SEND – help at home
Below is a range of advice and resources which you might find useful. Some children might have more than one area of need so you might find useful resources in more than one section.
If you have any worries or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in contact using the office email address office@nc.huish.education (put SEND or SENDCo in the subject).
General
A brilliant collection of resources for parents/carers that cover a wide range of needs.
Cognition and Learning
Top Tips
- Focus on one or two key objectives (contact me or your class teacher if you need help with this).
- Make it multi-sensory (use physical, visual, auditory support).
- Use your child’s interests to motivate them. What do they like and how can you use it in their learning?
- Make reminders to help remember key information.
- Remember to practise, practise, practise (over learning is really important).
- Give children plenty of thinking and processing time.
- Take lots of breaks (learning is tiring, especially when you have an additional need).
- Most importantly – Keep it fun!
The SOMPAR website has a range of useful advice sheets for schools and parents on supporting handwriting, letter and number reversals and organisational skills: http://www.sompar.nhs.uk/what-we-do/children-and-young-people/parent-carer/integrated-therapy-service/how-to-help-your-child/advice-sheets/
Twinkl have a free SEND Home Learning Pack: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/send-school-closure-home-learning-resource-pack-t-s-2548769
The Nessy website has some great tips and advice on how parents can help: https://www.nessy.com/us/parents/dyslexia-information/6-ways-parents-can-help-dyslexia/
Communication and Interaction
The SOMPAR website has lots of advice sheets for parents and schools to support: expressive language, attention, social communication, speech sounds, stammering, transitions, verbal comprehension and vocabulary: http://www.sompar.nhs.uk/what-we-do/children-and-young-people/parent-carer/integrated-therapy-service/how-to-help-your-child/advice-sheets/
Visual supports, timetables and ‘now and next’ boards are a great way to help your child know what is going to be happening and will help to reduce anxiety. Autism.org has lots of information and links to useful resources: https://www.autism.org.uk/visualsupports
The SOMPAR website also has a series of simple videos on supporting Language Development: http://www.sompar.nhs.uk/what-we-do/children-and-young-people/parent-carer/integrated-therapy-service/how-to-help-your-child/language-development-film/
Social stories can be useful in explaining things to children and developing social understanding. Autism.org has lots of information and links to useful resources: https://www.autism.org.uk/about/strategies/social-stories-comic-strips.aspx
Some useful resources from our Autism Advisory Teacher
Sensory and Physical
Remember that children with sensory needs may need regular ‘sensory breaks’ during the day. These might include proprioceptive activities and/or vestibular activities. There are so many great resources online.
Propreoceptive Ideas:
- pushing and pulling
- jumping and bouncing
- wrapping tightly in a blanket
- hugs
- carrying heavy objects
- kneading
- chewing, sucking through straws or blowing
Vestibular Ideas:
- rocking
- gentle stretches
- upside down movements
- marching, walking etc in a straight line
- balancing e.g. yoga
- swinging
The SOMPAR website has lots of useful advice sheets for parents and schools for supporting balance, ball skills, core stability, dressing, fasteners, flexible joints, hand gym, scissors, shoes and socks and shoe laces: http://www.sompar.nhs.uk/what-we-do/children-and-young-people/parent-carer/integrated-therapy-service/how-to-help-your-child/advice-sheets/
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
Please have a look at our ELSA page for lots of useful tips and resources on supporting your child’s social, emotional and mental health needs at home.
The SOMPAR website has lots of useful advice sheets for parents and schools in supporting calming, self-esteem and transitions: http://www.sompar.nhs.uk/what-we-do/children-and-young-people/parent-carer/integrated-therapy-service/how-to-help-your-child/advice-sheets/
Support Services for Education advice and support: http://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/Services/3242