'An extremely helpful, compact guide for anyone working in early years education... provides clear information for all professionals who work with children from birth to five with autistic spectrum disorders... A short, accessible and reader-friendly book that addresses the key issues' - Nursery Education
Looking at the early years of a child's life, this book provides information on the services that are available for those from birth to five years, and addresses issues related to identification, assessment, teaching and learning and family support.
It is illustrated with case studies provided by parents and practitioners.
The following areas are discussed:
o the Code of Practice for SEN & the SEN and Disability Discrimination Act
o identification and assessment
o good practice examples of multi-agency collaboration and provision
o partnership with parents
o social skills and behaviour
o alternative intervention and home-based programmes
o the transition from pre-school to school.
Professionals in Health, Social Services and Education, pre-school playgroups, nursery staff, parents and carers will all find this book useful.
Conference Information
The Good Autism Practice (GAP) conference is based on the successful foundations of the Good Autism Practice (GAP) journal, which provides a platform for acknowledging and sharing good practice in autism.
`The 'Raising Early Achievement in Literacy' or REAL project was the result of a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, Sheffield LEA and schools and centres across the city of Sheffield, starting in 1995. For those interested in developing their own projects in this field it will provide essential information. It contains many examples of work carried out this in this project.
Many examples are given that could prompt practitioners to identify ways in which they too could focus their own input with children or help their parent group to interact with their children's developing literacy' - Early Years Update
`A "must read" for practitioners, policy makers and researchers interested in the detail and the theory underpinning this important family literacy initiative' - Neil McClelland OBE, Director, National Literacy Trust
`The REAL Project is one of the best conceptualized, most intensively documented and successful British family literacy initiatives and the book provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of this powerful project. It is essential reading for anyone working alongside families to promote children's early development' - Professor Nigel Hall, Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University
'The project described in detail in this book is arguably the most important and well-researched UK initiative for developing early literacy work with parents of young children.
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Readers will find inspirational case studies ... There are illuminating insights into children's perspectives on family literacy, including good news about fathers and boys.
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Don't miss it!' - Marian Whitehead, Nursery World
Anyone involved in the field of early-childhood literacy should be familiar with the work of the REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy) Project. Here, leading members of the project team Cathy Nutbrown, Peter Hannon and Anne Morgan, discuss the research. An essential guide to the subject, this book will be of great practical use to all in the field of early childhood literacy: students, practitioners and course leaders on literacy and early childhood courses.
The authors discuss the policy contexts of early-childhood and literacy today and use their experience of the REAL project to discuss and illustrate practical research and evaluation strategies for family literacy workers. They examine the issues from all perspectives: teachers, parents and young children. The book concludes with examples of how the theoretical framework of the REAL Project (ORIM) has been used by other practitioners and an examination of the implications of such work for the future of early-childhood and literacy policy development.
The book also includes:
- An informative update on research in the field
- A description of the family literacy programme
- Useful activities for family literacy work
- Guidelines for interviewing parents and children
- Suggestions for how to evaluate family literacy work
- Ideas for practical sessions for professional development for family literacy workers
- A Guide to further reading
This is an important book and should be read by anyone wishing to keep pace with the field of family literacy in early childhood education.
'The layout and presentation of the material are very "user friendly" and the book is, therefore, easy to read. Those with less direct experience of living or working with children who are autistic, including teachers and learning support assistants, who require some help in appreciating the complex range of behaviours and responses such children present, will find this little book illuminating' - Support for Learning
"This is a really practical tool........ the structure of the book is clear and uncomplicated for the reader to access. This book is based on a wealth of experience of working closely both with individuals with Autism and their families. It will be a revelation to professionals interested in this area and a comfort to carers who live the experience. Most importantly, it reminds us of the barriers to positive parent/professional partnership and challenges us to build supportive bridges to effective intervention for the individual with Autism. Autism NI (PAPA) was created out of such a dynamic approach and therefore welcomes this significant commentary on this critical issue."
By giving a concise account of what life may be like following the diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the family, this book examines service provision at different stages, and provides information for parents, carers and practitioners' - Arlene Cassidy, Chief Executive, Autism NI
Parents want support and advice during and after a diagnosis of ASDs, and professionals want to be able to give the right answers. This book will meet the needs of both.
Issues dealt with include:
" how to help the family
" how to help brothers and sisters
" preparing children with ASDs for the world outside
" keeping expectations high
" how to work together with schools and other agencies
" finding community links
'In my view it would be a good read for relatives, friends and teachers in training to enable them to understand many of the issues associated with children who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It points up the various facets of having and living with a child with autism - as far as possible from a positive point of view. The authors, from their obvious extensive experience, have identified many problems and circumstances that parents/carers are likely to meet and that can be tackled in a wide variety of ways. The book is designed to raise these for consideration - and this it does well' - Support for Learning, Volume 22, Number 2
