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>> The friendly group came about because initially as part of a multi professional team in school
and itís my role a specialist teacher for behaviour, we were discussing several children
that had a diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum who were really struggling
both socially and emotionally at school. We decided to trial having a group to encourage
them to make friends but because it was something we hadnít done before we sort of
just started in a very small way to start with.
>> For some time weíve had issues around our children on the autistic spectrum
usually in class theyíre very compliant because theyíve got the structure of the classroom
and the routines and things happen in the same way day by day
but then when they go out in to the playground itís a totally different environment
and in that environment, all those structures, all those things that hold their school day together for them
become much more flexible and what we were finding is that these are the children
that you see sitting on the bench on their own. They feel isolated,
because their communication and social skills are not good, so friendships are difficult for them,
making those initial relationships and maintaining them in the playground is very difficult
and so we needed something that would support us in school in helping those children as a group.
>> He could come along to a group where there are children similar to him all on the autistic spectrum
and he could just really sort of be himself realise that heís not alone
because he does know that he is different to other children and heís sort of got people
doing the same things the he does, thinking the same way he thinks
and itís just nice for him to have a little group of friends that donít worry how he is
and they all just get along fine and they can must be themselves
>> The talking time is the most important part of friendly group because
our children like to talk about things theyíre interested in
and itís a chance for them to experience the feeling of what itís like to be listened to.
We use visual cards to help the children think about their feelings and think about their own strengths
as well as the strengths of others in the group. We play a lot of games it gives them opportunities
to play these games that perhaps theyíve avoided in a bigger situation
because theyíve not understood what the rules are or theyíve not coped with loosing
or not being first in our small group it doesnít matter if they donít cope with loosing,
we just feel pleased when they feel they can come out and have another go.
One of the things they love to do is make up a story together
they have wonderful imaginations and they have fabulous ideas and they get an experience
of trying to negotiate their ideas so that they have to learn to cooperate with each other
to make the story work. At the end of the group we always like to finish with an affirmation
and itís a time to come together and think about something good thatís happened
so that we end the group on a really positive note so that children can go out ready to do another week back in school.
>> In this you let the pupils take control and they really gain in confidence
and find them selves. The playgrounds had a great impact out there when weíve got some children
that canít communicate as well they look for other people in friendly group and find them to play
and to sit with in the lunch hall. I find it fascinating itís an inspiration to run,
every week is different and they just teach me so much.
>> Itís been amazing in the first instants it gives the children an incentive,
its something they enjoy they like coming together and so there keen to get into school
and there forming friendship groups as they see it and whereas as before they felt different
and frustrated a lot of time suddenly theyíre with a group of children like themselves
that may have different issues but when they come together they see a little bit of themselves
in the others in the group and its a time when they can be themselves, relax and feel that
everyone in the group is there to support them.
>> So excited to come to friendly group but then even after it to then go home heíll tell you about friendly group
and heíll tell his brother and heíll tell his step-brother and everybody about friendly group he absolutely loves it.
>> One two three. Goodbye friendly group