Category: Resources

  • Bereavement and Learning Disabilities

    For a child or adult with a Learning Disability dealing with grief can be very difficult and life disorientating.

    Books Beyond Words enables this topic to be dealt with in a meaningful, compassionate and understandable way.

    Bereavement Mini Book-Set Available Here

    Books Beyond Words - Bereavement Gif
  • “Girls with Autism; flying under the radar” – a new mini guide for schools and child based services.

    To mark World Autism Awareness Day, nasen has launched a new mini – guide highlighting the needs of girls with , or without a diagnosis of Autism. Written by Jo Egerton and Barry Carpenter, with contributions from the Girls with ASC Working Party, the guide is a free download to schools and services.

    The guide aims to articulate the current needs and issues surrounding girls with Autism . They are an under-diagnosed group , whose needs often go unmet in schools , and whose mental health in the teenage years often rapidly deteriorates. The Working Party, chaired by Professor Carpenter, realised that they did not have a common language to express these concerns, and their goal in preparing this Guide has been to improve the foundation knowledge and understanding in schools and other child based settings.

    As their work drew to a conclusion, they realised that there was so much more to do . The Group will continue its work under the auspices of the National Association of Headteachers, and specifically the National Forum for Neuroscience in Special Education (www.naht.org.uk ). This will include a major National Conference in London early in 2017; detail will be posted on this website.

    Girls and Autism - Flying Under the Radar - PDF
    Girls and Autism – Flying Under the Radar

    Click the thumbnail below to open and view.

  • Early Inclusion through Learning from Each Other

    The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ratified by most European countries foresees an inclusive education for all. Within this context most European countries have expressed their political will to implement the inclusive philosophies and concepts at all levels of policy and services related to issues for persons with disability (The European Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020). However a significant lack of methodologies and sharing knowledge in this field can be observed. Professionals report high need for information, training and concrete resources. Early- Inclusion, is an Erasmus Plus Project through the European Union (www.early-inclusion.eu).

    The UK is involved through, and represented by, Chadsgrove Teaching School  (contact: Bev Cockbillbac42@chadsgrove.worcs.sch.uk). Professor Barry Carpenter (UK) is the Lead Consultant to the Project, and has contributed to its design, and initial research and development approaches.

    The poster below outlines the preliminary work of this Project, which has a particular focus on the development of Teaching Assistants, (and similar) in a variety of education and childcare settings.

    Please click the thumbnail below to open and view the poster in full.

    early inclusion poster - thumbnail

  • Understanding Pica

    Pica is often a misunderstood, or as a little known condition in children with developmental disabilities, but it can have a devastating effect on their learning and quality of life. The article below raises some of the key issues in an informative and relevant way.

    Click the thumbnail below to open and download the full article.

    Understanding Pica behavior

     

     

  • Using The Engagement Profile and Scale (EPS) for Baseline Assessment.

    In these days of Assessment without Levels , a new range of possibilities emerge for utilising the EPS for  the continuous assessment of children with Special Educational Needs.
    The article by Karam Bogal on pages 16-19 of the latest issue of SEND magazine, illustrates how the EPS can be used effectively for Baseline Assessment. ( see below.)
    This article is based on  a final study Karam conducted , under my supervision , for his Schools Direct PGCE programme.  It shows that there is always  something for teachers to learn from each other –  whatever stage they are at in their careers.
  • Anxiety & Autism

    Even though mental illness can be more common among autistic people than the general population, the mental health of people on the autism spectrum is often overlooked.

    The National Autistic Society provides a range of information and advice on dealing with mental health issues and anxiety, which can be found on our website.

    http://www.autism.org.uk/about/health/mental-health

  • Books to support Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

    As schools grapple with the challenges of implementing policy, pedagogy and practice around SEMH , they should certainly look at the potential offered in Books Beyond Words. Don’t be put off by the fact that there are no words! These books allow the emotional centres of the brain to express deep and complex emotions . They will be especially useful for a range of children and young people with SEND. The story format of each books  encourages emotional expression , and facilitates resolution to emotional issues that children with Autism , for example, do not find easy to decode.
    There are a range of books that particularly support Personalised Learning too. Topics that we may find difficult to articulate to the child, or for which the bog standard leaflet has no relevance, (e.g., managing Type 1 Diabetes) are powerfully expressed through the medium of pictures, in a way that is comprehensible and informative to the child with SEND.
    I have work with the Team at Books Beyond Words to classify from their catalogue those books most relevant to SEMH, and Personalised Learning . They will enrich our curriculum journeys in these areas considerably.
  • Discount offer from Routledge on books by Professor Barry Carpenter

    Discount offer from Routledge on books by Professor Barry Carpenter

    Screenshot 2016-02-04 19.59.04