ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how detailed observation of the behaviour and language of individual children can lead to changes in practice and can enable the children to have opportunities more similar to their peers. In the sessions to be described, observation and evaluation of achievements were assisted by tape recording the sessions. National Curriculum documents remind us that children's questions and answers are strong indicators of their levels of achievement, their understanding and misunderstanding, the extent of their planning, the extent to which planned outcomes are being fulfilled, their attitudes to the activity and their changing levels of motivation (National Curriculum Council 1989a). These words can be daunting for those who have the responsibility of enabling access to the curriculum for children who have speech and language difficulties and for their assessment. The following science session and subsequent re-teach session took place with a group of 5 to 6 year olds who were at Year 1 in the National Curriculum.
