Area of learning need
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
- 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?"
- 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