The term Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) is used to describe different methods that can be used to help learners communicate with others.
At High Blantyre, AAC is a priority within the school.
Our school had a very successful Local Authority Peer Review, with a focus on Augmentative, Alternative Communication (AAC) in our supported classes and our ongoing development work across the school. Paula Ross, Head Teacher of Robert Owen Memorial Primary School and Kate Fisher, Head Teacher of Harleeshill Primary, formed the Peer Review team with our senior leadership team and a Development officer from South Lanarkshire Council. The Peer Review Team highlighted key areas of strengths in our AAC practice and school ethos including:
· A lovely friendly and positive ethos across the school and supported classes
· The evident team work, positive relationships and seamless transitions of staff supporting children
· The wide range of resources and activities staff are using to engage and include all children
· The ability of staff to adapt their total communication approaches to suit the needs of individual children
· Minimal distressed behaviours observed across all classes
Next steps were also suggested, with regards to sharing practice across the wider school to further develop and embed AAC. Following this review, we have had staff from other schools visit our supported classes to observe practice. This report has been shared with the Local Authority and the Parent Council and is available on our website. We are very proud of the progress we have made over the past few years in AAC and creating a total school environment!
Read the full report
