OTHER SUPPORT
Our aim is to bring the best out of every pupil that attends Ermine Street Church Academy
Social Interactions
We often don’t think about how we make friends and interact with others, we just take it for granted that we know what to say and how to behave around others. However for some children social interactions can be confusing and worrying. They can be a mind field of social cues, and subtle gestures that can be difficult to pick up and understand. Teaching children specific social skills can help know what to say and do in a range of situations, and in doing so, help them gain the confidence to build friendships, and know how to behave with others.
Turn Taking
Learning to take your turn comes as children grow and develop and become more aware of the feelings of others. However sometimes children may need a little help to learn this skill.
Having something visual to show whose turn it is can help children understand and use taking their turn as a rule in a conversation and game. The visual aid may be a toy to hold or a hat to wear, that is passed on each time someone new takes their turn.
Talking to Others
Giving a child that is struggling to make friends, the words to use to initiate a conversation with other children can help them know what to do to start talking to other children, and in doing so give them the confidence to have a go. Practicing having conversations at home can also help build a child’s confidence in talking to others.
‘Let’s Talk’ Conversation Cards
Other Social Skills
Social Stories
Sometimes children have difficulty picking up daily routines or social behaviours. when this happens children need to be taught the skills and behaviour for different situations specifically. Simple stories that break down a routine or behaviour into several small simple steps can help children gradually change their behaviour and learn what to do in situations they find difficult. The text is kept simple and short, and used alongside simple line drawing pictures or photographs. The stories are shared with children again and again, and can be acted out, to help them understand and remember what it tells them to do. Each social story is created in the way that is felt best for an individual child, but the more personalised it can be, the better. Here are some examples of different types and styles of Social Stories.
Social story photo book example - Why can’t I go outside at break time when its raining?
Routines
We all follow some form of routine each day which becomes automatic. We don’t need to think about what we are doing, it just happens, and that enables us to think and focus on other things. However, if we don’t know what order we should do things in, or what will happen next it can cause us to become anxious and prevents us from concentrating on other things. Some children can experience this uncertainty and anxiety every day, when they can’t remember what comes next in a sequence or daily life. Having a visual timetable showing them, enables them to know what to expect and can be checked at any time should they need to remind themselves, and in doing so greatly reduce their anxiety levels. In a similar way, having a routine sequence suddenly change can also cause anxiety. Preparing and fore warning children that a routine will or may change helps them accept the change more readily than when it appears to suddenly be sprung on them.
Visual timetables of activities for the day, can help children to feel relaxed about their routines and sequences they use each day, and can also help to show them when a change to this routine may be needed.
Resources to support changes in routines
First / Then sequencing
Sometimes children can worry about what will happen next and this can distract them from focusing on the task they are working on. Having a short sequence of tasks or activities enables them to know what will happen next, and in doing so help them to relax and focus.
First / Then / Next board (use with Daily routine cards above)