Justin Price - Headteacher Freemantles School - Woking

Transcription

1 Encouraging schools to commit more curriculum time to effectively and explicitly address the huge social challenges that many autistic young people face to build resilience and emotional wellbeing. Justin Price - Headteacher Freemantles School - Woking

2 My Context Who am I and why am I talking about this? Freemantles School and significant Primary Outreach Service Carol Gray Peter Vermuelen

3 Disclaimer This presentation does mainly focus upon generalisations based on our experiences, however: It may not apply to all young people on the autism spectrum Some schools are very experienced and are making progress in these areas. The intention is not to bash (mainstream) schools or teachers. but question the education system s flexibility. Nor is it the intention to bash the academic curriculum.

4 Definition Context Sensitivity the spontaneous, quick and subconscious use of context in giving meaning, when that meaning is not obvious, and in everyday situations

5 Definition Context Blindness is a deficit in the ability to use context spontaneously and subconsciously to perceive meanings.

6 Outside Context- Stimulus/ Immediate/ and Broad. Broad Context Immediate Context Stimulus

7 Internal Context Emotional State and processing ability Sensory Feedback All interrelate Social understanding Life experiences Prior knowledge

8 Social Context Struggle to make sense Negative impact on resilience Negative impact on self esteem Negative impact upon emotional wellbeing Negative impact of self confidence

9 Social Context Recognising: Increasing numbers of people with Autism in the media as victims of crime. Increasing numbers of people with Autism in the media being the perpetrators of crimes. Young people with autism made more vulnerable to grooming in general through technological advances.

10 Newspaper Stories An autistic teenager who targeted vulnerable underage girls in Hersham for his sexual pleasure has been jailed for three years. One of the problems that is clear to me is you have a limited understanding of what is right and wrong sexually and that is a problem that in due course will have to be addressed by you, otherwise it is likely you will commit further offences in the future, (Presiding Judge)

11 Newspaper Stories A MAN who breached his sexual offences prevention order six times has been sent to jail. Teenager, 18, randomly stabbed three women because he could not lose his virginity then taunted police with note that said 'catch me if you can'

12 Social Context I am asserting that teaching social understanding is: Vital for the development of positive emotional wellbeing and resilience and it s absence is: A significant safeguarding concern.

13 Social Context Questioning : Why aren t schools addressing this? Under acknowledgement of the social vulnerability? Does the teaching about social context receive the priority time that it needs??

14 Social Context In order to support young people with Autism into a successful adulthood, what do we need to be offering: (8) GCSEs? Emotional Wellbeing which must include teaching: To unpick and begin to understand social situations and their response options. Effective Communication Independence and self confidence An understanding of themselves and their autism

15 Social Context In order to support young people with Autism into the world of employment and work what do we need to be offering: (8) GCSEs? Emotional Wellbeing which must include teaching : Unpick and begin to understand social situations and their response options Effective Communication Independence and self confidence An understanding of themselves and their autism

16 Surrey Parent Voice Free School Survey June parent responses to a choice for high functioning young people with autism of:

17 DFE and Mainstream Focus Current National Picture the whole child - Nicky Morgan Over-riding driver -academic learning for all pupils OFSTED. Secondary - Progress 8 for all pupils Resulting in pupils with Autism accessing the same PSHCE curriculum as mainstream pupils.

18 DFE and Special School Focus Special Schools do give more time to PHSE but this is more often predicated upon the more practical: Life Skills OFSTED expectations re: Academic Curriculum

19 Why has this area been neglected? Attempting to undertake the teaching of social understanding is a massive task. Carol Gray and Peter Vermeulen. Nebulous Vast range Subconscious actions being taught Training in understanding the difficulties and strategies

20 How can we help to ensure that these needs are addressed? In Primary Schools through: Understanding that they can trust key staff in school completely. Social skills groups become supporting social understanding. Effectively building in the use of Comic Strip Conversations and Social Stories in groups or individually. Individual tutorials. Challenging behaviour is recognised as anxiety. Engaging Parents

21 How can we help to ensure that these needs are addressed? In Secondary through: Trusting relationships - peer mentors Additional social understanding currriculum. Similar strategies Social Articles and Comic Strip Conversations groups and individually Redressing the balance of GCSE s /social Accept and explain different behaviour rules Engaging parents

22 Through these approaches: Beginning to make sense Positive impact on resilience Positive impact on self esteem Positive impact upon emotional wellbeing Postive impact of self confidence

23 What is the range of things that may need to be taught?

24 Questions