The Intensive Interaction Classroom Guide

This new edition is a practical guide to implementing the Intensive Interaction Approach in a school setting and provides essential technical support to teachers and practitioners from nursery to Post-16 who wish to embed it into their classroom practice. Geared mainly towards supporting children with communication and social-communication differences arising from autism, learning difficulties, or complex needs, the principles apply equally to students of all levels of cognitive ability who struggle with social situations and emotional or sensory regulation. The Intensive Interaction Classroom Guide brings together contributions from experienced teachers, teaching assistants, and headteachers who reflect on their practice and share practical tips to facilitate social-communication development within a nurturing classroom environment. Offering practical advice on curriculum and pedagogy and drawing on case studies, authors address key themes on a practical level, while grounding their discussions theoretically and methodologically. This second edition includes information on neuroscience and neurodivergence, which supports the use of Intensive Interaction in a teaching and learning context. This perspective will be valuable for all teachers and practitioners, whether in specialist or mainstream settings supporting individuals with social-communication differences. Filled with practical advice and techniques, this book will be essential to anyone working in classroom settings with students who experience social-communication difficulties or need a nurturing approach to emotional well-being.

Amandine Mourière has worked with neurodivergent individuals with autism, complex needs, and PMLD for over 15 years. She is a Systemic Practitioner and Head of Training for the Intensive Interaction Institute. Pam Smith taught students aged 2-19 yrs with autism, SLD, PMLD, and complex needs for 30 years and is currently a Trainer and Director for the Intensive Interaction Institute. She is also the parent of an autistic adult.

Foreword List of Contributors 1 INTRODUCTION Amandine Mourière & Pam Smith 2 THE STORY OF INTENSIVE INTERACTION Dave Hewett 3 AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE - INTERFACES BETWEEN PEOPLE, BRAINS AND NEURODIVERGENCES. Pam Smith & Amandine Mourière 4 THE MOST IMPORTANT LEARNING Pam Smith 5 INTENSIVE INTERACTION AS A TEACHING AND LEARNING APPROACH Amandine Mourière 6 MY JOURNEY TO INTENSIVE INTERACTION IN THE EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE Rhianne Richards 7 DEVELOPING A WHOLE-SCHOOL APPROACH TO USING INTENSIVE INTERACTION TO PROMOTE SOCIAL COMMUNICATION AND WELL-BEING Debbie Stagg 8 INTENSIVE INTERACTION WITHIN THE GENERAL COMMUNICATION CURRICULUM Lana Bond & Inga K. Serafin 9 INTENSIVE INTERACTION WITHIN OUR HOLISTIC AND CHILD-CENTRED APPROACH AT BRØNDAGERSKOLEN Sanne Laudrup & Pernille Hasseriis Noach 10 DEVELOPING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION THROUGH FREE-FLOW PLAY Katy Snell & Julie Cassidy 11 INTENSIVE INTERACTION AND BIRTH OF PROCESS CENTRAL CURRICULUM ACCESS Sue Lowry & Bec Anderson 12 TOUCH - THE CEMENT THAT BINDS US Julia Barnes 13 ENSURING ACCESS TO INTENSIVE INTERACTION THROUGH EDUCATION HEALTH AND CARE PLANS Lucy Hankin 14 GETTING IT RIGHT WITH RECORDING INTENSIVE INTERACTION Graham Firth and Lynnette Menzies 15 MANAGEMENT ISSUES: ENSURING A SCHOOL IS INTENSIVE INTERACTION FRIENDLY Anne Adams