Children with Special Educational Needs
ASD – Useful websites, tips and resources
Information Websites
.jpg){kind=icon}
https://www.autism.org.uk/
https://www.autism.org.uk/.../topics/family-life-and-relationships/family-life/parents-and-carers
Tips
Provide structure and routine. Use visual timetables for each day, so they know in advance what they will be doing next. This will relieve some anxiety.
You might want to set a specific place for them to do any work or tasks. Ask your child to help you set one up that will suit them or that they are already used to.
Prepare them for changes in routine.
Help your children to recognise and name different emotions and feelings. You can do this by discussing their own emotions, how characters in books and on TV programmes might be feeling and how you yourselves might be feeling. Alongside naming the emotion, describe it and explain why someone may feel it.
Use a 5-point scale to support children in managing their emotions.
Use social stories and comic strip cartoons to help children understand different situations and perspectives and address inappropriate behaviour.
Have a visual aid to support wanted and unwanted behaviours.
Be aware of your child’s sensory needs and support them in managing that need to help them learn e.g. sound-reducing earphones if noise is a problem, comfortable clothes, keep the area surrounding the workspace clear to avoid over-stimulation.
Play lots of games with your child to encourage social skills.
Resources
Visual timetable
Social stories and comic strip cartoons: https://www.autism.org.uk/...comic-strips.aspx
5 point scale: https://www.5pointscale.com/
Social skills games: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/.../sen-friendship-and-social-skills
Autism Teaching Strategies: http://autismteachingstrategies.com/free-social-skills-downloads-2/
ADHD – Useful websites, tips and resources
Information Websites
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/information/parents/
General Info on ADHD - http://www.adders.org/info170.htm
Self-esteem - http://www.adders.org/info79.htm
Managing ADHD - http://www.adders.org/info58.htm
Tips
Offer routines and structure. Put clear boundaries in place.
Create a quiet space for them to learn with no distractions.
Give them something to fiddle with whilst you are talking to them or you want them to focus. It can also be helpful to let them move around whilst they listen.
Ask them to do one task at a time
Provide checklists or visual timetables to support organisation.
Use timers to help with time management and build in frequent movement breaks.
Suggest rather than criticise (children with ADHD often have low self-esteem)
Provide lots of opportunities for exercise and movement.
Set up a reward scheme to encourage them and support them with their behaviour.
Build on success and help children to pursue more of what they enjoy.
Resources
https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/pe-with-joe
Play games on consoles such as Just Dance, Wii Sports etc. to get moving.
Dyslexia – Useful websites, tips and resources
Information Websites
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/how-can-i-support-my-child
https://www.understood.org/.../8-working-memory-boosters
Tips
Recognise and pursue the areas in which they excel – do what they enjoy!
Allow children to use a word processor to complete some written tasks. This highlights spelling errors and offers alternatives. If they can’t type, encourage them.
Play games to support memory and retention e.g. pairs, Go Fish etc.
Enable children to access age-related audiobooks to develop a love of reading. David Walliams is giving away a free audiobook every day! Encourage them to share what’s happening and share their excitement, wondering aloud what will happen next. This will also develop their vocabulary and comprehension.
Encourage children to read one page and you read the next. Read books to them for pleasure and invite them to read if they want to (don’t push if they don’t want to).
Resources
Dancemat Typing – free beginners typing course for children:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf2f9j6/articles/z3c6tfr
Free Phonics games: https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
Free audio stories: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
Please click the link to see the School's 'Dyslexia Policy':
https://orchardprimary.org/policy/dyslexia-policy
Motor Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia – Useful websites, tips and resources
Information Websites
https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/
http://www.movementmattersuk.org/
Tips
Allow children to use a word processer to complete some written tasks. If they can’t type, encourage them to learn, so that they build up speed and fluency.
Offer routines and structure
Create a quiet space for them to learn with no distractions.
Give them something to fiddle with whilst you are talking to them or you want them to focus. It can also be helpful to let them move around whilst they listen.
Ask them to do one task at a time
Provide checklists or visual timetables to support organisation.
Use timers to help with time management and build in frequent movement breaks.
Play lots of games with your child to encourage social skills, such as taking turns.
Help your children develop their fine and gross motor skills and core stability.
https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/classroomguidelines.pdf
Resources
Dancemat Typing – free beginners typing course for children:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf2f9j6/articles/z3c6tfr
Motor skills development: https://www.lincolnshirecommunity.../1st_Move.pdf
Social stories and comic strip cartoons: https://www.autism.org.uk/...comic-strips.aspx
5 point scale: https://www.5pointscale.com/
Social skills games: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/.../sen-friendship-and-social-skills
Dyscalculia – Useful websites, tips and resources
Information Websites
https://www.sess.ie/.../tips-learning-and-teaching
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/.../dyscalculia-and-maths-difficulties
Tips
Concentrate on one problem at a time.
Use lots of visuals and physical resources that the children can move around.
Include children in everyday math’s problems e.g. cooking, measuring, money etc.
https://blog.brainbalancecenters.com/2016/02/5-strategies-for-managing-dyscalculia
https://www.understood.org/.../at-a-glance-classroom-accommodations-for-dyscalculia
Resources
https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/
https://www.10ticks.co.uk/
Speech and Language – Useful websites, tips and resources
Information Websites
https://www.tamesidehospital.nhs.uk/.../speech-and-therapy.htm
https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/
Tips
Speech sounds
Model speech to the children by repeating words back to them correctly.
Understanding
Give children time to process what you have asked and respond.
Use simple language and break instructions down into smaller steps.
Encourage children to answer questions, such as who, what, where, when and why? When reading their books. Encourage them to tell you the story in their own words.
Expression
Talk about all your experiences in detail, teaching new vocabulary all the time.
Discuss vocabulary in books, making sure the children understand the meaning.
Social Communication
Play lots of games with your child to encourage social skills, such as taking turns.
Use a visual timetable and visual aids to provide structure and routines.
Resources
https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/
https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/resources/resources/resources-for-parents/
Social skills games: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/.../sen-friendship-and-social-skills
http://autismteachingstrategies.com/free-social-skills-downloads-2/
