SEND News for Parents

Dear Parents,

Whilst St Mary’s will continue to support all children with their virtual school learning we also recognise that for those pupils with SEND there may be specific areas of support they may need. I hope the information and links included on the pages below will be useful to you. If you have any further questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the school. For any SEND related questions or concerns please email

lgray@stmarysswanage.dorset.sch.uk.

EHCP –Annual Reviews If your child has an EHCP (Education Health care plan), we need to review your child’s plan at least once a year. If your child is due to have an annual review this term, please don’t worry –it will happen although it will need to be done virtually. I will be in touch by telephone and email to talk through how this process will work. I will give all attendees plenty of notice, support and guidance.

Supporting your children with their home learning:

Strategies that you might find helpful when supporting your child at home with…..Spelling

Using multi sensory approaches- e.g. magnetic letters, writing in colours, pyramids, drawing around the word shape, recording themselves saying the letters and listen back, try typing your spellings. Using Mnemonics. E.g. because big elephants can add up sums easily ! Spotting patterns e.g. ould oh you lucky duckTry highlighting spelling patterns in words or silent letters on the end

Writing

Try using a story plan and scribe your child’s ideas to help them structure their writing

https://www.twinkl.co.nz/resource/t2-e-088-story-planning-frame

Use word banks and phonic code cards to support their spelling.Try recording your sentence verbally on a phone or ipad

and listen to it back before writing it.

Use phonic code cards to support spelling and high frequency word banks https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/phase-2-3-and-5-phonics-table-strips-resource-pack-t-l-9168

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-l-5995-200-high-frequency-words-word-bank

Reading

Use a reading ruler or window to help children track as they read.Make flashcards or use post-its to display high frequency words to learn e.g. going up the stairsUse a highlighter to look for focus high frequency words in an old newspaper or magazine.

Maths

Number recognition and ordering- Ordering magnetic numbers, chalking numbers, writing numbers in different materials e.g. shaving foam, sand, uncooked rice on a tray etc.

Order numbered lego bricks to make a number tower

Build numbers with concrete apparatus and match to numbers e.g. use bundles of straws, lego towers, counters etc. purchase set of deines or numicon from amazon.

TimetablesListen to times tables put to music – lots on youtubePut post-its on wall to encourage counting in different multiples e.g. 3,6,9,12….Chant multiples e.g. counting in 2,5 or 10 as they go up the stairsMake cards where they have to match times table question to the answer

ELSA resources and support from our school Educational Psychologist:

14 day ELSA challenge

calm zone tool box

supporting children with ASD or ADHD

Reassuring Myself

https://camhsdorset.org

Support from Children and Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

https://camhsdorset.org/covid-19-camhs-dorset-support

Podcast - 'Autism - a parents guide'

cornavirus-autism-a-parents-guide/

Explaining Coronavirus to children

Explaining Coronavirus to my child

Well being

mind.org.uk

Social stories explaining Coronavirus to children

These stories explain the changes due to Coronavirus in a clear and pictorial way that children can understand. It is important you read these stories before sharing them with your child so you can be prepared to answer any questions they may have.

https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/coronavirus-disease-2019/

Social story on Coroana virus for young children

Social story for older children

Useful Resources to support your child’s specific needs.

Speech, Language and Communication needs

Supporting children with the development of vocabulary and communication skills.

The communication trust

Visual TimetablesWhat do visual timetables do for children?

provide children with the structure or routine for the session or the dayhelp children to become more independent increase a child’s confidence and can also help reduce stress and anxiety as the child knows what is happening next allow a child to predict and be organised, giving him or her some control help a child manage a change to his or her routine help those children who are visual learners and prefer to see rather than hear help those children with memory problems and who are unable to recall what they have been told; they allow them to revisit pictorially what is going to happen next help children to understand the concept of time — now, next, this morning, this afternoon, etc.help to motivate children as they can see that they will be moving on to another task shortly or they can see the end goal of a routine or activity.

How are they used?

Visual timetables are used in classrooms so that every child knows what is going to happen in a day. Some children may have individual visual timetables that they keep with them. Sometimes they are used to break one task into chunks so that a child is very clear about how to complete a task and can do successfully. They can also be used to help children remember the sequence of a routine (for example bed time, going to the toilet, having a bath, getting dressed etc.) so that things are done in the right order. Whatever they are used for, they need to be displayed so that the children using them can see them easily at all times and can refer to them if they forget what is next. The pictures or symbols need to be easily recognisable to the children and explained so that they become familiar with them. The pictures can run from left to right (the same as reading a book) or from top to bottom. The children can remove the picture from the timetable once the activity has been completed so they are then able to see what activities remain. The timetable can be agreed with the children at the start of the day or session. They can help decide when they are going to do some activities and then help to find the right images and order them correctly on the timetable. This will help them

with decision-making and negotiating skills. You must ensure that there are lots of opportunities within the timetable for free-choosing of activities by the children.

Making a visual timetable

Consider if the timetable is for a learning session, a morning and afternoon or a whole day. Visual timetables can be made to fit in with the child’s interests to maintain the interest and use of the timetable. You can download images from sites such as Twinkl or the National Autistic Society, or you can design your own, using images or photographs. You may wish to use just an image or to add the word or brief description of the activity underneath. This will help children to link words to pictures and writing. You can use a piece of cardboard and use blu-tac (or Velcro) to stick images onto the visual timetable. Images need to be displayed vertically or horizontally.

Don’t forget to have and ‘oops’ card for any surprises or changes to your usual routine.

You don’t need to assign times to activities. Older children might like times. Not putting times allows for more flexibility.

Remove cards as tasks are done. This provides a sense of accomplishment. The child then knows that a task is over and can move onto the next.

Always have some cards of ‘fun things’/ ‘free choice’ tasks. It gives a child something to work towards.

Developing Fine motor skillsThe links below have practical ideas on how to help your child develop their fine motor skills.

Fine motor skill activities NHS advice

Fine motor skill activities

NHS handouts for parents to support fine motor skills

General SEND support for families– including Covid 19 information

http://www.dorsetparentcarercouncil.co.uk

https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/children-families/sen-and-disability-local-offer/education-and-learning/services-to-help-support-your-child/dorset-special-educational-needs-information-advice-and-support-service-sendiass.aspx