound difficulties:
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Encourage the child to show you if you don’t know what they are saying.
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Offer encouragement and reinforce that you are trying to understand.
Reducing Demands
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If a child or young person is highly anxious they may be demand avoidant. Working in equal partnership with them to problem solve challenges they are facing is really important for helping them to follow rules.
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Spectrum Gaming have developed and kindly shared some guidance for staff members when supporting autistic and neurodivergent people in their community, including:
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Key principles when supporting neurodivergent young people: How Can Schools Better Support Neurodivergent Young People.
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Supporting meltdowns using The Nest Approach: Understanding Meltdowns | Autism Barriers to Education
General Wellbeing
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If a child or young person is struggling with school because they have communication and interaction difficulties, consider their overall wellbeing and the impact this may have on learning: Do they understand and accept autism (if they are diagnosed)? Do they have meaningful friendships? Do they have a social life/ do they feel lonely? Do they feel understood by the people around them? Consider what support you could put in place to meet any of these social interaction needs. Please see The Barriers to Education resource, co-produced with neurodivergent young people, their families and professionals: Trauma | Autism Barriers to Education