Lynn McCann has been a teacher for 32 years and in that time has worked as a mainstream teacher, SENCO and for eight years was a class and outreach teacher in an autism specialist school. She set up Reachout ASC in 2014 after realising that there was a great need for good, practical, specialist support in mainstream schools. It is an independent service that specialises in autism, ADHD and PDA support, with children's voices at the heart of all they do.

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

What we know about autism

Co-occurring conditions

Language is important

Part 1

How I do things differently - The voice of autistic children

• Communication
• Stimming
• Social interaction
• Masking
• The autistic sensory experience

Part 2

Teaching autistic children: practical strategies

• Getting it right from the start
• The classroom environment
• The Classroom layout in the Early Years
• The Classroom layout in the Lower Primary Years
• Additional environment adaptations in Upper Primary classrooms
• Organisation and routines
• Executive Functions and autism
• Structure and Predictability
• Visual communication
• Visual timetables
• Other ways of using visuals to support communication
• Early Years visuals
• Useful verbal communication
• Teaching the Curriculum
• Motivation
• The Early Years Curriculum
• The Primary curriculum
• Writing
• Assessments, class tests and exams
• Supporting behaviour that concerns
• The role of teaching assistants
• Social support
• Playtimes
• Bullying
• Emotions and anxiety support
• Meltdowns and shutdowns
• Transitions

Part 3

Further resources and links

Bibliography