This course will be of interest to staff of all disciplines who work with adults and children with severe learning difficulties. Intensive Interaction is an approach where the member of staff is seen as the main teaching resource, using personal qualities of face, voice and body language to involve the learner in progressive sequences of interactive activities. These activities provide the person with learning difficulties with the opportunity to learn the pre-speech fundamentals of communication such as enjoying being with another person, giving sustained attention, turn-taking, use and understanding of eye contact, facial expressions, body language and non-verbal signalling. The course will include extensive use of video examples. Comprehensive handouts will be given. Course members should expect to work in a warm humorous and supportive atmosphere.