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Specialist Strategies

TEACCH

What is TEACCH?

TEACCH stands for Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children.  The TEACCH approach is a long-established, evidence-based educational framework that originated decades ago.

We acknowledge that the term "handicapped" used in the original acronym is now widely regarded as outdated and inconsistent with current best practice and person-first language.

When referring to this framework, we focus on the modern principles of Structured Teaching developed by TEACCH. These principles emphasise tapping into the visual strengths of autistic learners to promote independence, reduce anxiety, and foster communication, aligning fully with a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming perspective.

TEACCH is not a specific therapy, but rather a structured approach or framework that is applied across the entire learning environment to make the world more understandable and predictable for the student.

Key Principles of TEACCH

The core of the TEACCH approach is built on understanding the learning style of individuals with autism - which is often characterised by strengths in visual thinking, attention to detail, and a preference for routines.

TEACCH aims to capitalize on these strengths by focusing on four areas of structured teaching:

  1. Physical Structure: The classroom or learning space is clearly organised into distinct areas using furniture, visual boundaries, and labels (e.g., a clearly defined work area, play area, and independent area). This minimises distractions and makes the purpose of each space clear.
  2. Schedules: Every activity is communicated through easily understood visual schedules (e.g. using pictures, words, or objects). Schedules tell the pupil what is happening and when, which greatly reduces anxiety and improves predictability.
  3. Work Systems: Each task is presented with a clear start, middle, and end. The work system visually answers four key questions for the student: What am I supposed to do? How much do I have to do? When will I be finished? What happens next?
  4. Task Structure: Individual tasks are adapted to be visually explicit. Materials are organised, sequences are clear, and instructions are often presented visually rather than verbally. This promotes independence and task completion.

Benefits of the TEACCH Approach

By providing this high level of visual clarity and structure, TEACCH helps students:

  • Reduce Anxiety: Predictability and clear expectations make the environment feel safer.
  • Increase Independence: Students learn to rely on the visual structure rather than constant adult prompting.
  • Improve Communication: The visual components support understanding, making communication more effective.
  • Enhance Focus: Distractions are minimized, allowing the student to concentrate on the learning task.

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Broadstairs, Kent
CT10 1EB

01843 863 421

office@stone-bay.kent.sch.uk

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