To support children who are at an early developmental stage with their communication skills - in particular understanding (one/two information carrying words), I will differentiate my speech. This is a tip sheet that I give to parents/guardians so that they can use the same strategy at home. For information, we use EKLAN EYBIC to assess understanding, this assessment is used to determine how many information carrying words a child can follow in a message.

Designed for use in our nursery school. A single page page profile that includes the four broad areas of need and support : Communication and interaction; cognition and learning; social, emotional and mental health, and sensory and/or physical needs. For information a detailed explanation of these is given in Chapter 6, Schools, in the 0-25 SEND Code of Practice, from paragraph 6.28.

Tracking the animals from Handa’s surpise using droppings. This was done using actual models of the poo, but the photographs can be used instead. We used them in the local woods too for added realism and created a film using FX Guru (Zoo Escape special effect). The poo discussion could use size of dropping and size of animal. Why is there a difference in colour? Similarities between your own poo and another animal (monkey) - why? Identifying bird poop from prior knowledge of bird poop in the UK. Stimulates children’s interest and is very entertaining. We also wore gloves for added realism when handling the model droppings. Droppings were made from clay and painted where appropriate with a mix of PVA and ready mixed paint. The bird poop is cornflour and water with a drop of black read mixed paint.

This is the form I created for use in my setting’s ‘Child of concern’ meetings. It enables us to record why we are concerned, the potential implications and the quality teaching strategies we will use as a class team to support that child’s development. Linked to the 3 prime areas of the EYFS.

In celebration of Science Week and in conjunction with our current theme of ‘Down on the Farm’ I have created a series of ten experiments which can be done in nursery school as an adult led activity.

If a child is exhibiting a particular behaviour and you want to identify why it is occurring and what the child may be communicating, an ABC table can help. It is an observational tool, we have ours uploaded to sharepoint so that anyone can access it, and complete it on an iPad shortly after a behaviour occurred. Alternatively you can print it out and have it close at hand within the classroom. The antecedent is what happened just before the behaviour occurred. You may want to include factors such as the noise level in the classroom, how busy it was, temperature, proximity to others The behaviour is what occurred e.g. ‘child x’ knocked the books deliberately off the shelf. . The consequence is what happened immediately after the behaviour. This is both for the child that exhibited the behaviour and to those who were affect by it. It can also include the effect on the environment.

This inset day challenge was designed as a first step towards creating a directory of support for stakeholders within our school community. It aims to support staff, parents, children and those with SEND. Works best if you set time limits for each part of the challenge and give someone responsibility as timekeeper and someone to be note keeper. We did this by putting hula hoops on the floor and putting the post it notes from the first part of the challenge within them - One hoop for each group of stakeholders.

We share this on our sharepoint so that all members of the staff team can collaborate and contribute to planning.

Performance management proforma set up for two years with two six month reviews.

Reluctant toilet user? This may help Description: “Toilet Time Tales,” a creative and engaging resource designed to make toilet training an exciting journey for both parents and children. This innovative story prompt combines imagination, visual aids, and the essential process of using the toilet to create a positive and interactive experience for your child. Key Features: Interactive Visual Prompts: “Toilet Time Tales” is packed with colourful and captivating images that spark your child’s imagination. Each image represents a unique element of a story, waiting to be woven together with your child’s creative input. From friendly wizards embarking on adventures to magical worlds waiting to be explored, these images transform the toilet space into a canvas for storytelling. Parent-Child Bonding: Toilet training can sometimes be a challenging phase for both parents and children. “Toilet Time Tales” brings you together with your child in a shared storytelling experience, fostering a sense of connection and cooperation. As you create stories together, your child’s anxieties about using the toilet can transform into moments of laughter and enjoyment. Empowerment and Choice: This resource empowers your child by allowing them to take an active role in the storytelling process. By giving them choices on characters, settings, and actions, you help them regain a sense of control over a potentially stressful situation. This newfound sense of agency can translate into increased confidence in using the toilet independently. Customizable Stories: The modular nature of “Toilet Time Tales” ensures that each session can be tailored to your child’s preferences. Whether they’re in the mood for a daring space odyssey or a magical underwater quest, the images can be rearranged to create countless story variations. This flexibility keeps the experience fresh and exciting, encouraging regular toilet use. Positive Reinforcement: As your child engages in storytelling during toilet breaks, they’ll associate these moments with fun and creativity. This positive reinforcement can alleviate any resistance or reluctance towards using the toilet, gradually transforming it from a chore to a fun part of their routine. How to Use: Begin Storytelling: Invite your child to select an image and start telling a story based on it. Encourage them to use their imagination to describe characters, settings, and events. Take Turns: As the story progresses, take turns adding new images and ideas to the narrative. This interactive exchange keeps both you and your child engaged and invested in the story. Celebrate Creativity: Embrace the unexpected twists and turns your child’s imagination brings to the story. Celebrate their creativity and enthusiasm, making each storytelling session a memorable experience. This resource empowers both parents and children to conquer toilet training challenges together through creativity, imagination, and a strong sense of connection.

An experiment I created as part of an Advent challenge but can be fun at any point in the festive season. I made these up as packs to send home to do at home as a family activity. Resources required: Balloon Tissue paper Angel outline Simply trace the outline of the angel onto the tissue paper and cut out. Blow up a balloon and rub vigorously on your hair to generate static electricity. Hold above your angel and watch it fly up to the balloon.

“The Assault Cycle” by Breakwell is a model of aggression that was introduced in Breakwell, G. (1997) Coping with Aggressive Behaviour. Leicester, British Psychological Society According to the model, aggressive behaviour is a cyclical process that progresses through a series of phases. The five phases of the assault cycle, as described by Breakwell, are: Trigger: The first phase involves the trigger event, which sets the aggressive behavior in motion. The trigger can be internal (such as frustration or anger) or external (such as a perceived threat). Escalation: The second phase is characterized by an increase in the intensity of the aggressor’s behaviour. The aggressor may become more verbal or physical, and may experience a loss of control. Crisis: The third phase is a critical point in the cycle, where the aggressor may lose all self-control and act out in a violent manner. Plateau or Recovery: The fourth phase involves a decrease in the aggressor’s behaviour, as they begin to regain control over their actions. Post-Crisis Depression: The final phase involves a return to normal behaviour, although the aftermath of the assault may continue to have an impact on both the aggressor and the victim. The Assault Cycle model can be useful in understanding and managing aggressive behaviour, as it emphasises the importance of identifying triggers and intervening early in the cycle to prevent escalation. By recognizing the warning signs of aggression and taking proactive steps to address the situation, individuals can help to defuse potentially violent situations before they escalate. We use this PowerPoint to capture and record triggers, signs and strategies for each phase. The first slide shows an entire cycle, this is followed by a slide for each phase with an image of that point on the graph on the left, and titled text boxes to complete on the right. They are individual to the child and they are stored in an easily accessible shared folder on our SharePoint; this means that it can be completed collaboratively and dynamically. We have found it to be a very useful tool for supporting children who are regularly acting aggressively or who go into crisis, perhaps from overstimulation or in response to a headache. The behaviour may be a trait of a particular neurodivergence such as ASD or pathological demand avoidance. We use this tool within an early years setting, but it could be applied at any level within education. We have found it to be very useful for identifying triggers so that that strategies can be put in place immediately which are specific to that individual child, so that they do not get to crisis point; or if they do, to ensure that their support is individual and appropriate for them.

Suggestion slips which are made available to parents on open evening, cup-a-chat, drop in. They can also be filled in by pupils to collect a student voice.

This is a ten minute game which I created as a revision quiz for A-Level students revising semi-conservative DNA replication, although the board can be used for any biology topic, you just need to set the questions! You can either access the catchphrase board online at: http://www.grefintec.co.uk/catchphraseforbiology/story.html (copy and paste url to address bar) Or you can now download it for offline use from http://www.grefintec.co.uk/downloadslides.html (instruction on the site) Ask the first question to the class. The pupil who gets the question right, gets to choose a square to remove. This continues until either the questions are completed or the catchphrase is guessed. The winner is the person who can guess the biological catchphrase from the picture Just in case you can't work it out - the catchphrase is 'Survival of the fittest' Tip: Ask a pupil to be the game facilitator - enabling you to present the quiz. Enjoy!! Keywords: catchphrase, class game, biology, quick quiz, quiz, genetics, semi-conservative, DNA, DNA replication

Biologists use microscopes to see things that they can't see clearly with the naked eye. Microscopes are a fairly expensive piece of equipment and generally not very portable. In this practical you will convert smart phone/tablet to create a simple, portable digital microscope using cheap, easily accessible components. Then use it to explore and make observations about the microscopic details of everyday things. Keywords: science, microscopes, DIY, simple, fun activity, biology, STEM, STEM activity, STEM project, Science Club, STEM club.

Mini plenaries are a type of formative assessment and are a great way to review progress of learning during a lesson. It also allows pupils opportunities for self reflection. "Teachers have also begun to be more flexible in introducing effective ‘mini plenaries’ at critical points in a lesson to review progress, clarify misunderstandings and move the work forward (OFSTED Dec. 2003)". Just ask a pupil to select a card and in so doing will feel like they are taking responsibility for their own learning. Just print out 9 copies of page 1 of the PDF and return to the printer for double sided printing and then print out pages 2-10. It is best to print out the cards on thick paper/thin card. I have laminated my set for durability. There are five sets available from my TES shop, the only difference is the back design, the actually mini plenary suggestions are the same. This is the green backed design. Keywords: formative assessment, mini plenaries, plenary, assessment.