Shonnie is a third year pupil at Oban High School who struggled with the written recipe format in his Home Economics Class. While working with him, we developed a picture/word format which transformed his experience. That prototype was further developed and is now successfully used by a number of pupils with additional support needs. He achieved success by using my Step-by-Step recipe format.

Home Ec?


Step	by	Step

Why Step-By-Step?

Whilst working with students with additional support needs in learning support units, mainstream schools, and the wider community, I identified a need for a ‘Step-by-Step’ recipe system to enable them to follow conventional cookery lessons. I set about producing a series of recipes in booklet form, which have been used successfully by students with autism, dyslexia and other non-specific learning difficulties, as well as by students with little or no English reading skills.

Following in-class trials, the booklet format gained support from class teachers who recognized the huge benefits experienced when using ‘Step-by-Step’ recipes. In Acknowledgement of the independence this system offered to each student, a full set of recipe booklets was ordered by the QIO for Supported Learning within Argyll & Bute Council, and subsequently given to each school in the area. The content of the booklets was tailored specifically to reflect the existing lesson plans within schools in Argyll & Bute Education Department.