Core Word of the Week

The Core Word of the Week programme helps us to give autistic children repeated, meaningful opportunities to learn and use essential everyday vocabulary (e.g., go, stop, more, want). By focusing on just one core word each week, teachers and support staff can model that word consistently across lessons, play, sensory activities, and daily routines. This creates predictable language exposure, which is especially helpful for children who benefit from structure and repetition.

For non-verbal or minimally verbal autistic children, the programme centres on AAC (augmentative and alternative communication). Staff model the weekly core word on communication boards, books, or speech-generating devices while speaking the word aloud. This shows students how the word can be used for real purposes—requesting, commenting, protesting, or engaging socially—without requiring them to speak.

Children are encouraged to participate at their own level. Some may point to or touch the symbol on a communication board, others may use eye-gaze or partner-assisted scanning, and some may combine symbols to make simple phrases. Because the same word appears in many contexts across the week, students have repeated chances to practise and experience success, helping them build functional communication skills and confidence.

Overall, a core word of the week approach gives autistic children—especially non-verbal learners—a clear, consistent, and accessible way to grow their expressive communication using AAC.