Prior’s Court adopts the Total Communication approach to help autistic young people with complex needs form connections, ensure meaningful interactions and support exchanges of information.

Total Communication honours and accepts all forms of communication and we support a combination of methods so that communication can be individualised for each young person.

Modes of communication that are included in the Total Communication Approach at Prior’s Court include ‘Primary Systems’ or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), such as spoken language or communication book or iPad; and ‘Supporting Methods’, such as sign, objects, or body movements. 

Each young person is assessed by our team of Speech and Language Therapists to determine the most appropriate and robust ‘primary system’ to support any other method of communication.

Communication is one of our seven Areas of Learning which makes up the Prior's Court Learning Framework.

Find out more about the Communication Area of Learning

Intensive interaction as part of our Total Communication approach

What is Intensive Interaction? 

Intensive Interaction is an approach to connecting with and teaching early communication skills to those who find it hard to communicate or be social.

It aims to teach:

• Relating
• Interacting
• Knowing/understanding communication routines
• It also supports wellbeing, emotional regulation and executive function skills including attention and concentration.

Intensive Interaction enables connection with Autistic young people.

Autistic young people often experience the world differently and can be immersed in their own sensory experiences and activities of interest. This means they may be less likely to notice what others are doing or to process  communications from others. Intensive Interaction involves tuning into and joining in with a young person’s way of experiencing the world. It involves observing and joining in the behaviours and play activities that motivate them, including their sounds, movements, and sensory play. It can be a great way of reaching autistic young people, facilitating the joy of social connection as well as building their skills.

The approach teaches young people how to use and understand a range of behaviours as tools for communication. 

• Facial expressions
• Eye contact
• Physical contact
• Noticing another person

It also teaches:

• Sharing personal space
• Attending to another person
• Learning to do sequences of activity with a person
• Taking turns exchanging behaviours building ‘conversations’

All of these skills are practiced and rehearsed spontaneously during interaction.