SEND Library - families & practitioners
Welcome to Our Special Needs Resources Library!
Our Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Resources Library is designed to be a comprehensive hub for families, practitioners. educators, and caregivers seeking guidance, tools, and support.
What you’ll find here:
Explore a variety of resources, including articles, books, videos, and guides on different special needs topics. Feel free to explore the sections below to find the resources that will best assist you on this journey.
Useful resources
Please see the attached downloads, which include the following:
- National Literacy Trust: Children and young people's use of generative AI to support literacy in 2024
- Observation checklist for children with ASD
- If you want to find a range of useful Early Years forms for your setting, please click on the link HERE
Interesting articles:
Evidence from neuroscience indicates that music making in early years accelerates brain development in young children, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills. Explore the work of leading neuroscientists and educators to find out how music can enhance early years development.
https://www.boogiemites.co.uk/about/neuroscience-and-evidence/
Objectively measured infant and toddler screen time: Findings from a prospective study (2003):
Study reveals babies understand and take part in pretend play from just a few months old: https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/study-reveals-babies-understand-and-take-part-in-pretend-play-from-just-a-few-months-old
Makaton videos:
Makaton is a unique communication programme that uses symbols (pictures), signs (gestures) and speech to enable people to communicate.
Every Wednesday lunchtime the Family Information Service posts a new Makaton video on social media - follow @Sqmilefamilies on Facebook, X and Instagram. The videos demonstrate three Makaton signs which link to the theme of our weekly Coltale's Top Tips videos released every Monday.
You can also watch any or all of our 2024 Makaton videos on our YouTube channel - please see below.
Useful websites:
Become Makaton aware today with: https://makaton.org/
What is Makaton? Help your child to communicate their needs using this programme of signs and symbols as used by Justin and Mr Tumble on Something Special: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/something-special-what-is-makaton
Giving additional support in the Early Years
The Department for Education has published a new guide produced by Pen Green Children’s Centre – ‘A Celebratory Approach to Working with Children with SEND – Giving additional support in the Early Years’ (formerly ‘A Celebratory Approach to SEND assessment in the Early Years’) to help practitioners who may be supporting children who require additional help or children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
For more information, visit: https://www.pengreen.org/a-celebratory-approach-to-working-with-children-with-send/
AFASIC Supports parents and represents children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
For more information, please visit: https://www.afasic.org.uk/
For more information, please visit: https://bda.org.uk/
Practical, early years SEND assessment resources that you can use to help children with SEND.:
This package includes four short videos and four slide packs from Dingley’s Promise, a best practice SEND provision. The package intends to equip local authorities and providers with the confidence to foster meaningful inclusion throughout their settings:
Dingley’s Promise: Fostering Meaningful Inclusion in Early Years Settings - childcareworks.org.uk
A UK-registered online charity that provides educational resources for children and young people with Down’s syndrome.
They use digital tools to give access to vital learning to a whole generation of people with Down’s syndrome who are currently unable to access support.
Delivering two projects: Teach Me Too, for children, and Learning for Life, for young people. While Teach Me Too covers more early years developmental skills and speech and language, Learning for Life is all about growing up and thriving, through understanding relationships, emotions, healthy lifestyles, and more.
For more information visit: Learn and Thrive
National Autistic Society: National Autistic Society
Potty training: how to start and best age to potty train, with a section on supporting children with additional needs:
Software for Reading Support, Therapy, Communication and Early Learning: https://www.sensoryapphouse.com/
Free Special Needs Teaching Resources Since 1999: https://www.senteacher.org/
Take a step to better mental and physical health: https://www.stormbreak.org.uk/
The Autism Page: https://www.theautismpage.com/