COVID 19 Support

sld covid logo

It is difficult for us as adults to take in all of the information and change that Covid-19 has caused in our lives. It is even harder to help  children and young people cope with all the uncertainties and disruption. Social distancing, self isolation, school closures and  food shortages – there is so much for children to process and make sense of.

We are building a collection of accessible information resources to make this process a little easier for families. We will be adding to this section every week, so please come back to find out what’s new.

 

Talking about Coronavirus

This is a simple social story with symbols to help explain the current situation, why we are not at school and what we can do to stay safe. If you think it would help your family then email us on WHCNHS.sltcovid19@NHS.net and we will be able to send it to you.

Simple Stories

This is a social story to explain what Coronavirus is. You can download it here:

coronavirus social story

 

Some students, particularly those with ASD, will find the changes to school challenging to cope with. This is our guide to what might be difficult, how to explain and what a reasonable adaption might be. Download it here

Supoorting ASD pupils to return to school

 

 

      

 

 

 

Visual Support

Visual support can really help children to undertsand what they have to do and be more independent in their daily routines and in their learning. There are some visiual routines here to help children get organised for the day. Download our 'getting ready for the day' here and download our Study routine visual support here:

getting ready

 

study routine

Sownload our study routine for home learning here  study routine 2021.pdf [pdf] 348KB

Study routine for home

 

During Covid-19 handwahsing has become even more important. Here are some child friendly visual guides to how to do it right!

Download your washing hands task management board here. Download you staying healthy task management board here.

 

Handwashing task management coronavirus task management

Download handwashing task management boards for young people and adults here

Post 16 task management boards 

Staying healthy task management board Post 16 Handwashing task management Post 16

 

 

Supporting communication on video calls

Video call cue cards.

Video call cue cards

 

Supporting communication on a Video call

Supporting communication on a video call

 

 

 

 

Lots of children are used to having a visual timetable in school so they always now what is happening next and have a plan for the day. It can really help children feel more secure and less anxious. If you want to make them a timetable for home then we have one to download here

Home timetable

 

Signalong

For more information about Signalong go to https://www.signalong.org.uk/ 

Signalong are currently offering a free signing manual to download here: https://www.signalong.org.uk/downloads/kAXOACTRDL4m3Qv.pdf

 

Download information about Signalong here

Signalong

 

Did you know that we have a Get Worcestershire Signing playlist on our YouTube channel? This is a great way to learn some new key signs to support children in your setting. You can access the playlist below:

 

If you are working with a Signing Superstar you can record and recognise their efforts here! Download a signing log and take photos of signs they understand and signs they can use. Once they have 10 of each they can be awarded their Signing Superstar Certificate.

Signing log      Signing Certificate

Download your Worcestershire Signing Superstar log here

Download your Worcestershire Signing Superstar certificate here 

 

Modelling Symbols at Home

 

How to use Total Communication at home

 

How to follow a child's lead

Download our guide to modelling AAC with your child at home here: How to model AAC.pdf [pdf] 504KB

And here is a version for older children and young people: How to model AAC - older learner.pdf [pdf] 504KB

What is AAC?

AAC An Introduction- with symbols.pdf [pdf] 339KB

Visual support for new school rules

 

  Download here School rules own food

Download here New  School rules - own things

Download here   School rules own group

Download here

  School rules what to share

Download here

  School rules tell the teacher

Download here

 School visit sytay 2 metres

 

Supporting Anxious Children

Coronavirus brings lots of anxieties for adults and for children too. Our problem planner is useful to complete with older children and young people to help them to break the problem down, work out what they are ok about and what they are anxious about AND make a plan to feel more positive and in control. Here is one of our therapists, Monica Smith to explain how to use it:

 

Coronavirus planner

  

Download our completed Coronavirus Problem planner here: Coronavirus Problem Planner

Dpwnload a blank version of the problem planner here: Coronavirus Problem Planner blank 

                  

                   Talking about the new school rules

Most of us will have some concerns about returning to school whether that is in the next couple of weeks or after the summer holidays. There are going to be lots of changes such as how we get around, how we socialise and how we learn. Some people will be anxious and unsure; others will be excited about being back in school again. Regardless of whether they are worried or excited, it is likely that they will have lots of questions about what is going to happen and you can help your child, or the children you work with, by remembering the following when you are talking about the new rules over the next few weeks. Download our 5 Cs guide to talking about the new school rules here.                   

5 Cs talking about new school rules

5C Useful resources

Our 5Cs resource above mentions lots of useful resources.
You can download them all below:

     Calm   

    Getting The balance right    
    What not to say to my worrier 

       Correct      facts and opinions
      Clear

    Task Management boards 

     Visual timetables

      Current

    Plan A/B  

      Confident

    Problem Planner 

    Big World my world B

 

 

Here is our special Coronavirus version guide to what NOT to say to your worrier:

What not to say

Coronavirus - What not to say to a worrier 

Download a version of this suitable for Post 16 year olds here 

 

Our Big World My World resource is really useful to help children realise what they can and cannot control. Letting other people manage the Big World and being positive about what we can do in our world can help children feel less anxious and more in control. You can download a completed one here  and a blank version here:

Big World My world resources
Big world my world big world my world blank

 

 

We also have some 'Big World My World' common themes:

Many young people we have been speaking to have similar concerns and worries about the current situation. We have completed a 'big world my world' form for the  common themes we are seeing. These are added below as Word documents so you can edit them for specific situations and people. If you have other issues you would like us to add then please email us on WHCNHS.sltcovid19@nhs.net

 

Children (like adults) deal with anxiety in different ways. Some children may want to talk about the current crisis all the time and some not at all. Here is our guide to getting the balance right!

getting the balance right

Download a version of this suitable for Post 16 year olds here 

Positive Action

 

Doctors and nurses and scientists and other key workers are being our superheroes at the moment but children can be superheroes too! Feeling that they are contributing and helping with the things that ARE in their control can help children feel less anxious and more positive. Here are some positive actions to try...

Take a superhero challenge here and download a certificate here to say THANK YOU for helping the NHS!

superheros

 

Get them talking ideas!

Conversation starters

Download conversation starters here

Knock Knock jokes

Download  knock knock jokes here 

Christmas list

Download our Christmas list here

Top games

Download top games here

It is easy for parents to feel overwhelmed at the moment with so many things competing for attention. It is important to remember that lots of the things children enjoy doing at home are fantatsic learning opportunities that your children might not otherwise get the chance to experience. It's all learning! Here is our not-at-all exhaustive guide to things that count as home learning.

We are having to socially distance at the moment but we still need to be sociable. Download our visual to help young people understand how to do sociable social distancing here:

Everyday activities that count as learning           Sociable social distancing

 

Let go of what you cannot control and focus on what you can! Download our lovely visual here to remind you:     

    What I can control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting home learning

Learning concepts can be tricky for some children and there is no better way than experiencing them in lots of different ways in real life situations. Taking children on a concept walk is fun AND a fantastic learning opportunity. We have lots of different concept walks to download below:   

Daily Walk Challenge            rainbow walk                  Walk by numbers        

Daily Walk Challenge         Rainbow walk              Walk by numbers

  

Shape spotting            syllable search                         concept walk

Shape spotting resource            Syllable search            Concept walk

Download our new Autumn walk here

Autumn Walk

 

Maths resources for home learning

Everyday maths

Everyday maths ideas

 

Cooking by numbers

cooking by numbers

Traffic tally

Traffic Tally

Walk by numbers

Walk by numbers

Number representations

Number Representations

Shape sorter

Shape Vocabulary

 

If you have family time together at the moment then games are a great way to practise talking, develop language skills as well as being fun! Here is our guide to top commercial language friendly family games. If you want some talking games that are unplugged and equipment free then here are our ideas for you!

Top talking games      

Unplugged games

 

 Here our guide for how to support children on a video call. You can download this here

Preparing your child for talking on video calls

 

Can you learn to sing AND sign a rainbow?

 

Here is Jo telling us the Dear Zoo, Bear Hunt and Very Hungry Caterpillar stories with signs to help!

Useful Links

 

Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler has released a free book explaining coronavirus and you can download a copy here 

Gruffalo illustrator book

 

Thinksmartbox Learning Grids

https://thinksmartbox.com/news/resources/low-tech-super-core-learning-grids/

washing

learning

Oak National Academy - specialist lessons

https://www.thenational.academy/online-classroom/specialist/#subjects