Social communication difficulties, including autistic spectrum condition

• Training from the Working Together Team may include: 
  • understanding autistic spectrum disorder 
  • supporting social communication differences
  • Elklan 
  • using social stories or comic strip conversations 
  • supporting pupils with sensory processing issues 
  • social communication development through resources such as Time to Talk (FS and Year 1), Socially Speaking (KS1), Talkabout (KS2 onwards), Social Use of Language Programme (covers all ages)
  • preparation for changes to activities, routines or staffing 
  • aspects of structured teaching (TEACCH) used in planning 
  • peer mentoring support or buddy system
  • supporting specific areas of difficulty. For example, assembly, RE, PE, outdoor play, forest schools 
  • supporting pupil to recognise, understand and communicate their feelings about the school day (emotion rating scale.) 
  • individual work on recognition and understanding of emotions, including visual supports
  • use of the Autism Education Trust progression framework to assess skills and next steps for focused intervention
• National Autistic Society (NAS) website 
• Autism Education Trust - schools competency framework, schools standards and progression framework 
• Autism Inclusion Mark for Lincolnshire 
• visit to an NAS accredited specialist setting to see best practice autism
• sensory audits - individual behaviours and setting environments 
• use of SENDCo cluster network to share experiences and practice
• Speech and Language Therapy Training 
• TEACCH  
  • the TEACCH Programme
  • strategies and interventions 
• Whole school SEND - online portal offering education professionals free, easy access to high quality information, resources and training for meeting the needs of children with SEND
• Teaching schools hub - school led centre of excellence
• Search local hubs on the family services directory

Assessment and target setting

• Autism Education Trust (AED) progression framework
• Blank levels explanation