Putting in place the right school support for a neurodivergent child is important to their wellbeing and education. This might mean talking to teachers about making some adaptations, and even helping their school to become more aware of autistic needs.
The below resources are designed to foster awareness in schools and help educators to make simple changes that will better support neurodivergent students.
School sensory environmental audit
Creating a sensory-friendly environment is good for all learners, but is particularly important for neurodivergent children and those who need extra support with emotional regulation or sensory processing. Below you can download a form designed to help teachers evaluate their school learning environment and decide what, if any, changes would benefit neurodivergent learners in the classroom.
Inclusive language audit
Just like considering the sensory environment is important for neurodivergent pupils, so too is awareness of how language is used in schools. For example, some autistic children may interpret things more literally than other students, leading to confusion or frustration where they feel a lack of clarity. This document aims to help educators adopt inclusive language around neurodevelopmental conditions, disabilities, and mental health.
Capturing student feedback
To properly support inclusivity in schools, it’s important that pupil voice (student feedback about their learning activities) is captured effectively. This means doing so in a way that works for both neurodivergent and neurotypical learners. The below downloadable document includes suggestions for a variety of ways teachers can approach this, whilst also catering to diverse thinking and learning approaches.
