Within This Issue
This issue has the theme of ‘Making Sense of the World’. It begins with a review of positive approaches to developing thinking skills in people with PMLD, and looks back at texts which may have become neglected but are still very relevant. Articles cover disparate but related topics: how writers have portrayed people with learning disabilities in fiction the effect of the classroom and school environment, of friendships, and classroom team togetherness, on pupils’ happiness and their ability to make sense of their world; HANDLE (Holistic Approach to Neuro Development and Learning Efficiency) which is an approach which aims to link neuroscientific research and developmental processes; and recognising the interests of adult service users and activities and projects which have proved interesting and meaningful. Other articles include: an assessment format which will assist in creating a greater understanding and awareness of someone’s needs and how they express them; giving wary staff the confidence to use Intensive Interaction; pupil progress in making sounds and expressing themselves through the use of Soundbeam; the value of working as a collaborative team to improve assessment and recording across a number of schools, using the Routes for Learning tool; and the very positive experience of being mentored as a newly qualified teacher.
