Communication and Interaction Team (Part of IMPACT)

The Communication and Interaction Team prioritises:

• children on the Social Communication Pathway
• children at points of transfer
• children where there is concern that the placement is in danger of breaking down
• children with a recent diagnosis relating to the autism spectrum
• children who are not making progress despite targeted school support

Roles within the Communication and Interaction Team

Specialist Advisory Teachers - work with children aged 3 to 19. They provide specialist advice and support in relation to:

• Input and advise to inform the Social Communication Pathway
• Differentiating the curriculum, modifying teaching approaches, specialist resources and interventions
• Assessing the impact of language and communication difficulties on a pupil's access to the curriculum
• Advising on appropriate learning targets
• Promoting successful transition
• Autism awareness for other pupils
• Improving pupil access to the social and academic curriculum:-
  • Autism Inclusive Provision
  • Communication Inclusive Settings

Speech and Language Therapists - work with school age children who have an EHCP for communication and interaction. They provide advice on appropriate language targets and programmes.

Augmentative and Alternative Communications Specialist - supports children who use communication aids and staff in the schools working with the children. The AAC Specialist co-ordinates the request for aids, contributes to assessment and supports communication inclusive settings.

Advice line for parents, schools, and settings.

If you need support for a child who has social communication and interaction needs or autism, we are offering an advice line every term-time afternoon between 12:45 - 3:45pm.

If the child is already known to the Advisory Teaching Service you may wish to contact the allocated Advisory Teacher directly via e mail.

For settings using the advice line, if the child is unknown to the Advisory Teaching Service,  any consultation will need to be on a ‘no names’ basis.

Please see below for contact details

How to access the Team and make a referral

To check if you are making a relevant referral to the Communication and Interaction Team please:

• You have included reference to the Gloucestershire Guidance Booklet for Professionals Working with Children and Young People (0-25 yrs): Gloucestershire Guidance Booklet for Education and SEND Professionals
• Check your pupil against the referral pathway: Referral pathwayOpens new window
• Consult with your Advisory Teacher

You should then complete the referral form: Request For Advisory Teacher Involvement form - or in DOCX format.

All staff working for Gloucestershire Advisory Teaching Service who have contact with children have had the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS formerly CRB) Check.

When you submit your paperwork please ensure:

• The parent has signed the form
• You have completed all the relevant sections of the form including curriculum levels
• You have undertaken reviews and/or provision mapping and attached them
• You have attached relevant reports from professionals

Please note incomplete paperwork will result in a delay in our response to your referral.

You no longer need to send the Communication and Interaction checklist. You may like to include the pupil's individual provision map.

Training

The team offer a range of specialised training for SENCos, teachers and teaching assistants.

All training is booked through GCC Plus

If you need any help with booking a course please call 01594 823102.

Parent Support Programmes

Parent workshops are run throughout the year, for parent/carers of children with severe social communication needs and those with difficulties associated with the autism spectrum.

The Team has a commitment to working with children, young people and their families at times of significant change and transition. The Team organises transition meetings before the move into reception from pre-school and transfer into secondary school.

See downloads below for Parent Information Programme 2, a pre-school parent programme, the National Autistic Society 'EarlyBird Plus' Programme for parents/carers of children 4 years to 8 years 11 months and 9+ Parent Programme for parents/carers of children age 9 to 11 years (KS2).