Colette Brennan – PTC Pupil Support
Society and Education in particular is constantly evolving within Curriculum for Excellence. Teachers are now more than ever required to be not only subject specialists but also attuned to the individual needs of the class members through GIRFEC. Ensuring that pupils experience a curriculum within the class setting which is accessible and relevant to their needs whilst setting appropriate attainment targets to ensure that potential is reached in the subject.
In order to enhance the provision that St Margaret’s Academy provides Laura Watson, Lorraine Shaw and I were asked to attend Autistic Spectrum Disorders Training with West Lothian Council. The Local Authority aim is for individual schools to have trained staff to assist and support classroom teachers in their work with individuals in this category.
The training comprised of six sessions led by David Banks Autism Outreach PT and Moira Park, Educational Advisor for Scottish Autism. It covered issues such as: What is Autism? Cognitive Theories of ASD, Hypersensitivity, Sensory issues and Pupil Profiling. A large part of the programme piloted the Autism Toolbox which was re-launched in May 2014.
We decided that a regular, informal ASD Discussion Forum was needed to help us develop strategies and methods of improving working with our pupils. Lorraine, Laura and myself were able, through professional dialogue, to extend our understanding of the issues surrounding ASD pupils. The sessions covered an extensive breadth of discussion and highlighted the very unique individuals we are dealing with. Teachers within St Margaret’s are working tremendously well with our pupils with ASD and should be proud of their successes.
If you would like to discuss issues with individual pupils then Lorraine, Laura and myself will be more than happy to discuss any concerns you may have. The most important thing we learned is summed up in a quote which is recited often in the training “If you have taught one pupil with autism then you have taught one pupil with autism!” Our pupils are unique individuals with very different needs and sensitivities.
Further reading can be found at the National Autistic Society
