6 December 2023
This is the third edition of Pathway Education’s Classroom Hero’s series. This series showcases examples of our staff demonstrating the qualities of a classroom hero, as well as highlighting the invaluable job our hard-working educators provide in our partner SEND schools.
This Classroom Hero’s blog is dedicated to teachers working with children with autism. Pathway Education’s staff are leading the way in ensuring neurodivergent children receive the education they deserve.
Autism in the classroom
According to the Office for National Statistics, one in one-hundred children in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with autism, with many experts believing the true number is much higher, but what impact does this have in the classroom? Every child diagnosed with autism is given an education and health care plan (EHCP) which contains strategies that teachers are legally required to implement in the classroom, meaning alongside learning support assistants (LSA’s) children with autism should be able to cope in the classroom; however, this is not always the case.
Our Classroom Hero
Matt is a new ECT (Early career teacher). Matt himself is diagnosed with autism and has been a member of the Pathway team since September. He took on a position as a KS3 Humanities teacher in one of our Special schools in Sevenoaks, Kent that supports pupils with Autism (ASD). Matt has broken down a tremendous amount of his personal social barriers in his quest to ensure children with autism receive an equal education. Here is just some of the glowing feedback we’ve received from Matt’s SENCO:
“With a high intake of children with autism, especially in KS3, many teachers struggle to relate to our students, but this isn’t the case with Matt. From day one, Matt was incredibly open and honest about his autism diagnoses and used it as a tool to inspire our students in their Humanities lessons”.
“Matt has also created a lunchtime club for students who find themselves regularly out of the classroom because of challenges with their emotional regulation, He has to helped them with their class work and developing strategies they can use to enhance their social and emotional development”.
Matt represents the ethos of Pathway Education of going that extra mile for the young people we support in our partner SEND schools. He has used his personal journey with Autism to inspire young people in the classroom and help them develop academically, socially, and emotionally.
Top Man Matt!
If like Matt, you’d like to help transform the lives of children with Autism , join the Pathway Education team today!