Resources

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  

As the latest DfE guidance states:  The temporary continuity direction makes it clear that schools have a duty to provide remote education for state-funded, school-age children whose attendance would be contrary to government guidance or law around coronavirus (COVID-19).
 
The remote education provided should be equivalent in length to the core teaching pupils would receive in school and will include both recorded or live direct teaching time, and time for pupils to complete tasks and assignments independently. The amount of remote education provided should be, as a minimum: • Key Stage 1: 3 hours a day on average across the cohort, with less for younger children • Key Stage 2: 4 hours a day • Key Stages 3 and 4: 5 hours a day.
 
Remote education does not have to be on-line and so schools can decide how they offer their remote learning package. It should be similar in content to that which is being offered for those pupils who are attending school. 
 
What we must remember is that pupils with SEND, whether in school or at home,  must get their additional and/or different entitlement, If they are on SEN Support then that is whatever the school would ordinarily offer in addition to the high quality, differentiated teaching and if they have an EHCP then the school should be ensuring that the provision in section E is being met. If the school is having difficulty in meeting this then they should be discussing this with the local authority.
 
Since the last lockdown a significant number of companies and organisations have provided free home learning resources for schools and parents. I have looked through a number of these and found all those that might be useful for supporting SEND pupils. You will find my list here.
 
You may also be interested to read the latest guidance from Ofsted – What’s working well in remote education – https://tinyurl.com/yxv3o6nd
 
If you have any resources that you have found helpful or you have produced and are happy to share please let me know and I will update the list accordingly.
 
If you need any further support or advice please do not hesitate to contact me at  lorraine@lpec.org.uk

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

 
On 2nd July the DfE published their guidance for full opening of schools in September. Those of you working in mainstream schools will have been looking through this guidance and updating your risk assessments and planning for how all of the Government proposals will work in practice.  
There is no one-size-fits -all approach and every school will be trying to do what is in the best interests of their staff and pupils. 
At the same time as the mainstream guidance was published there was a separate document for special schools and specialist settings. Although there were many similarities between the two documents there was some specific information for supporting SEND pupils.  
It is therefore important that SENCOs know what is in this guidance as well. 
I have produced a summary of this guidance which hopefully will make it easier for you to access and read the key messages.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

 

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.

https://tinyurl.com/u6l64n4

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

https://www.inspirationtrust.org/latest-news/inspiration-trusts-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.

https://www.oneeducation.co.uk/user/pages/06.resources/860.free-home-resources/free%20home%20resources.pdf

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.

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/extra-subjects-parents/school-closures-category-free-resources-parents/school-closures-free-resources-parents

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

https://www.do2learn.com/

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

https://senresourcesblog.com/2020/03/16/weve-launched-home-learning-videos-on-youtube-to-help-if-schools-close-due-to-coronavirus/

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.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors?utm_source=twitter&amp%3Butm_medium=traffic&amp%3Butm_campaign=staticcopy3

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

https://medium.com/pobble/simple-and-fun-non-screen-activities-that-children-can-do-at-home-115543cb3b9c

Maths Chase

On-line maths games

https://www.mathschase.com/

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.

https://tinyurl.com/y83ykr9p

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

https://www.sec-ed.co.uk/best-practice/coronavirus-covid-19-home-education-schooling-resources-schools-teachers-parents/

POINT

POINT have compiled a list of useful educational, creative and activity resources that will be helpful for families to access from home.

https://www.point-send.co.uk/at-home-resources?fbclid=IwAR2ru9hz6Zw3x6N4Yh11sF8nEfXikscTPstQzHFMoLkm7xNGmMOdGV6bR-g

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

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