English is a core subject nationally and fundamental to what we want to achieve for the pupils at Cromwell High School.
There are two main areas of this subject:
- Face to face communication: Speaking and Listening
- Recorded communication: including early reading and writing and text based work
Pupils study English in classes grouped according to their needs so that teachers can accurately target their learning.
Speaking and Listening
The teaching of communication is very structured and pupils use symbols, signs, schedules and visual timetables to understand what is expected of them. All pupils follow a version of the TEACCH structure, which means they complete work and earn a reward, known as a ‘Purposeful Choose’. Classrooms are planned to be low distraction environments so that pupils can concentrate on the things that are important for them to understand.
Within this department, there are a range of communication systems in place, planned to meet the individual needs of our pupils. Most of these systems prioritise requesting behaviours, such as their Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), use of True Object Based Images (TOBI), Objects of Reference and Pro-Loquo To Go.
Comprehension is often very difficult for pupils in this department. We teach elements of language taken from the Derbyshire Language Scheme (DLS), ranging from basic vocabulary to following instructions of increasing length and complexity. In addition, we use other visual systems such as Colourful Semantics, Narrative Therapy and Clicker 4 to help pupils to compose simple sentences, short stories and recounts. In addition understanding of language is supported by the use of sign (BSL - sign assisted English)
Reading and Writing
Pupils learning to read and write work on individually planned activities that enable them to make tiny steps of progress in their early reading and writing skills. All pupils have an individual reading book and this can be sent home with them each day at parent request. Shared Reading sessions and sensory stories give pupils the opportunity to access age appropriate texts. Some pupils within the department work follow the ‘Letters and Sounds’ phonics programme.’ Others learn early reading using visual methods.
Writing and mark making is encouraged in all of the structured classes and pupils are encouraged to enjoy mark making or early writing experiences. Often for pupils who are able to record letters and words in the form of writing or typeface teachers will plan work for them around understanding and using their imagination to describe pictures and write simple stories and recounts. Often symbols and visual systems are used to aid in composition pupils may describe what they can see using PECS and ‘I see…’ sentence starters or they may describe pictures by making subject-verb-object sentences using Colourful Semantics resources.