Education
Good parent-teacher communication
The strength of communciation between parents and teachers is very important when working to build inclusive classrooms. Here a a few basic tips to help you.
Why working with parents and carers matters
For a pupil to succeed in school, there needs to be a strong relationship and partnership between teachers and parents/carers. This short guide explains some reasons why you need to work to develop this.
Preparing a child with a disability for school
Successful inclusion in the classroom starts with preparations that begin before a child enters school. Here is a short guide to understanding some of the factors which need to be considered when preparing a child to participate in school.
Individual Education Plan template
An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a comprehensive tool that can be used to understand the needs, develop a learning journey and succeed in realising the potential of pupils with disabilities. Here is a plan that you can use and develop for use in your own classroom to use with your pupils.
Days of the week cards
Using visual aids to support children's understanding of the schedule and strucutre of the week can be an effective way of supporting communication and engagement. Use these cards on timelines or as communication cards.n
Pre-school: getting to know you classroom activities
Creating positive relationships between pupils in your class is an important part of creating an inclusive classroom. Here are some ideas you can use for pre-school age children.
Creating a positive behaviour and behaviour management policy
A behaviour management policy is a great tool to have in your school to support the school comunity's understanding of how to approach behaviour challenges within the school environment
Supporting students with learning disabilities in the classroom
A guide to supporting students with learning disabilities in your classroom
Assistive technologies to support dyslexia
Some ideas on assistive technology that is available to support students with dyslexia
Down's Syndrome and toilet training
A guide to suppport toilet training in students to support their attendance at school
Children with ASD and understanding
Some tips on how to make sure children with autism spectrum disorders understadn what you are saying
Autism - Approaches and strategies
Signposting to strategies, approaches and interventions to support individuals with Autism
ADHD and impulsivity
Some suggestions on how to support a pupil with ADHD to manage impulsivity
Teaching methods that support students with ADHD
Some suggested teaching methods to support pupils with ADHD
The M&M Challenge - pupil engagement activity
An accessible activity for the classroom in which pupils can get to know more about each other and understand each other more
Maintaining good relationships with parents and carers
Any parent or carer needs to feel listened to and valued. Never forget that they are entrusting you with the most precious thing to them. Having established a good relationship with parents/carers it is, like in any relationship important to put time and effort into maintaining a good relationship.
Fun activities to build communication skills
Here are some fun activities you can use with children to help build their understanding of and ability to communicate.
Transitions action plan template
To support children in transition, whether into school or within school, an agreed plan is an invaluable tool you can use to ease the challenges of change. Download and use this template to support individuals to experience change positively.
Action checklist for transition to school
Here is a short checklist of things to consider when supporting children with disabilities as they transition into or within a school.
Activity cards
Using cards as visual aids to support pupils to articulate or understand schedules, activities and timelines can be very effective. Here are a set of cards which describe various activities that can be used in a variety of ways including timelines or as communciation aids.
Gesture cards
Using gestures and signs to articulate common words and needs can support communication with individuals with disabilities who are unable or unwilling to speak
Communicating with children with disabilities
Communicating effectively is at the heart of delivering inclusive education. Here are a few tips on ways of communicating with and engaging pupils with disabilities
Positive two-way Communication with students with learning disabilities
Some suggestions on how to create positive two-way communication take place between you and students with learning disabilities
Multisensory learning and dyslexia
Some tips on multisensory learning approaches for the classroom
Communication passport
A communciation passport can be a great tool to help you communcate with children who cannot speak up for themselves
Engaging children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Some suggestions on how to communciate and engage children on the autistic spectrum
Supporting pupils with Asperger's in the classroom
A short guide on supporting students with Asperger's in the classroom
ADHD and interrupting
Some suggestions on how to support students with ADHD to reduce interruptions
Establishing good relationships with parents and carers
Here are a few suggestions on the foundations of building relationships with pareants and carers of children in your class.
Building Communication Skills
Communication is vital to every person. It enables us to express ourselves to say what we like or dislike, how we are feeling, what we need or want, and to form relationships with people and the world around us. Every person can communicate in some way. The key is working with, listening to and observing to find out exactly how the person would like to communicate.
Individual Behaviour Plan
Behaviour plans are important tools which allow you to create expectations and understandings between pupils, parents and the school. Use this template to start to develop a behaviour plan in collaboration with individuals, their circle of support and school staff.
Activity clock template
Helping children understand how long activities take or when they start and finish is an important way of building their confidence in the classroom. Use this template to support children to understand the schedule in your classroom.
Upper Primary and Secondary: getting to know you classroom activities
Creating positive relationships between pupils in your class is an important part of creating an inclusive classroom. Here are some ideas you can use for upper primary or secondary age children.
"I feel" cards
Children who are unable or unwilling to verbalise their feelings may find it easier to use cards which indicate their current mood. Here are some cards you can downnload and print out to support communication
How to create an inclusive classroom
Inclusive classrooms lie at the heart of accessible education - find out how to make your classroom inclusive
Students with dyspraxia in the classroom
A guide to supporting students with dyspraxia in your classroom
Supporting students with dyslexia in the classroom
Some suggested teaching methods to support children with dyslexia in the classroom
ASD and managing behaviour
Some suggestions on how to support the behaviour of children with autism spectrum disorders
Communication and students with autism
A short guide to understanding how to communicate effectively with students with autism
ADHD and following directions
Some suggestions on how to support students with ADHD to follow directions
Distractibility and children with ADHD
Some suggestions on how to support children with ADHD who are easily distracted
Positively supporting a child with ADHD in the classroom
A short guide on supporting children with ADHD in the classroom.
Use of language about disability
The words we use matter - they can empower or weaken those who we are talking to and working with. Here are some tips on how to use language to engage and support.
Building social skills
Social skills are crucial for children to succeed in life. These skills enable a child to understand their own emotions and relate to other people and the world around them.
Creating inclusive school rules
School rules are an important part of the day, but these need to be accessible, achievable and understood by all.
We are all unique - pupil engagement activity
An accessible activity which both teaches inclusion and is inclusive in itself
Lower Primary: getting to know you classroom activities
Creating positive relationships between pupils in your class is an important part of creating an inclusive classroom. Here are some ideas you can use for lower primary age children.
Supporting an individual with cerebral palsy to eat
Children with cerebral palsy may need to be supported to eat so they can access schooling, here are some ways they can be assisted
Dyslexia in the classroom
Some tips to help you support children with dyslexia in the classroom
Dysgraphia in the classroom
Some foundation suggestions on how to support children with Dysgraphia in the classroom
ASD and use of languaage
Some suggestions on language you should use when engaging children with ASD
Supporting the behaviour of children with autism
A guide to supporting the behaviour of children with autism within schools
ADHD and fidgeting
Some suggestions on how to support students with ADHD and hyperactivity and fidgeting
Students with ADHD and structuring the school day
Some suggestions on how to support students with ADHD and the structure of the school day
The cup game - pupil engagement activity
Activities which are accessible to the whole class are important to build an inclusive classroom. The Cup Game is an activity that is not only inclusive, but can also teach inclusive responses.