Changes in school routines, whether a different timetable, change of class teacher or moving up a year can be an anxious time for all children and young people, but especially so for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
We hope that the following practical suggestions, resources and links will help to make the transition easier for pupils when coping with in-class changes or moving to a new class or year group.
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