Helping a less able pupil?

[Puttheheatingon]

Dd1 is a high achiever across the board (Y3). She's come home from school today to tell me that her teacher has had a quiet word with her and one other that as "the most able in the class" could dd and her friend encourage another girl - who has some additional learning needs, I'm friends with her mum - to talk more, use better words etc and if she does, to tell the teacher who will give the girl some sort of award.

I asked dd1 if the girl knows of this intervention as it were and she said no.

Does any of this sound right? It's great that dd is seen to be able, but I'm not sure of the benefit to anyone here.

Sounds very odd to me. I would have thought the girl being helped might feel patronised/victimised if being "coached" by fellow pupils in the circumstances you describe.

Dd1 is able but not always accurate in her recounting so might not be how it is, but I'm confused and I'm glad it's not just me!

My dd is very able, and I'd have no problem with her being asked to help or encourage another child, but the way this has been presented is awful - I wouldn't appreciate her being told that she was "the most able" in the class at all, and I'd find it all very patronising towards the other child.

Good intentions, possibly. But very poorly executed by the sounds of it!

Does the child have an autistic spectrum disorder? Sounds like it could be a "Circle of Friends" approach www.autism.org.uk/working-with/education/professionals-in-schools/resources-for-teachers/circle-of-friends.aspx

I'm not sure if the girl has ASD, but I know she's significantly behind in literacy and numeracy (based on what her mum has said