Learning needs · Autism
Homeschooling an autistic child
Predictability matters. The same layout every time, no surprise celebrations, a known number of questions, and a plain explanation rather than a cheerful one.
What it often looks like in practice
- Prefers to know what is coming and when it ends
- Dislikes sudden sounds, confetti or 'well done!' pop-ups
- Very literal: a playful hint can confuse more than it helps
- Deep interests that make a dull example suddenly worth doing
What to switch on
On the child’s learning plan, tick Autism under Learning needs and these come on by themselves — untick any you don’t want:
- Plain, calm feedback (no celebrations)
- Short chunks with a breather between them
- Reduce animations (under Accessibility)
Also helpful
- Interests (up to 3) change the objects in counting questions and the examples the tutor uses.
- A study window in Homework time makes practice happen at the same time each day.
- The tutor's explanations are structured the same way every time: why, steps, one key idea.
- The printable learning report (Progress → Learning report) lists the accommodations in use, what is mastered, what is developing and suggested next steps — written for SENCO, EHCP (IEP / 504) conversations.
What we don’t do
We do not assess for autism; a tag here only changes what the app shows and how it paces sessions.