All About Autism: A Practical Guide for Primary Teachers

• Practical and relevant to the mainstream classroom. • Punchy and accessible handbook for busy teaching staff. • Covers the wide spectrum of autistic children • Explains autism and offers up-to-date positive approaches • Full of views and advice from autistic children • Part of the All About SEND series, designed to increase educators’ knowledge and understanding of SEND conditions, and to enhance their toolkit with practical strategies to support every learner in their care.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

What we know about autism

Co-occurring conditions

Language is important

Part 1 - How I do things differently - The voice of autistic children

• Communication
• Stimming
• Social interaction
• Masking
• The autistic sensory experience

Part 2 - Teaching autistic children: practical strategies

• Getting it right from the start
• The classroom environment
• The Classroom layout in the Early Years
• The Classroom layout in the Lower Primary Years
• Additional environment adaptations in Upper Primary classrooms
• Organisation and routines
• Executive Functions and autism
• Structure and Predictability
• Visual communication
• Visual timetables
• Other ways of using visuals to support communication
• Early Years visuals
• Useful verbal communication
• Teaching the Curriculum
• Motivation
• The Early Years Curriculum
• The Primary curriculum
• Writing
• Assessments, class tests and exams
• Supporting behaviour that concerns
• The role of teaching assistants
• Social support
• Playtimes
• Bullying
• Emotions and anxiety support
• Meltdowns and shutdowns
• Transitions

Part 3 - Further resources and links

Bibliography