Total Communication

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At The Meadows, communication is a vital part of our school’s curriculum and pervades all areas of our school life. We recognise that the ability to communicate has a marked impact on a child’s well-being and emotional development.

  • Without REASONS for communication, there is no point in or need to communicate.
  • Without the MEANS of communication, you cannot express yourself.
  • Without OPPORTUNITIES, there cannot be any communication.

 

 

Our Total Communication Strategy at The Meadows School involves developing the Means, Reasons and Opportunities for our pupils to communicate (Money and Thurman, 1994). The development of communication skills may be identified as an area of need on your child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. Individual targets are set and through offering a wide range of communication approaches, we are able to work with you to find the right strategies and tools to meet the specific speech, language and communication needs of your child.

 

       

 

Your help in completing a One Page Profile supports us in creating a comprehensive Communication and Behaviour Passport, ensuring consistency and collaboration between school, home and external settings. This will help to underpin the Means, Reasons and Opportunities for communication that we encourage for your child.

We recognise that even children who can verbalise, may benefit from scaffolding to support both their understanding and their being understood within every interaction. This is why The Meadows has committed to having a fully trained staff using Makaton signing, and classes have core vocabulary available in widget symbols.

We aim to make as many means of communication available, whether it is low-tech, using photographs, objects of reference, using PECs, word mats or creating communication books, or by using higher tech switches and electronic devices. Even if your child is a fluent speaker there may be areas in communication which they find difficult, and will be supported by SULP and ELSA intervention groups.

We believe every child has the right to communicate. This is why we have a universal approach to speech, language and communication. Our Total Communication environment means, no matter what level of communicator your child may be, every class is committed to offering a range of support to ensure they have means to interact and express their needs. This may include:

  • Scaffolding language using Makaton
  • Supporting understanding using Widgit Symbols
  • Developing expressive and receptive language with Colourful Semantics
  • Promoting speech with Cued Articulation
  • Attention Autism
  • Intensive Interaction and sensory communication strategies
  • PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
  • Objects of Reference
  • Communication Mats/Books
  • Vocabulary Mats
  • Assistive technology
  • Social Stories

We also offer a range of targeted interventions to support communication through wellbeing (ELSA) and SULP (Social Use of Language Programme). 

Useful websites for further information: