Information Websites

https://www.autism.org.uk/

Tips

• Children with Autism need structure and routine. You can help them by using visual timetables to help them see what is happening at each step of the day, so they know in advance what they will be doing next. This will relieve some of their anxiety.
• You might want to set a specific place for them to do any work or tasks. At school they may have this in the form of a workstation to support their learning. Each child’s workstation may differ slightly, so you could 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 you, they or fictional characters might be feeling like that. You can also play role play guessing games and ask them to name the emotion and say why.
• 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 work space clear to avoid over-stimulation etc.
• Play lots of games with your child to encourage social skills, such as taking turns and winning and losing.

Resources

Visual timetable (under Home Support)

5 point scale (under Home Support)

Social stories and comic strip cartoons - https://www.autism.org.uk/about/strategies/social-stories-comic-strips.aspx

Information Websites

ADHD Foundation

Tips

• 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.
• 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.
• Put clear boundaries in place.

Resources

Play games on consoles such as just dance, Wii Sports etc. to get your kids moving.

Information Websites

https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/

http://www.movementmattersuk.org/

Tips

• Allow children to use a word processor to complete some written tasks. If they can’t type, encourage them to learn, so that they are able to use a Word Processor with more 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 and winning and losing.
• Help your children develop their fine and gross motor skills and core stability.

Resources

Dancemat Typing – free beginners typing course for children. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf2f9j6/articles/z3c6tfr

Fizzy/Clever Hands - https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/information-for-patients/patient-information-leaflets/fizzy-leaflets/

Visual timetable (under Home Support)

Social stories and comic strip cartoons

5 point scale (under Home Support)

Social skills games

Information Websites

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/neurodiversity-and-co-occurring-differences/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 supporting you with everyday maths problems e.g. cooking, measuring, money etc.

Resources

https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/

https://www.10ticks.co.uk/

All Souls' works to support speech, language and communication with support from our NHS link speech & language therapist Sarah Covatti, as well as specialist teachers. Your child may come into contact with Sarah within their classroom or around school. The SENCo, Mrs Hart, will have regular meetings with Sarah Covatti to discuss our school’s provision.

If you have any concerns about your child’s speech, language or communication skills, please speak to your child’s class teacher in the first instance.

If we have discussed a specific concern with you about your child’s speech, language or communication, or you have raised a concern, we will decide together whether to discuss this with our link therapist. You will be kept informed of any plans to support your child.

Please see below for links to sites that provide support for families whose children may have Speech, Language and Communication Needs.

BBC Tiny Happy People  Tips and advice - BBC Tiny Happy People - Experts and parents give advice on language learning and development.

Speech & Language UK Resource library for families (speechandlanguage.org.uk) - A charity that helps children and young people with their speech and language difficulties.

Ideas for future family support Words for Life | National Literacy Trust | Words for Life - Support your young child as they practise their literacy and reading skills.

Speech Link Parental portal Information - provides ideas & advice, information & activities for developing your child’s understanding, talking and listening in a way that works for the whole family.

EKHUFT  Children and Young Peoples Therapy Service - East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (ekhuft.nhs.uk)

Our school works to support speech, language and communication with support from our NHS link speech and language therapist, Sarah Covatti, as well as specialist teachers. Your child may come into contact with Sarah within their classroom, or around school. The SENCo, Ione Hart, will have regular meetings with Sarah to discuss our school’s provision.

If you have any concerns about your child’s speech, language or communication skills, please speak to your child’s class teacher in the first instance.

If we have discussed a specific concern with you about your child’s speech, language or communication, or you have raised a concern, we will decide together whether to discuss this with our link therapist. You will be kept informed of any plans to support your child.

People You Might See

Alice Hawkins - Counsellor

I am a qualified counsellor and member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. Before training as a counsellor, I worked for many years in schools offering both learning and emotional support. I have experience of counselling children, young people and adults and am passionate about continuing my personal development. I have particular experience of working with bereavement, having previously worked as a counsellor for a local hospice.

Robyn Sawyer - Counsellor

I am a fully qualified counsellor, completing my training in Summer 2020 in Person- Centred therapy, and a member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. I have experience of working with both adults and children, dealing with a range of mental health issues and safeguarding concerns. I have a passion for working with children, as I think it is so important for them to have a therapeutic connection and a safe space each week to express and explore what they are feeling.

Karen Prineas - BSc Psychology, PGCE, PG Dip Play Therapy (Distinction), Licensed PCAP Practitioner

I am a certified Play Therapist based in South East Kent. I work with both individual and groups of children, offering them a safe, nurturing and playful space.

Prior to Play Therapy, I worked as a primary teacher and a learning support assistant in further education, supporting young people in alternative provision and adults with mental health difficulties. Whilst residing in Australia, I wrote and delivered drama workshops to help support the long-term unemployed – developing their skills and confidence to enable them to secure work and fulfil their potential.

I believe in the power of Play and it nurturing the whole person, and I use a holistic, person-centred approach in my work with a good sprinkling of the creative arts!

Play Therapy is a type of therapy where play and art materials are used as the main way for people to express themselves. Using play in therapy helps people to express themselves in their own way; especially if they are struggling to understand how they are feeling, or are finding it hard to put their experiences into words. Play Therapy can be a particularly helpful approach for children in need of therapeutic support.

In addition to Play Therapy, I am also a licensed Parent and Child Attachment Practitioner. I work with the carer, and support them in learning play skills they can use with their child, helping them to build stronger bonds and positive relationships.

As well as working in schools, I also accept private referrals from parents and carers and I have my own dedicated Play Therapy room.

Shelia The Shetland - Our Equine Therapist

Shelia is a Shetland Pony and will be spending some time at All Souls' each week. During her time here, she will be working with children on emotional regulation, sensory work, mindfulness and a range of other well being activities.