If your child has special educational needs it can be particularly hard to identify mental health difficulties. The information below will hopefully help them to express their feelings and cope with life’s ups and downs which we are currently experiencing more effectively.
WESAIL (Wakefield Early Support Advice Information and Liaison Service)
If you feel you need support, WESAIL may be able to help: http://wakefield.mylocaloffer.org/wakefield-early-support-advice-information-and-liaison-service-wesail
They also have a Facebook support page https://www.facebook.com/WESAILWakefield/
Leaflet about what WESAIL do and how they can support http://wakefield.mylocaloffer.org/Resources/Councils/WakefieldOffers/NEW-SENDIASS-Leaflet.pdf
It’s not always easy to identify mental health difficulties when many of the symptoms overlap with impairments such as autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).
The important thing to look out for is any change in your child’s usual behaviour patterns, for example, if they are:
- Unusually withdrawn
- Hyperactive and lacking concentration
- Expressing sadness
- Unusually anxious
- Experiencing disturbed sleep or sleeping more than usual
- Self harming
- Expressing anger or fear
- Asking unusual questions
- Eating more or less than usual
- Less able to focus
- Restless and fidgeting
- Experiencing frequent tummy aches or headaches
If you are concerned about your child in any way, then please contact Mrs Helliwell at L.Helliwell@southdale.wakefield.sch.uk and I will do all I can to support you at this difficult time.
Useful support from the National Autistic Society
https://www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines/coronavirus/resources/helpful-resources.aspx
Support for ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) from CIAT (Communication, Interaction and Access Team). Supporting children and young people with Autistic Spectrum …
CIAT have created a resource pack to support during this time away from school. Here is some advice for this time:
Advice for parents of children with autism during the coronavirus crisis
The contents of the pack is below:
Resource Pack Contents
Structure and routine
- Basic school symbols set
- Task organiser
- Notes on the use of a visual timetable
- Star wars task board
- Reward chart
- Motivator puzzles
- Timetables
- Now-next deal
- Morning chart
- Structured leisure activities
Structure and routine for parents
Early Years Visual Starter Pack
key prompts, instructions – Copy
tool-36-structured-leisure-activities
Useful sources of further information
Visuals Booklet – support for parents
Structure and routines for children
Notesontheuseofavisualtimetable[1]
tool-36-structured-leisure-activities
Hygiene and Social Distancing
- Hand washing visual sequence
- Hand washing visual timetable
- Hand washing social story
Communication
- Resources for gaining pupil views
- About Me! Communication passport
- Big problem / little problem
- Pupil passport
- Communication friendly ways to use your Ipad2
- Help me understand – communicating clearly
- People Games booklet
Communication friendly ways to use your Ipad2
About Me! Communication Passport
Blank matthews_passport powerpoint
Anxiety and well-being
- Stress bucket
- Emotion thermometer
- 5 to 1
- How do I feel?
- Happy books
- Cognitive picture therapy example
- Traffic light
- Visuals for anxiety
tool-22-Cognitive-picture-therapy-examples
Sensory and Physical
- Homemade sensory activity recipes
- Sensory activities booklet
- Sensory profile
- Environmental checklist
- Sensory strategies
tool-41-Strategies-to-address-need
Learning
- Structured activity worksheets
- Workstation top tips
Useful websites
- National autistic Society autism.org.uk
- Autism Education Trust http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk
- http://www.autismtoolbox.co.uk/personal-hygiene-and-toileting
- org.uk – horticultural therapy
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/schools – gardening project ideas and resources
- https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
- https://www.youtube.com/user/watchfreeschool/videos?disable_polymer=1
- http://www.geekgurldiaries.co.uk/
- https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
- https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/
- https://www.do2learn.com/picturecards/VisualSchedules/index.htm
- https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/communication-cookbook-6063735
- https://www.abcya.com/
- https://www.storylineonline.net/
Feelings of well-being are fundamental to the overall health of an individual, enabling them to successfully overcome difficulties … A child’s well-being will be affected by the well-being of their parents so it is essential that parents take time for themselves in this respect.
Below are lots of different activities and links which I hope will help you to help your child/children and you manage well-being during this difficult time. If you need any help at this time with your mental well-being, then don’t hesitate to get in touch (with your class teacher, our learning mentor or SENDCo), and we will do what we can to help.
#staysafe
#we’reallinthistogether
Well-being booklet
00251293 WC – Wellbeing Booklet
Well-being pack
Information about feeling anxious and activities to do
Relax like a cat activity
A relaxation story to read to children to help them relax when feeling anxious.
activity carousel relax like a cat
The magic shell meditation
A meditation story to bring on feelings of calm.
Activity carousel The Magic Shell Meditation
Calm down cards
Cards to use to help your child/yourself to relax and feel calm e.g. breathing techniques/tasks to do
Cosy castle relaxation script
This is another story to help bring about calm and relaxation.
cosy castle- guided relaxation script
Look after yourself booklet
This booklet is something which could be printed off for your child to complete. It is full of activities to help them to think about their feelings and the support that they have around them.
Relax your muscles
This picture gives ways to help relax tension in different muscles in the body
Sleep support
Sleep is vital at all times but more so at the moment when stress is high. This is a guide to help promote restful sleep for children.
the_good_night_guide_for_children
Useful links for support
useful contact information for parents and young people- March 2020