This booklet provides details of the communication activities which were used as part of a long-term intervention project carried out at the Centre during 1994/5. The project was designed to support the language and communication skills of a group of children with moderate learning difficulties who were being educated at two local special schools. The children were aged between 13 and 15 years, although most of the activities are adaptable for use with younger children. A crucial part of the programme was the type of support the children were given during the sessions. The children were encouraged to use appropriate meta-cognitive strategies which would aid mutual understanding. At the same time, this support was only given at times when communication breakdown was imminent.
This booklet summarises the activities which were used in the communcication skills programme and describes the methods used to support the children. The instructions for playing each of the games are included together with a list of the resources required, and where relevant, their sources. Female pronouns have been used throughout, not because these chiidren were predominantly female, but because, for ease of reading, it is necessary to choose one gender and then stick to it. At the end of the document useful reading material is listed.