COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION

I am Gemma Elliott, the Sevenoaks Teacher for Communication and Interaction (C and I). Together with Julia Hadaway from Milestone Academy, we support primary and secondary schools in the Sevenoaks District.

What do we mean by Communication and Interaction?

‘Children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have difficulty in communicating with others. This may be because they have difficulty saying what they want to, understanding what is being said to them or they do not understand or use social rules of communication. The profile for every child with SLCN is different and their needs may change over time. They may have difficulty with one, some or all of the different aspects of speech, language or social communication at different times of their lives.

Children and young people with ASC, including Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism, are likely to have particular difficulties with social interaction. They may also experience difficulties with language, communication and imagination, which can impact on how they relate to others.’ SEN Code of Practice

It is possible for children and young people to experience SLCN difficulties as a stand-alone issue.

Some C&I difficulties include:

difficulties with producing and/or responding to expressive or receptive language.

difficulties uttering speech sounds.

difficulties understanding spoken language and other forms of communication from others.

difficulties with understanding age-related social conventions of interaction, such as turn-taking during conversations, or appropriate level of physical contact during play.

Some possible Diagnoses

Autism (ASD / ASC)

Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

Selective Mutism

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

Expressive & Receptive Language Difficulties