Today I was sent to another special school but this one specialised in ASD. I did not know this before I arrived but whatever I was expecting I wasn’t expecting what I found. Usually when I arrive at a school for supply I get quite a good feel for the school especially as it is usually first thing in the morning and there is chaotic sound of children/ parents/ teachers bustling about the place – here, there was calmness… what was this place? The calm atmosphere continued as I was escorted to the classroom through a myriad of corridors and was planted in a classroom with 10 students, 1 teacher and 2 Learning Assistants – I was to be the third today. There were comfy chairs at the front of the classroom all facing the whiteboard and the children were all sat, quietly talking amongst themselves with none of the usual silliness that I had seen from some classes first thing on a Monday morning. I was greeted by all the kids and had to ask – what was this place? All the students in
Today was my first day back in supply after a break of about two years. My reference came through on Wednesday so I was poised and ready to go. So imagine my delight when I got sent out to a lovely special school with a specialism in autism. In teacher training you are always made familiar with this special educational need so I felt confident that a day here was going to be no problem at all. I wouldn't say it was no problem at all but instead a wonderful lesson in not being complacent about what you think you already know. I was placed in a class of eight Key Stage 2 boys (7-11 year olds) all with their own individual needs but all with quite profound autism. I had worked with special needs classes before but never with a group like this. I had very fixed ideas about what I thought I would be dealing with: kids that were very insular, that don't like interaction or anyone touching them and that they knew what they wanted when they wanted them. I had my ideas complete