PSHE: autism spectrum disorder at P level 7

This level requires the pupil to use simple phrases, to make purposeful relationships and to use negotiating skills. This will be challenging if they find it difficult to appreciate others’ views and feelings. They may also lack an understanding of right and wrong.

You can:

• Use obvious examples of situations that reflect emotions and talk about them, using props. For example act out a situation where the AS pupil can see another pupil using something they like playing with. Encourage interaction between the two pupils about sharing the toy, turn and turnabout. Encourage the other pupil to explain that they like playing with this toy too and feel sad if someone takes it from them. Use cartoons or photos of faces with different emotions.  Read more about this in the SEAL resources. Use phrases such as: ‘Ben is feeling sad’ ‘Tom is feeling cross’. Then develop these into why Ben might be feeling sad - use lots of example.
• Try modelling a sad face for pupils to copy or a game where pupils make a face to show an emotion and their partner guesses what it is.  Talk through what the expression and features of our faces are telling us, for example what the mouth, eyes and forehead are doing.
• Help develop an understanding of right and wrong by having clear boundaries. Help the pupil realise the impact their actions have on others and link this to cause and effect in other areas of the curriculum, particularly science. Make sure there is no confusion between the word ‘right’ and ‘write’. This may need explaining to the Asperger’s pupil.