SEND and Mental Health Support
Ideas for learning at home
We can’t say yet when we’ll be able to open the school fully, but please be assured that we’ll continue doing everything we can to keep supporting you and your child. It is a strange and challenging time, so it’s ok if you and your child feel worried at the moment. Remember, if you have any concerns about helping your child learn or you need any other support from the school, please contact their class teacher via the class email addresses or contact me at senco@elton.cheshire.sch.uk
I know many parents and families are juggling home learning with work and other commitments, so it is important that we look after each other and do what we can to offer support. Teachers are busy supporting their class with home learning via email, all children have received textbooks to support with English and maths, Mr Manning has been sending out updates on different websites and Mrs Charlton has been doing a fabulous job at updating our home learning tab on the website. In addition to these resources, I have collated some ideas below which I hope will help those children who are struggling to understand what it is happening right now and also those who may need support to adjust to a different routine.
Helping your child at home whilst school is closed:
It is important to remember - no one expects parents to act as teachers, there is no expected amount of work to be completed each day and there certainly isn't a particular resource that you have to use. Please ensure that you map out what works for you and your family, whether that be online, through the textbooks, on Times Tables Rock Stars or an activity set by you.
Here are some activities or ideas to help support learning in your home:
Structuring the day
Do not worry about trying to maintain a full timetable for your child like they have at school, however you may find that your child will feel more comfortable with a predictable routine. Here are some ideas of what you could include in your timetable:
- get up and go to bed at the same time each day;
- have regular meal times;
- have regular breaks;
- make time to be active;
- take time to read; and
- perhaps complete at least one learning activity a day (English and maths).
Now and Next
It can be really useful for a child to know what they need to complete now and what is going to happen next. In school, we sometimes use a chart called 'Now and Next' to support us in achieving structure and giving children notice. To do this, we ensure we share with the child the activity we are doing now and place this in the box and then we discuss that once this activity is complete we are going to the next given activity and place that in the box. It is also important that we share what is expected for the activity to be complete, this may be that you are spending a certain amount of time on it or it might be that the child has to be able to complete a certain amount- it is just important that we share this criteria. If possible, a timer is a great way to achieve this or perhaps a dot in the margin or a certain amount of questions.
My Happy Mind
If you are looking for ways to develop relaxation, build self-esteem and improve your whole family’s wellbeing while you are at home, 'myHappymind' are providing access to online activities for nursery children all the way to Year 6. Simply visit the website link below and sign up for your daily sessions.
Emotional Literacy
Mrs Deakin, our fantastic ELSA, has uploaded lots of great resources to help the whole family with their wellbeing and mental health under our ELSA tab on the homepage.
Website links
Live Well Cheshire West Mental Health support
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families: wellbeing advice for all those supporting children and young people.
British Psychological Society (BPS): advice on dealing with school closures and talking to children about COVID-19.
Children’s Commissioner: a downloadable guide for children about coronavirus.
MindEd: an educational resource for all adults on children and young people’s mental health.
The Child Bereavement Network: advice on supporting grieving children during the coronavirus outbreak.
SEND Apps and Games:
Brain Parade
Website: http://www.brainparade.com/products/see-touch-learn-free/
Description: a visual instruction app, including flash cards and picture-choosing games, for children with autism and special needs.
HelpKidzLearn
Website: https://www.helpkidzlearn.com/
Description: a collection of games and resources designed for a range of educational needs and stages. It includes provision for school closure.
Sensory App House Ltd
Website: https://www.sensoryapphouse.com/
Description: a range of apps are available for pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) or Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD). All are interactive and many do not require significant coordination abilities.
Visuals2Go
Website: https://www.visuals2go.com/
Description: an all-in-one app created to support people with communication and learning difficulties. For verbal and non-verbal learners.
Online, downloadable and printable resources from the Department for Education:
Active Learn Primary
Website: https://www.activelearnprimary.co.uk/
Description: the Rapid Reading and Rapid Phonics programmes focus on accelerating progress in reading skills for pupils with dyslexia and with low levels of literacy. Designed for teachers, but suitable for parents too.
Registration: is required
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Website: https://www.annafreud.org/media/11160/supporting-schools-and-colleges.pdf
Description: a downloadable guide to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils and students during periods of disruption. Designed for teachers, but suitable for parents too.
Registration: not required
Charles Dickens Primary
Website: http://www.charlesdickens.southwark.sch.uk/
Description: the Jenny Wren Virtual School SEN Hub offers daily lessons for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, focusing on Makaton and a daily activity to complete with a parent or teacher.
Registration: not required
Do2Learn (USA)
Website: https://do2learn.com/
Description: a range of downloadable resources grouped by theme. Themes include: social skills, songs and games, and picture cards.
Registration: not required
Inclusive Teach
Website: https://inclusiveteach.com/free-printable-sen-teaching-resources/
Description: downloadable and printable accessible teaching resources for parents and teachers to support pupils with a range of SEND needs, including Autism, PMLD, SLCN, MLD, SLD
Registration: not required
PMLD thematic units – from the Northern Ireland Curriculum
Website: http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/curriculum_microsite/SEN_PMLD_thematic_units/index.asp
Description: comprehensive guidance on themed activities for learners with PMLD. A full sensory curriculum is offered. More suitable for teachers, but activities and resources will be useful for parents too.
Registration: not required
Priory Woods School
Website: http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/page/?title=Resources&pid=3
Description: resources from an award-winning, innovative school, rated by Ofsted as outstanding and put together by SEND teachers for parents and teachers. The resources include apps and programmes.
Registration: not required
SEND Gateway
Website: https://www.sendgateway.org.uk/whole-school-send/find-wss-resources/nqt-videos.html
Description: guidance videos created in collaboration with the Centre for Education and Youth (CfEY) to increase the knowledge and awareness of a range of SEND conditions. Aimed at newly qualified teachers but also provides helpful resources and tips that will be useful for parents.
Registration: not required
SENict Activities
Website: https://www.ianbean.co.uk/senict-members-resource-portal
Description: downloadable activities aimed particularly at learners with PMLD, SLD and those who are learning to use assistive technology to access the curriculum. Suitable for parents and teachers.
Registration: not required
SEN Teacher
Website: https://www.senteacher.org/
Description: downloadable and printable resources that can be adapted to suit the needs of pupils. Resources are aimed at a range of abilities. Website has over 300,000 regular users and is suitable for both parents and teachers.
Registration: not required
Speech and Language Kids
Website: https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/free-speech-language-resources/
Description: an extensive range of education and therapy resources for parents and teachers of children with speech and language problems. A podcast is also available on iTunes for verbal and non-verbal children.
Registration: not required
Speech Link Multimedia Ltd
Website: https://speechandlanguage.info/parents
Description: a parent portal with links to downloadable resources, activities and games developed by a team of speech and language therapists and software engineers who work with over 4,000 schools in the UK.
Registration: not required
Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
Website: https://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/
Description: a range of downloadable resources and instructional strategies to support blind and visually impaired pupils. Suitable for parents and teachers.
Registration: is required
The Autism Page
Website: https://www.theautismpage.com/
Description: online support and information aimed at supporting parents with young autistic children. Information and ideas to support the implementation of autism specific teaching methods.
Registration: not required
UCL Centre for Inclusive Education
Description: a guide to help parents adjust to remote learning by providing advice and links to resources.
Registration: not required
Andy’s Top Five
Andy Smith, Inclusion Ambassador/SEND Advocate for Bury, realised there was ‘so much information out there it can be overwhelming to navigate’, so he created some
Top 5 COVID-19 explanation and support resources
1. A huge home learning resource list https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/resources-list-for-home-learning
2. Supporting children and young people with COVID-19 worries https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/COVID19_advice-for-parents-andcarers_20.3_.pdf?token=AWzeUyN_pnEKdOmcGE54N8lBYciSAmxSGVbDM0O4Dt2xL7l6Kk0XR6XhyzYA5khTMAWVauRMND4IkBWSgDR_3G3alNjo9Pe0e aNdGZcWhSFxJ_BhJfeIJqrzKSnJvpCLrq671fTXcNUcCkzYfgTNTsHddLAk9utVdK5rKR9lrMkQ
3. MIND Coronavirus and your wellbeing https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/COVID19_advice-for-parents-andcarers_20.3_.pdf?token=AWzeUyN_pnEKdOmcGE54N8lBYciSAmxSGVbDM0O4Dt2xL7l6Kk0XR6XhyzYA5khTMAWVauRMND4IkBWSgDR_3G3alNjo9Pe0e aNdGZcWhSFxJ_BhJfeIJqrzKSnJvpCLrq671fTXcNUcCkzYfgTNTsHddLAk9utVdK5rKR9lrMkQ
4. 9 ways to stay positive during the pandemic https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2020/03/15/9-ways-to-stay-positiveduring-the-coronavirus-pandemic/#3c5d00b05a8e
5. BBC Newsround Coronavirus information for children https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51204456
Top 5 Free Indoor Exercise Resources
1. Yoga with Adriene https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
2. 9.00am on weekdays - PE with Joe Wicks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
3. Greater Sport ways to keep moving https://www.greatersport.co.uk/ways-to-keep-moving
4. Sport England stay in, work out https://www.sportengland.org/stayinworkout
5. England Athletics - Athletics at Home resources https://www.englandathletics.org/about-us/athletics-athome/?fbclid=IwAR1SGFa5wdC88ZGhfM2inMV8eo1eax3eqVNcd92_xRuVfOYy3o0 NlWTlF8k
Top 5 Boredom Buster Indoor Activities
1. Scouts – The Great Indoors Resources https://www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/
2. A list of virtual tours, including museums and zoos https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KR Rku_w/preview?fbclid=IwAR2lN47dKNtjWUJUPchpdxJSS_kvqLn2kTa_Oa3g1WWvEIZGiEEZ1J4KoQ&pru=AAABcQQzA Qc*j_OXW40DQiYeT7z8bagfiA
3. Audible, free to use during this period https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
4. A really useful home learning ideas book https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/list-of-online-resources-for-anyone-who-is-isolatedat-home
Top 5 education classes by celebrities
1. 10.00am - Maths with Carol Vorderman www.themathsfactor.com
2. 11.00am - English with David Walliams https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses/
3. 1.00pm - Music with Myleene Klass https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQh2wgJ5tOrixYBn6jFXsXQ
4. Science with Professor Brian Cox, Robin Ince & Guests https://cosmicshambles.com/stayathome/upcoming-schedule
5. 9.30am Every Wednesday - Geography with Steve Backshall https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-URP49TgSgyIU1rgh2m7A/
Other resources
Please find some useful resources below and any letters or updates which we have sent out around SEND.
Stay safe and please do email me if you need any ideas or help!
Mrs Higginson
senco@elton.cheshire.sch.uk
