1. Communication Policy Statement
A Total Communication Approach is central to everything we do at Mayfield
School.
DATE ADOPTED: September 2008
DATE REVIEWED: September 2009 (amendments will be made to reflect the
recommendations of the successful Specialist College bid)
Mayfield School is a Special School which caters for pupils aged 3 - 19 years
who have severe, complex and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many
of the pupils have moderate to severe speech and language difficulties.
INTENT
This Policy updates the previous policy of 2007 which was written in response to the
appointment of a specialist speech and language teacher with appropriate qualification
(Post Graduate Diploma in Speech and Language Difficulties: Birmingham University)
awarded a Communication Teaching and Learning point, and the creation of a
Communication Team made up of Specialist teacher, 2 speech and language therapists
and the input of an occupational therapist.
THE COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT
Each student will be exposed to an active total communication environment at all times.
AAC techniques are to be made available, as much as possible, at all times - not just in
speaking and listening sessions.
The curriculum is to be presented in such a way that AAC techniques are used to
enhance access to all areas of the curriculum, e.g. topic boards, generic communication
mats eg for a cooking session, whole class PECs.
The use of Total Communication and its implications are to be included in IEPs.
It is recognised that aided speakers require more time to formulate their responses
and therefore additional time will be afforded to these pupils.
Parents/carers are offered support and training to ensure continuity between home
and school eg communication passports, objects and sounds of reference,
communication aids, PECs
Communication between home and school is offered via the regular written diary, a
recorded message on a Talking Pad, or via the Mayfield VLE (Moodle)
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2. AAC is understood to mean “any method of communicating that can supplement the
ordinary method of speech where this is impaired”.
At Mayfield School we aim to provide total communication. This means that pupils and
staff are encouraged to use every available form of communication, with a particular
emphasis on what is relevant to individuals.
Total Communication includes Intensive Interaction strategies, gestures, body language
and facial expression, objects and sounds of reference, Makaton signing supplemented
with Sign Supported English, Single Message Communication Aids and more complex
aids eg Boardmaker Activity Pad, PECs, communication passports.
The Communication Team recognises that communication is functional and develops best
within the context of real life, however they do work with individual pupils to develop
specific communication skills as well as supporting pupils and staff within the classroom.
All students will be encouraged to learn sign language to facilitate communication with
their signing peers.
Pragmatic skills will be taught through the Social Use of Language Programme
AIMS
To pursue the right of every pupil to have an effective means of communication
regardless of their disability.
• To strive for excellence in the field of current total communication practice, and to
ensure equality of provision and opportunity on both departments of the school (Lakes
an d Planets).
• To empower pupils to make choices and exert control over the environment.
• To ensure carefully managed transition throughout the school and at key stages of
transition to other placements.
• To ensure continuity of provision throughout all classes and departments within the
school.
• To keep informed of developments in the rapidly changing field of AAC.
• To actively foster a total communication environment giving equal status to all
methods of communication.
• When possible, to enable pupils to be responsible for determining their preferred
method of communication.
• To provide motivating situations in which pupils can develop their language skills using
total communication in meaningful, functional and enjoyable ways both to effect social
interaction and to access the Curriculum.
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