Hi, welcome to my shop. I have been a primary teacher for 34 years and have a wide range of experience in different roles. I have been a senior leader in schools and most recently a SENDCO for 10 years. I am posting resources that I think will be helpful for SENDCOs, class teachers or even parents and home educators. I am new to this - so please do send reviews to help me improve - or requests if there is something you think I might be able to create that you would find helpful.
Hi, welcome to my shop. I have been a primary teacher for 34 years and have a wide range of experience in different roles. I have been a senior leader in schools and most recently a SENDCO for 10 years. I am posting resources that I think will be helpful for SENDCOs, class teachers or even parents and home educators. I am new to this - so please do send reviews to help me improve - or requests if there is something you think I might be able to create that you would find helpful.
New for Stress Awareness Month - April 2024. This visual and concise guide will provide a script to help scaffold positive ways to process anxiety for students. This might be used with support initially but hopefully will be something some students can progress to using independently over time. Can be printed and stuck in the front of a study diary or home school link book as may be useful for parents to use with students at home for consistency of approach.
These social story comic strips are designed to provide a way to help explain regular aspects of school life.
Situations covered include:
Going to school
When it is time for assembly
When I need a break
When there is a fire drill
Kind hands
Going on a school trip
Self-care at school
When it is time to go home
Playtimes
Way to help myself feel calm again.
Personal space
Home learning
There are also blanks so that students and staff can develop their own scenarios relevant to their experience and a good conversation skills aide memoire.
These have been specifically designed to be one page of A4. They can be printed for students to have in school – or for them to take home and share with parents. Each one could be printed as it is needed – or they can be printed and stapled together in a booklet to give students a reference they can use independently.
These are also designed with students in KS2 and KS3 in mind and so include imagery and language that would be more age appropriate than many of the social stories that use an early years style pictures.
This booklet includes a sequenced and comprehensive resource to cover the KS2 History study of the Stone Age and Prehistoric period in Britain.
This booklet covers:
• Chronology
• Ice Age animals
• Stone Age settlement
• Development of farming
• Study of Stonehenge
• Beginning of use of metal and the Bronze Age
• Cave art and early writing
• Sources of evidence
• Dangers in the Stone Age
• 2 Review activities
It is presented in booklet form to be an inclusive resource for students at lower key stage two. Many secondary schools use booklets to sequence and scaffold learning for students, but this approach is less common in primary schools. I was interested in how this format might be used to make history more accessible and to ensure that it is history rather than writing that is being developed.
All the information is recorded for students, and they are encouraged to interact with it to develop recall and understanding. There is a very limited requirement to record in writing – other methods have been used so that the historical thinking is key rather than writing skills.
Working through the booklet does require literacy skills in that there is a level of reading required. This may be something that a teaching assistant can work on with a student who needs support – but it is also recognised that often this support is not available for subjects such as history. Therefore, the reading level has been managed so that an alternative way of using the booklet would be with peer support. Pairing a students of differing literacy skills would allow for peer support. Both students will be able to record in the same way so there will be no obvious difference in outcome which is positive for self-esteem – but the additional independent reading experience and challenge will be positive for the student who is the stronger reader in the partnership.
Rather than buy an activity guide for each novel that you study – how about trying one booklet of activities that you can apply to any novel?
Whole class novel study is now one of the main ways in which reading is taught through guided reading and comprehension work. This booklet is designed to give teachers a range of activities that they can use alongside these lessons. They can be applied to which ever novel is being studied and used to give students a scaffolded way of recording the thinking and learning that they have done in lessons.
There are:
• 12 Character study activity pages
• 12 Setting study activity pages
• 12 Vocabulary study pages
• 8 Plot and Chapter study activity pages
• 10 Whole Book study activity pages
The activities very in the amount of formal written recording needed to allow for adapted provision addressing the same learning. There are also structure strip based pages to provide scaffolding support for more developed written work for those students that need this.
This is a simple record card that can be used to implement a behaviour plan with a specific student.
It includes:
target setting
a timetable tracking record
record of any agreed reward
a weekly review
next steps plan
It can easily be printed on A4 and folded to make a simple card that can be kept in class or taken to different classes by the student.
These comic strips are designed to provide a scaffold for developing the speech and language skills needed for some of the conversations that students often need to take part in at school. There are lots of resources out there for general conversation skills about general topics but not often it can be those everyday conversations with friends and staff at school that it would help to work on.
Situations covered include:
• Morning greeting.
• Difficult playtimes.
• Planning a task with a peer.
• Sharing news with an adult.
• Asking to join a game or activity.
• Asking for help with learning.
• When I am not happy with a friend.
• When I have done something wrong.
There are also 2 blanks so that students can develop their own scenarios relevant to their experience.
In each strip, it was planned that the student in the striped shirt would be the focus student – there are some strips with a peer and others with an adult to work on developing skills for talking with both.
Students benefit from role playing the scenarios using the comic strip as a scaffold or basis for a script.
At the end of the pack there is also a poster to remind students of the features of good conversation skills.
More frequently, mainstream schools are finding that they are having to make provision for students with significant special educational needs including those who are learning at the level of the engagement model and not yet able to access subject specific learning at a pre-Key Stage level.
This pack provides some resources, ideas, planning and assessment/ recording ideas that might be helpful in this situation.
Contents:
• Two engagement model record sheets with prompts to help staff focus their observations and reflect on appropriate next steps for students.
• 3 activity planning boards for now/ next; now/next/then and making choices to support activity planning with students.
• A daily programme plan that recognises the learning that a student will be doing within their experience in school – staff can tick the aspects that have been experienced that day so that there is a record if that is helpful or required to evidence progress.
• 2 sensory circuits that can be used at the start of the day or when a student needs to refocus.
• A start of the day plan to help structure that routine and a blank version to be personalised as required.
• Activity ideas for aspects of learning that this student may need as a parallel provision and reasonable adaptation to their curriculum provision and programme:
*Sensory activities – to build engagement at a level they can interact with effectively.
*Attention grabbing activities – to develop intentional engagement with the environment, others, and activity.
*Mirroring activities – used as part of an intensive interaction approach to build an understanding of cause and effect of actions. Please be sensitive to student reactions when using these.
*Language development activities – to develop early-stage communication and interaction.
• A weekly planning sheet to record parallel provision.
• A completed example of the weekly planning sheet to give some idea of how it might be used.
• A learning passport that can be created as part of person-centred planning. It also will help with communication and consistency of approach within the setting. It can be helpful to involve parents in completing this.
• A risk assessment that can be completed with parents and staff if the student’s presentation includes some behaviours that are challenging to respond to safely.
Need a quick and easy intervention to support student to learn tables - This booklet is designed to support a student to develop recall of tables through a focused daily minute of recall. The booklet has a pre and post assessment as well as record space to track daily progress.
Some students need to use a structured approach to get number facts into their long-term memory – they do not seem to keep them there just by regular use in maths lessons. This booklet can be used to support this process.
On each page is a grid with items to prompt the student to say a tables fact. Each day they should count how many oral responses they can give in a minute – and record that on the sheet. The aim is to be able to recall a few more each day.
The precision teaching approach works best if the student can do an activity using the content of the page they are currently working on for a few minutes ( 5 to 10) before they do the one-minute timed activity. There are lots of interactive maths sites online e.g. Topmarks: teaching resources, interactive resources, worksheets, homework, exam and revision help – and this is a great way to give student this opportunity in a way that they can do independently.
At the end of the booklet is a tables square for reference and some ideas for extension activities.
It is often recommended that schools implement an approach based on zones of regulation with students to support them in developing better self-regulation skills. This booklet has 3 versions of a 4-zone chart to help students identify how they are feeling. The first is the usual style of poster with feelings zones and suggested strategies that might help if you are feeling that way.
However, often the students who most need this approach are those who struggle to identify and name their feelings. They are also those who are presenting with the most challenging dis-regulated behaviours in school. To help those students – there are two further posters which have an additional layer of information. They list what the student might be doing because of their feelings to help make it easier for them to be guided to select appropriate strategies.
The booklet also includes a range of other resources that can be used in implementing a supported self-regulation approach. It includes:
Zones of self-regulation poster – standard version.
Zones of self-regulation poster – detailed version.
Zones of self-regulation poster – short, detailed version.
Zones of self-regulation bookmarks.
Zones of self-regulation – simple and visual strategy chart.
Zones of self-regulation – lanyard cards/ pocket cards.
Zones of self-regulation planning sheet.
Zones of self-regulation : tracking my week.
Zones of self-regulation strategy sheet.
Red Zone time out cards to use as a silent signal when students are in this zone.
Zones of self-regulation pyramid template.
Calming activity cards.
Movement break cards.
Links to further information and resources.
It is often recommended that schools implement an approach based on zones of regulation with students to support them in developing better self-regulation skills. This poster set has 3 versions of a 4-zone chart to help students identify how they are feeling. The first is the usual style of poster with feelings zones and suggested strategies that might help if you are feeling that way.
However, often the students who most need this approach are those who struggle to identify and name their feelings. They are also those who are presenting with the most challenging dis-regulated behaviours in school. To help those students – there are two further posters which have an additional layer of information. They list what the student might be doing because of their feelings to help make it easier for them to be guided to select appropriate strategies.
Take a look at the booklet in my shop if you would like more resources and support to implement supported self-regulation.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned and begin to engage with blending sounds together into cvc words. They are presented with visual cue and then two written options that they can select from using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The written words have sound buttons underneath to use as a teaching aid. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation has 5 sections – one for each vowel as a medial sound and there are 6 items in each section giving 30 cvc words to work on overall. Students could work on just one section or complete the whole activity. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the visual cue and then either the student reads the written choices – or if an adult is voicing them to do so as separate sounds that the student then blends to say or know the word.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats. It would also make a game that can be used in group or class sessions.
Want an accessible way and interactive way for students to be able to engage with learning phonics.
This bundle has 4 interactive activities that cover all 26 single letter sounds – introduced in an order that will match the teaching sequence in many schools.
Students are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
There a two and three option multiple choice activities for each set of letters. The activities could be done independently. They can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the fourth and final set of initial sounds students might learn – jlqvwyxz. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 26 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the third set of initial sounds students might learn – Mdgock. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 20 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the second set of initial sounds students might learn – eurbhf. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 20 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the initial sounds students learn – satpin. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 20 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
Need a quick and easy intervention to support student to learn key maths facts - This booklet is designed to support a student to develop recall of key number knowledge needed at primary school using a precision teaching approach. It starts with basic understanding of number values and digits. It includes number bonds, times tables, halving and doubling, working with numbers to 100 and multiplying and dividing by 10. It includes a page to record progress.
Maths makes heavy demands on student working memory – so it really helps to have a bank of facts committed to long term memory. Some students need to use a structured approach to get number facts into their long term memory – they do not seem to keep them there just by regular use in maths lessons. This booklet can be used to support this process.
On each page is a grid with items to prompt the student to say a maths fact – e.g. to read the digit, say the other number in a number bond, give a tables fact or say what 10 times the number would be. Each day they should count how many oral responses they can give in a minute – and record that on the sheet. The aim is to be able to recall a few more each day.
It was designed with Year 5 and 6 pupils in mind – but the booklet would equally work well for a teaching assistant supporting younger students to do selected pages to help them memorise the key facts that proving a barrier for them at any stage.
The precision teaching approach works best if the student can do an activity using the content of the page they are currently working on for a few minutes ( 5 to 10) before they do the one-minute timed activity. There are lots of interactive maths sites online e.g. Topmarks – and this is a great way to give student this opportunity in a way that they can do independently.
This bundle includes planning for 10 sessions of handwriting intervention that can be delivered by a teaching assistant or appropriate adult. It also includes 3 workbooks - which apply handwriting skills to KS1 common exception words in Book 1; year 3 and 4 spelling words in Book 2 and year 5 and 6 spelling words in Book 3. The booklets do not indicate which words are included so that they can be sensitively used with any student according to their needs.
Buy the bundle to get the full set of resources at half price.
This set of planning has been written to go with the handwriting workbooks. It includes warm up activities, strength building exercises and games that will support the development of handwriting as well as make sessions engaging and fun. It is designed to be supportive for a teaching assistant or appropriate adult who has been asked to deliver a handwriting intervention. There is planning for 10 sessions which could be delivered once a week over the course of a term – or twice a week to complete the programme within a half term.
This printable workbook provides 8 sessions of scaffolded handwriting activities – there are two sessions for each of the 4 main letter formation groups. The letter formation groups covered are those that start with:
• Curly shapes
• Straight line shapes
• Down, up and over shapes
• Zigzag shapes
Each session also applies the letter formation work to cursive writing of spelling words for year 5 and 6 as well as short sentences. The workbooks also include a self-assessment at the start and end. The workbook was designed for use in a handwriting intervention group which might be delivered by teaching assistant or appropriate volunteer adult.