English at KS3 and autism spectrum disorder

The National Curriculum for English is statutory in all maintained, mainstream schools up to and including key stage 4. An appropriate version of the curriculum is used in maintained special schools. Key Stage 3 (KS3) covers years 7-9, children aged 12-14 years.

The challenges at this level are the same as KS2. In addition, difficulties with social communication will impact on a child’s ability to be creative in writing. They may struggle to write in different styles for different purposes and to look for deeper meanings than the obvious in literary texts. The child may find fiction less appealing that non-fiction, particularly if encountering emotional responses that they do not understand.

You can:

• Support the child to read creative literature.
• In drama, encourage them to show how someone expresses feelings, through voice, facial expression, gesture and body movements, even if they do not directly identify with that feeling. Participating in drama will help the child read other people’s signals and interact more effectively.
• Use a video camera - it is a powerful tool in helping someone to see how they have created a role in a play, or operated in a group, but be careful not to embarrass the pupil. If the class is sharing feedback, have clear ground rules about criticism.
• Bring the pupil’s particular interests into any choice of topics, but also seek to broaden their interests when possible.