Communication

At Fox Hollies we believe that all our students have the right to communicate their views, share their feelings, be heard and responded to and be treated with respect and dignity.

(Human Rights Act 1998)

We are committed to ensuring that every student at our school has the means, reasons, and opportunities to communicate and to participate fully in our school community.

We adopt a graduated approach to support students’ communication needs, providing a

Total Communication Environment (TCE).

Literacy and Communication

Why – Purpose and Rationale
Literacy and Communication underpins every Area of Learning. It supports students to connect with the world, make choices, form relationships, and express themselves. We believe communication is a right, not a skill to be earned—this belief drives every interaction, strategy and target.

What – Core Content
This Area of Learning includes:

  • Early interaction and shared attention

  • Expressive and receptive communication

  • Symbolic understanding and AAC

  • Reading for meaning

  • Mark-making and writing development

  • Exposure to stories, rhymes and functional literacy
    All content is tailored to each student’s developmental stage and communication profile.

How – Teaching and Learning Approaches
Delivered through our core values:

  • Engagement: intensive interaction, shared play, story and song

  • Environments: symbol-rich spaces, personalised communication aids, sensory story areas

  • Experiences: communication in routines, phonics sessions (where appropriate), role play, mark-making, vocabulary games
    We use a Total Communication approach, including:

  • Signing (Signalong/Makaton), symbols/photos

  • Objects of reference, high/low-tech AAC

  • Body language, gestures, vocalisations
    Examples across pathways:

  • P1: sensory stories, communication through body language

  • P2: choices via communication aids, early phonics

  • P3: supported reading/writing, phonics and comprehension

How Well – Assessment and Progress

  • Fox Hollies Literacy and Communication Progression Frameworks

  • A2E Literacy Toolkit (semi-formal learners)

  • EHCP outcomes (e.g. communication and interaction, expression)

  • Phonics frameworks (Twinkl Phonics, Rapid Phonics/Reading)

  • Evidence for Learning – photo/video evidence, annotations
    Links to: Skills for Life, My Body My Rights, and My World.
    Students have personalised communication profiles and passports.