Advanced training materials for autism; dyslexia; speech, language and communication; emotional, social and behavioural difficulties; moderate learning difficulties

Narrator:

Hendon School is a large mainstream secondary school in North London. With a resource provision for students on the autism spectrum. For the past few years the school has been utilising the skills of typically developing students to support pupils from the provision.

Classroom interaction

Teacher: Can you think a little bit about what is good about being a peer supporter?

Pupil: When you're a peer supporter you get lots of experience in being with children with autism, but also you feel that you've done something good for somebody else who needs more support.

Teacher: Fantastic, anybody else?

Georgie:

My role is to help them in classes and at break times and lunchtimes, social times when they're finding it hard. To make school enjoyable for them and not make it hard for them because some autistic children will find school very hard.

Narrator:

Starting in year seven, the peer supporters receive child line training which includes counselling and active listening skills. This is coupled in training in the understanding of autism.

Gerogie:

The support I get when I'm a peer supporter is, if I'm unsure of about what to do, you can ask any of the TA's or Caroline, or someone who knows about autism quite well. So you can ask them and they will be able to sort it out, or advise you on what to do. They will help you.

Caroline Downs ??? Manager of Hendon Resource Provision

The system of peer support has enormous benefits for everybody. In terms of the students being supported - massive benefits. So to have a network of peer supporters in whom we have total confidence, is critical.

Classroom interaction

Patrick: Don't, don't look.

Pupil 1: Patrick, you're looking at it.

Pupil 2: You shouldn't look at your card remember.

Patrick: Oh no.

Lauren:

If you didn't have a peer supporter then life would be harder because you wouldn't have anyone to rely on. I would actually feel less confident because I'm like thinking to myself ???hmm what's happened to my peer supporters???? or ???why have I got no peer supporters???? it really it would be really weird actually.

Narrator:

Mainstream peers offer social and emotional support to students with autism, but support can also be given in classroom settings.

Lauren:

Parissa is in my maths class and if I got stuck I might ask Parissa and she's quite good at explaining it.

Narrator:

The peer support system at Hendon school has proven successful in terms of inclusion, increasing the independence and social skills of those students being supported, as well as developing emotional intelligence, and a sense of commitment for the supporters.