Total Communication

Old Park is a Total Communication environment, where all communication is equally valued and respected. We use a holistic approach to ensure our environments are engaging and accessible for all of our unique learners. We use speech, body movements, facial expressions, Makaton signs, Widgit symbols, multi-sensory referencing, objects and a range of individual communication systems while also ensuring the space, routine and interaction style is as supportive and appealing for our pupils.

Importance of visuals

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

PECS aims to teach the child how to communicate and the potential benefits from communication. It begins by teaching an individual to give a picture of a desired item to a “communicative partner?, who immediately honours the exchange as a request. The system goes on to teach discrimination of pictures and how to put them together in sentences. In the more advanced phases, individuals are taught to answer questions and to comment.

Aided Language displays (ALDS)

An ‘aided language display’ is a symbol display where all the relevant vocabulary for a specific activity is displayed on a single page. Vocabulary is organised to help combine words and buildsentences from left to right across the display. Certain key symbols and core words such as ‘more’ and ‘finished’, which frequently appear on displays, are located in the same place each time to help pupils understanding and use of them.