We appreciate the importance of supporting SEND learners transitioning back into school after such a long period of school closure. School environments are likely to be different from when the young person was last in school and this may impact pupils in different ways. Our aim is to support schools with this transition and we have compiled a variety of visual resources which can be accessed below to support SEND learners. This is in line with the government recommendations:
"Some pupils with SEND (whether with education, health and care plans or on SEN support) will need specific help and preparation for the changes to routine that this will involve, so teachers and special educational needs coordinators should plan to meet these needs, for example using social stories.” (DfE document Guidance for full opening: schools, 2 July 2020)
The resources have been split into four different sections:
- Pupil-specific needs, which contains sections on SLCN, Autism and Well-being
- Pupil transition and back to school resources
- Visual aids related to coronavirus, such as visuals for toileting routines
- Additional documents for staff
Pupil-specific needs
Autism visual aids
- ASD with demand avoidance strategies for when returning to school
- Big world, my world blank template
- How am I feeling plan
- How to use talking mats
- Low and slow
- Now and next
- Reach out ASC back to school map of considerations
- Social script for a bubble
- STARS reintegration talking mats secondary
- STARS simple worry plan
- STARS worrying about the coronavirus pandemic
- Visual editable 1-5 scale of anxiety
- Widgit different timetable layout
Speech, language and communication
- Help me understand
- Personal space - Thomas example
- Personal space
- Social distancing at school
- Top talking games 2020
- Unplugged games 2020
- What not to say to reluctant speakers – primary
- What not to say to reluctant speakers – secondary
- Widget large door signs
Visual aids for cognition and learning
Visual aids for wellbeing
- 4Fun mindfulness activities exercises for children
- A letter about how I’m feeling
- Calm down brain break breathing exercise cards
- Emotion keyring
- Managing wellbeing during Covid-19 for young people
- Mindful minute brain break cards
- NEW small group activities for the fearful child
- Return to school strategies – anxiety A4
- Return to school strategies – attachment A4
- Return to school strategies – bereavement A4
- Return to school strategies – mental health and wellbeing A4
- Sleep techniques
- THRIVE handout – sensation words
Pupil transition and back to school resources
- All about me
- Back to school social script longer with symbols
- Covid-19 social script – school is opening
- Easy read school soon
- Going back to school after closures
- Managing unexpected endings - transitions 2020
- Reach out ASC transition to secondary school booklet
- Return to school circles of control
- School is different visual social script
- Transition booklet KS2 to KS3 post lockdown
- Transition notebook
- Transition passport blank template
- Transitioning back to school
- We will be going back to school sometime
- Widgit back to school toolkit
Visual aids related to coronavirus
Toilet routine visuals
- Going to the toilet option 2
- Going to the toilet option 3
- Going to the toilet option 4
- Going to the toilet option 5
- Going to the toilet visual
- Going to the toilet with lid 1
- Going to the toilet with lid 2
- Going to the toilet with lid 3
- Going to the toilet with lid 4
- Going to the toilet with lid 5
- Going to the toilet with seat 3
- Going to the toilet with seat 4
Visual aids and scripts related to coronavirus
- Coronavirus problem planner
- Coronavirus problem planner blank
- Coronavirus what not to say to a worrier
- My lockdown experience
- School posters
- Signage
- Visiting the hospital if ill social script
- What to do if I cough or sneeze
- Widgit Covid-19 communication chart
Washing hands
- Staying safe from germs, including hand washing
- Washing hands visual
- Washing hands visual social script
- Washing your hands
Documents for staff
- 10 wellbeing tips for school staff
- Hearing Impairment school transition advice 2020
- Links to different training materials
- NHS Transition to secondary school advice for parents
- Peer influence
- Peer pressure advice
- Peer pressure effects
- Professor Barry Carpenter recovery curriculum post-pandemic
- School ready checklist – secondary
- Teacher resilience during coronavirus – school closures
- Transition changes
- Transition questions