Autism, education, special education, Teaching

Pre-Verbal Children: Understanding Behaviour and Supporting Early Communication

Pre-Verbal Children: What Might Their Behaviour Be Telling Us? I am using the term pre-verbal to encompass pupils who have may be described as non-verbal. Really any child who does not have a communication system that is easily interpreted by others. Understanding the behaviour, or actions, of pre-verbal children can be a challenging yet rewarding… Continue reading Pre-Verbal Children: Understanding Behaviour and Supporting Early Communication

Autism, education, inclusion

Enhancing Joy and Wellbeing for Pupils with Special Educational Needs: Evidence-Informed Approaches

Enhancing Joy and Wellbeing: The School of Joy! Education is the foundation of personal and societal growth. As teachers, it is crucial to ensure that every child, irrespective of their abilities or disabilities, feels included and happy in the school environment. Pupils with special educational needs, often face challenges that can affect their overall wellbeing.… Continue reading Enhancing Joy and Wellbeing for Pupils with Special Educational Needs: Evidence-Informed Approaches

education, special education, special needs

Micro-Transitions and Support Strategies

Micro Transitions and Support Strategies for Students with Special Educational Needs For pupils with special educational needs (SEN), the numerous small or micro-transitions that happen throughout the school day can be particularly challenging to navigate. These micro-transitions involve changes in activity, environment, physical state, emotion, companionship and more - and the lack of control or… Continue reading Micro-Transitions and Support Strategies

Autism, education

The Case Against Restraint and Seclusion: Perspectives from Lived Experience and the Neurodivergent Community

The Case Against Restraint and Seclusion Restraint and seclusion are controversial practices in the field of behaviour support. Historically, these tactics have been employed as last-resort measures to manage challenging behaviours in individuals with disabilities, mental health issues, or neurodivergent conditions. There is growing opposition to restraint and seclusion. Based on the point that these… Continue reading The Case Against Restraint and Seclusion: Perspectives from Lived Experience and the Neurodivergent Community

education

Teaching Interview Question: “How do you ensure your classroom is inclusive?”

How do you ensure your classroom is inclusive? We continue our recruitment and interview tips guide for SEN teachers with a post looking at how to answer the question - How do you ensure your classroom is inclusive?There are many challenges that come with teaching diverse learners in an inclusive classroom. As teachers of SEN,… Continue reading Teaching Interview Question: “How do you ensure your classroom is inclusive?”

Invest in Teachers before Technology
app, computing, education, ICT

6 Education Technology Pitfalls to Avoid

This is just a lighthearted post reflecting on some of the possible situations you may encounter when discussing technology used in education. In some cases I speak from experience, but I have learnt from that, I hope. I would love to hear your edtech mistakes experiences. The Gimmick - these seem like a good idea,… Continue reading 6 Education Technology Pitfalls to Avoid

Autism, education, Teaching

Metacognition & Autism: Cognitive Load & Metacognitive Strategies

Metacognition, or the ability to think about one's own thinking, holds immense potential in supporting Autistic individuals as they navigate the complexities of our education system. By understanding cognitive load theory and the role of metacognition in managing cognitive load, educators and therapists can harness the power of the EEF favourite - metacognitive strategies to help their pupils overcome… Continue reading Metacognition & Autism: Cognitive Load & Metacognitive Strategies

education

Getting Pupils to Maintain Attention on Non-Preferred Tasks

Many children with autism struggle with executive functioning. For these children, initiating tasks and sustaining attention, especially for non-preferred tasks, can be nearly impossible. Many children I have worked with appear to "freeze" and have trouble taking the first step (Mazefsky et al., 2013). Yet once initiated, they are often able to complete tasks or… Continue reading Getting Pupils to Maintain Attention on Non-Preferred Tasks

education

Teaching Joint Attention to Children: Evidence-Informed Best Practices

What is Joint Attention? Joint attention, the ability to share attention with another person towards an object, activity or event, is a crucial skill for social development and learning. For the pupilI work with it is a crucial skill to teach. For some joint attention skills do not develop naturally and needs to be taught… Continue reading Teaching Joint Attention to Children: Evidence-Informed Best Practices

education

Imposter Syndrome? or Are You just a Reluctant or Incomplete Leader?

As I come to the end of my NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) I have been reflecting on myself as a leader and the things I am trying to develop. Through the process of reflection I came across a few theories that I think are linked, and possibly affect a lot of leaders (though… Continue reading Imposter Syndrome? or Are You just a Reluctant or Incomplete Leader?

behaviour, education

Psychological Restraint: A Violation of Human Rights?

In recent years, we have seen growing awareness regarding the importance of mental health and its impact on overall well-being. As a result, there is an increasing emphasis on understanding the ethical implications of various psychological interventions. One such area of concern is the use of psychological restraint in healthcare, education and other contexts. In… Continue reading Psychological Restraint: A Violation of Human Rights?

education, Teaching

Maximise Learning: The Three Essential Ingredients

How can we maximise Learning for pupils in our classrooms? Research shows that learning is most effective when done in an active, engaging manner that combines behaviour, cognition, and emotion (Immordino-Yang & Damasio, 2007). Recent neuroscience advances explore the links between emotion, social functioning, and decision making, providing new insights into the role of affect… Continue reading Maximise Learning: The Three Essential Ingredients

education

Inclusion in Education: A Comprehensive Overview of Different Perspectives

Inclusion in Education: Multiple Perspectives Inclusion in education is a widely debated topic with various perspectives and approaches. The core concept is the idea of providing equal access to education for all students, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, and learning needs. The term "inclusive education" can be a bit vague. In general, it is accepted… Continue reading Inclusion in Education: A Comprehensive Overview of Different Perspectives

Autism, education, Guest Post, parenting

The Power of Co-Regulation: A Letter from a Parent of an Autistic Child

The letter below was written by a parent of an autistic child who read one of our recent posts on the importance of co-regulation. Too often our schools can be aversive places for children. As parents and teachers, as humans, we want our children to be happy and fulfilled at school. It should be a… Continue reading The Power of Co-Regulation: A Letter from a Parent of an Autistic Child

books, education, parenting

The 4 Top Books About Learning Through Play

Our Favourite Books For Play based Learning As parents, we all want to ensure that our children are learning and growing in the best possible way. Using play as a way to promote learning is not only effective, but it's also super fun! Children get to learn new skills, express their creativity, and make new… Continue reading The 4 Top Books About Learning Through Play

More online safety Resources #SID2016
computing, education, esafety

Some More Safer Internet Day Resources #SID2016

Online Safety   Here are some more resources to use with students who require symbol support for #SID2016 or general digital citizenship resources. They are in both PPT format and link to the widgit online site if you have a subscription. I have a second post here with a couple more ideas. A Communication/Discussion Board Here… Continue reading Some More Safer Internet Day Resources #SID2016

education

EEF Guidance on Implementing Effective Change in Schools

Implementing Effective Change in Schools This post is taken from a reflection for my NPQH course. School leaders are constantly seeking ways to improve their schools and enhance student outcomes. However, implementing meaningful change is challenging and many school improvement efforts fail to lead to sustained improvements. The Education Endowment Foundation, an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link… Continue reading EEF Guidance on Implementing Effective Change in Schools

education, sensory, special education, special needs, Teaching

The Joys and Educational Benefits of Messy Play for Children’s Development

Messy play is an essential part of childhood that encourages creativity, exploration, and learning. As parents, we might be tempted to keep our children clean and presentable, but there is a world of benefits to embracing the mess. From fostering cognitive development to nurturing social skills, messy play has a range of positive effects on a child's growth.… Continue reading The Joys and Educational Benefits of Messy Play for Children’s Development

education, sensory, special education, special needs

Understanding Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder: A Guide for New SEN Teachers

Understanding Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. As a teacher, it is important to recognise that every child is unique. While there are certain commonalities in the needs of autistic individuals. Reactions to sensory stimuli can play a significant role in how engaged in learning a child will be. Reducing sensory overload can improve a child’s… Continue reading Understanding Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder: A Guide for New SEN Teachers