Mental Health Resources List – September 2023
In preparation for Youth Mental Health Day on 19th September and World Mental Health Day on 10th October I have updated my Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources List.
In the latest statistics issued from the Department of Education there were nearly a quarter (24.2%) of pupils who were persistently absent (missed 10% or more sessions) within the 2022/2023 academic year. Over half of these pupils absent due to illness – in most cases mental illness.
The support from external agencies is still extremely stretched and therefore schools are having to offer a great deal more internal support for these pupils.
This updated list contains many links to free resources as well as some that are available commercially.
The resources list can be found HERE
Resources for remote learning for students with SEND
Guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings – Updated 8th September
At 6.40 last night the DfE finally published their updated guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings. Better late than never!!
I have compared this document with the mainstream one that was updated on 28th August and have indicated the additional information for specialist settings in the attached document.
There is some important information in the document for mainstream colleagues as well, especially for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans.
Click Here for Update Notes
Department of Education guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings
Resources to support Home Learning during the Coronavirus crisis
BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is a free online study support resource designed to help with learning, revision and homework!
Bitesize provides support for learners aged 5 to 16+ across a wide range of school subjects. It also supports children and young people’s wellbeing and career choices. From April 20th Bitesize will be publishing daily lessons to help students across the UK with home schooling.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Oak National Academy
This is an online classroom and resource hub created by teachers, for teachers.
The aim is to support teachers to support their pupils. We provide a bank of high-quality, sequenced video lessons and resources for teachers to use as they wish. We’ll cover a range of subjects including maths, English, art and languages.
Teachers can use these resources to complement their own lesson planning and remote teaching until schools fully re-open. Every lesson will be free to use for every teacher and every pupil.
A series of lessons to support SEND learners will be released shortly.
https://www.thenational.academy/
Department for Education – Coronavirus (COVID 19): online education resources
The DfE have brought together an initial list of online educational resources to help children to learn at home.
These websites have been identified by some of the country’s leading educational experts and offer a wide range of support and resources for pupils of all ages.
Chatterpack
Three excellent comprehensive lists of resources that are all available free covering the following topics:
- Home Learning Resources List for Schools and Families
- A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources!
- FREE Speech and language, OT, and many other SEND resources for families and schools
https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog
Stem Learning
To support teachers to continue educating young people while they are at home, we have developed a range of materials, including free resources, tips from our subject experts and professional development opportunities.
https://www.stem.org.uk/home-learning
Inspiration Trust
Inspiration Trust’s list of online resources for students of all ages – primary, secondary and sixth form
Worcestershire Children First
WCF have put together a list of educational resources and websites for different areas of learning and development to help parents and carers support their children during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20772/keeping_kids_entertained
One Education
This website has a comprehensive list of some of the best free resources out there for home/school learning.
Inclusive Solutions
A non-exhaustive list of resources that might help those affected by school closures due to coronavirus, compiled by home educators
https://inclusive-solutions.com/blog/free-online-education-resources-now-schools-are-closed/
SEN Assist
A range of resources to support SEND learners
http://www.senassist.com/resources.html
Twinkl – School Closure Learning Packs
Twinkl’s School Closure Home Learning resource packs for parents of primary school children can help you keep your kids learning during the Coronavirus outbreak.
TES – Home Learning
To support parents and guardians with structuring and delivering home learning for children, we’ve gathered a collection of teacher-created learning resources designed to engage both primary and secondary students and help them learn and study outside of their usual classroom environment. All of these resources are completely free to download and use and include lessons, worksheets, workbooks and activities across a multitude of subject disciplines, ranging from EYFS to KS4 (GCSE).
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/teacher-essentials/home-learning
TTS – Learning at Home Packs
TTS have created a curriculum-focused independent learning resource with over 120 home learning activities all planned and all prepared!
https://www.tts-group.co.uk/home+learning+activities.html
Ruby Tuesday Books
Four books from their primary range free to download for learning at home
https://www.rubytuesdaybooks.com/learningathome/
Lift Lessons
Lift Lessons combines animated video lessons, digital quizzes and spaced learning (revision over time) to teach important science vocabulary.
https://liftlessons.co/home-learning
Pearson – The Maths Factor
The Maths Factor is an online maths practice service that has been helping children unlock their maths confidence. This is now free to use.
https://www.themathsfactor.com/
Book Trust – Home time
Enjoy story-time with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in our book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/
Do2Learn
Do2learn provides thousands of free pages with social skills and behavioural regulation activities and guidance learning songs and games, communication cards, academic material, and transition guides for employment and life skills
Leeds for Learning
A comprehensive list of reading resources for all ages.
http://leedsforlearning.co.uk/Page/15600
SEN Resources Blog
Ways to learn through play at home – You Tube videos
Ian Bean – SEN ICT Resources
All of their online activities are delivered on web pages which are free from advertisements and links to other web sites. They present them this way to ensure that learners are able to use the site to practice their access skills in a safe online environment, free from distractions. Their activities are also available to download and use directly from your computer or network.
https://www.ianbean.co.uk/senict-members-resource-portal/
Crick Software – Free access to schools to Clocker Software – https://www.cricksoft.com/uk/clicker/covid-19-access
Oxford University Press – Oxford Owl for Parents
https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/school-closure-resources/?region=uk
Literacy Trust – Family Zone
Supporting families during school closure
https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/5-8
PE with Joe – Every morning at 9.00 am
Daily PE lesson with The Body Coach
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
Scouts – The great indoors
The Scouts normally love the great outdoors so they have pulled together some inspired indoor activity ideas to keep kids entertained while schools are closed due to coronavirus. Keep your kids learning new skills and having fun.
Scholastic Home Learning
Scholastic have carefully selected a range of home learning resource packs and practice books which are designed to help your child get the most from school and support their test and exam preparation, whether they’re sitting phonics screening tests, SATs or GCSEs. Closely matched to the National Curriculum, every resource provides engaging, reliable practice for all key skills, whatever your child’s age or stage.
https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/homelearning
Third Space Learning
Free Home Learning Resources and Maths Packs for Primary Maths (KS1 & KS2)
https://thirdspacelearning.com/blog/home-learning-resources/
Classroom Secrets
They have created home learning packs to take the stress out of these uncertain times due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Each pack contains all you’ll need to ensure your children continue to learn during the school closures.
https://classroomsecrets.co.uk/free-home-learning-packs/
National Council for Special Education in Ireland
Online Resources for Children with Special Educational Needs
https://ncse.ie/online-resources
Audible Books
Free access to hundreds of children’s audio books
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
2SimpleSoftware
Purple Mash – free access to both Purple Mash and Serial Mash.
https://2simple.com/landing-pages/free-access/
Pobble
Simple and fun non-screen activities that children can do at home
Maths Chase
On-line maths games
The Sensory Project
This page is providing a bank of resources helpful for those looking for educational activities to do whilst staying home and staying safe.
http://www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk/covid19-resources
University of Central London (UCL)
UCL Institute of Education (IOE) has compiled lists of resources to help parents, carers and families support children’s learning from home
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2020/mar/resources-available-support-homeschooling
PSHE Association
The PSHE Association have developed a Coronavirus Hub with a wide range of resources and information including home learning resources, information for parents and information about adapting lessons for home learning.
https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/content/coronavirus-hub
Collins
Collins are offering free resources to help support your child’s learning at home, while schools are closed.
White Rose Maths
The White Rose Maths Team has prepared a series of five maths lessons for each year group from Year 1-8. They will be adding five more each week for the next few weeks. Every lesson comes with a short video showing you clearly and simply how to help your child to complete the activity successfully.
https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/
SecEd
Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents
POINT
POINT have compiled a list of useful educational, creative and activity resources that will be helpful for families to access from home.
National Autistic Society
NAS have collected a series of useful resources that autistic people and their families can use during this time of changes.
https://www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines/coronavirus/resources/helpful-resources.aspx
