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 completely blown out of the water. Instead I found children that were loving, who struggled to communicate, struggled to know what they wanted but were just trying to work out how they worked.
I learnt many lessons about myself too. I learnt new signs in Makaton (a form of sign language that children use when have speech development delays), was taught that affection is just another part of the autistic spectrum (I received so many hugs today!) and that there isn't always the same trigger that sets off a 'crisis' with a child. I also learnt a counting song about sharks which amused me greatly - Five Sharks Swimming in the Pond
I loved my time there and am glad I learnt so much. I want to do more for schools like this as I think that maybe there is something more I can do to help.
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 completely blown out of the water. Instead I found children that were loving, who struggled to communicate, struggled to know what they wanted but were just trying to work out how they worked.
I learnt many lessons about myself too. I learnt new signs in Makaton (a form of sign language that children use when have speech development delays), was taught that affection is just another part of the autistic spectrum (I received so many hugs today!) and that there isn't always the same trigger that sets off a 'crisis' with a child. I also learnt a counting song about sharks which amused me greatly - Five Sharks Swimming in the Pond
I loved my time there and am glad I learnt so much. I want to do more for schools like this as I think that maybe there is something more I can do to help.
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