Four-year-old Tommy is preverbal and on the autism pathway. He recently joined an SEND Resource Base attached to a local school.

At first, group activities didn’t interest him. He preferred being outside and, when indoors, would sit by the full-length door, facing out, ready to leave the moment it opened.

Tommy rarely spoke. He rarely joined in. He sometimes watched the other children, but mostly, he was in his own world.

Until one day, something changed.

From his spot by the door, Tommy noticed the other children joining in with a Poetry Basket poem. And for the first time, he responded.

He began copying the actions. Tentatively at first. Then with growing confidence.

In the weeks that followed, Tommy inched closer to the group.

He began tapping pictures from the Poetry Basket printouts to show which poem he wanted to hear — like pressing a button on an app.

Next, he started setting out the chairs before each Poetry Basket session. Then he began repeating lines from his favourite poems throughout the day, looking to an adult to say the next line back.

Now, Tommy sits with the group. He waits his turn. He copes when someone else chooses a poem first.

Through the Poetry Basket, Tommy has begun to find his voice. But more than that, he’s found a way to connect with the other children. To join in. To be part of the classroom community.

Tommy’s Journey

As a result of using the Poetry Basket, Tommy:

• Began joining group activities through action-based poems
• Used visual prompts to express preferences and make choices
• Initiated verbal interactions using repeated lines from poems
• Developed confidence, patience, and connection with his peers
• Became an active part of the classroom community