Have a look at our simple and easy tips for making a smoother start to a new class !
- Meet with parents as soon as possible . They will have knowledge about their child’s likes and dislikes and will be able to provide some useful strategies.
- Talk to staff who previously worked with the child and make sure you read their file or any other information.
- Find out what the child enjoys e.g. trains , volcanoes , computers etc and use that as an incentive and way to engage to start off with.
- Remember to build a relationship of trust , respect and security as this will help if situations become sticky.
- Establish your routine and reasonable expectations as soon as possible . Use visuals to make this clear e.g. schedule , symbols, written word etc. Remember the child should have “reasonable adjustments” made under equality law so any adjustments are not about “giving in ” , they are an entitlement as autism is considered a disability.
Remember that there is no substitute for high quality training on autism . If you are working 1:1 or with autistic children and young people on regular basis we would advise a course such as our Level 3 or 4 Understanding and Good Practice with People with Autism to get the depth and expertise that will give you confidence and practical skills underpinned by evidence based theoretical knowledge and more ! Alternatively you may wish to attend one of our popular and practical day/half day courses. Take a look at what courses we have running this year on our Courses 2019/20 page.