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How to use a now/next chart and visual schedules

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How to use a now/next chart and visual schedules

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The Autism Page - Sharing information and resources about autism

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How to use a Now and Next Board - The Autism Page

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I now use schedules with my kids but before this we used a Now and Next Board. It was one of the first things I was advised to do after my son was diagnosed as autistic. I have to admit I wasn’t very good with visuals in the early days but now I see how

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What is an Education, Health and Social Care (EHC) plan? (updated 2019)

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Information about the statutory assessment process (in order to try and get an EHCP)

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Moving up!  The transition to secondary school

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Moving up!  The transition to secondary school

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Mental health animation toolkit for teachers and schools | Young people mental health

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This animation and accompanying teacher toolkit is aimed at pupils who have recently started secondary school or will be preparing to go later this year (Years 6 and 7). They were developed in collaboration with young people, teachers and mental health experts.

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We are so excited to share this strategy with you as we have seen the benefit of this for our own children and the children of lots of families we have worked with. Emotion Coaching is an approach to support parents to help their children when they feel distressed. It works for the little things and the big things. Emotion Coaching is a naturalistic parenting approach which has been observed in research to have a beneficial impact on children's emotional and physical health, their capacity for empathy and their social relationships. The amazing thing is that we can learn this approach and adapt our parenting even if it isn't our natural style or how we were brought up - we don't even need to get it right all of the time to have a beneficial impact for our children.

Emotion Coaching was originally identified through research by Dr John Gottman and you can find out more about the approach from Emotion Coaching UK Emotion Coaching - United Kingdom (emotioncoachinguk.com)
What does the programme cover?
The programme covers some background psychology and neuroscience - which helps us to understand how children's brains develop and how they function at different stages of development. We explore the emotional range and reflect on how we feel about different feelings, acknowledging that some are more comfortable for us than others. We think about how we as grown ups experience emotions and how we can soothe our feelings. We reflect on the emotions which our children experience and how these can be shown through different behaviours. We explore strategies together for identifying emotions and co-regulating our children's emotions to help them to feel safe, secure, seen and soothed. We explore limit setting and think together about some useful scripts to help in these moments and we move on to think about how we can work together with our children to solve problems and help them to put right what might have gone wrong when they were distressed.

These are the key steps in emotion coaching and it is fundamentally about emotional and behavioural co-regulation and will help our children to develop more empathy and take more responsibility over time.
What programmes are available?
We offer the programme in two different styles:

A virtual group programme over 6 weeks in the evening, each session is around 50-60mins

A one day group programme face to face

Both the virtual programme and the face to face day are preceded by an assessment call and we then offer up to 3 coaching sessions which are 1:1

Who is the programme for?
Emotion Coaching is for everyone! Every child can benefit from this approach and it will support increased harmony, cooperation, calmness and togetherness in every home.

The group programme provides an ideal opportunity for families to learn from one another and share ideas and strategies and the 1:1 coaching sessions which follow up mean we can support you to think about how you apply the approach in real life and listen to your real lived experiences and help you to make tweaks that suit you.

There are some circumstances in which we would suggest a 1:1 approach may be more suitable, we will explore some of your family's needs and experiences during the assessment call and if you would be better off with a 1:1 approach we will advise you and support you to access this from the 0-19 Service.
Click here for the referral link

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We are so excited to share this strategy with you as we have seen the benefit of this for our own children and the children of lots of families we have worked with. Emotion Coaching is an approach to support parents to help their children when they feel distressed.

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We are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

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If you feel that your child might be autistic, speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance to discuss your concerns and possible support.

A period of monitoring might be useful and strategies to support tried at home and school.

If difficulties persist the SENDCo can organise a referral to the ASD/ADHD team for further assessment.

We would need to show evidence of what we have already tried at home and school for this to be accepted.

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Alternatively, you can ask your GP to complete a 'Right to Choose' referral. These can have shorter waiting times than a referral completed by the school.

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Right to Choose - If you are based in England under the NHS you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and your choice of mental healthcare team.

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Information, advice and tips for where you can find support if your child has experienced a bereavement or loss.

Get advice and updates directly to your inbox

Join our fight for children and young people's mental health. Sign up to the YoungMinds mailing list to receive our monthly e-newsletter, campaign updates, information about events and fundraising and other opportunities to get involved in our work.

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Guide Menu for Grief and loss

Losing someone or something we love and feel close to is extremely difficult and painful. Grief is our natural emotional response to this loss, and it is a process rather than an event.

Your child, as well as you and other family members, may be grieving because of:

the death of someone in the family, like a parent, grandparent or sibling

the death of a friend, or someone they knew at school

the death of someone by suicide

an illness, such as cancer or dementia, of someone they are close to

the loss of a relationship, like someone moving away or no longer being a regular part of their life

the loss or death of a pet

How do young people respond to grief and loss?

Every child and young person will react to, feel and express loss differently, and this will change over time. There is no right or wrong way for a young person to grieve.

Children and young people who have gone through a significant loss can feel:

anxious or worried, including about their own health or the health of people close to them

frightened about losing other people they love

sad, low or withdrawn

isolated or lonely

angry or irritable

guilty

numb

physically unwell

unable to concentrate

unable to sleep

that their moods change quickly

that they cannot accept the situation

that they are struggling to cope

It's helpful to remember that it is normal for your child to feel and experience these things after a loss, particularly if they have lost someone they were close to.

How can I talk to my child about grief and loss?

Tips for starting a difficult conversation

If your child finds it difficult to talk, it might help to start a conversation while doing an activity. Take a look at our activity ideas.

Especially with older children and teenagers, it's okay to give them some space if they don't want to talk. Sometimes it helps to just sit together quietly, or to offer a hand squeeze or gentle hug. Make sure they know you are there for them, and that it's okay for them to open up to a relative, family friend or someone else they trust if they want to.

Alongside talking to your child, it might help for you to speak to someone you trust about your own feelings of grief and the impact the situation is having on you. This can help to create the head space you need to be there for your child.

How can I support my child through their grief?

This can help them to process and make sense of a loss. This could be things like:

writing a letter to the person they have lost telling them all the things they want to say to them

writing a letter to you or someone else who is supporting them, so you or they know what they
are going through

keeping a diary or journal of how they feel

painting or drawing pictures

writing songs or poems

creating a memory box full of pictures and items, such as films, clothes and perfume, which remind them of good times they had with the person they have lost

Young people's advice for those who are grieving

Take the next step, the next minute, the next day, one at a time.

There is no one way to grieve.

It's okay to be angry and to express your anger.

There's no shame in having a strong reaction.

It's okay to feel nothing.

It's okay not to be okay.

It's okay to reach out for help.

Don't feel guilty for having fun.

You're not alone.

Helping your child with a sudden or unexpected bereavement

When a death is sudden or unexpected, children are likely to feel extremely shocked in both emotional and physical ways. They may find it impossible to believe that it's happened, or feel numb or confused. They may scream or shake, or stop talking, eating or drinking. They may experience tummy aches, headaches and other pains, feel dizzy, sleep for longer periods than normal or have nightmares. They may also act out and feel very angry. These reactions are a normal way of coping with huge shock.

In the days and weeks after a sudden death, the most important thing you and other family members or friends can do is provide safety and support. See below for our tips on how to do that.

Getting professional help

Grief has no set timescale, and it is normal to feel a whole range of emotions after a loss. Sometimes, however, a young person may feel they are struggling to cope over a much longer period of time.

Your child may need professional support if, over a prolonged period, they are:

feeling depressed or anxious

withdrawing from family, friends and activities

struggling to sleep

refusing to go to school

turning to less healthy coping mechanisms such as self-harm

talking regularly about wanting to join the person who has died

experiencing suicidal thoughts

acting like a much younger child

not believing that the person has died

Let your child know about the helplines, textlines and online chat services that are available to them, which are listed on our young person's guide to grief and loss. Speak to your child's school about what they can provide, such as a teacher they can speak to or a buddying service.

A counsellor or therapist can provide emotional support and help your child to make sense of their feelings. Read our guide to find out how you can access counselling for your child.

If you're worried about your child's mental health or wellbeing, speaking to your GP is often a good first step. They can discuss your concerns and, if needed, refer your child for more support - including to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

You can find out more about speaking to GPs, accessing CAMHS, getting help from your child's school and finding local services on our guide to getting help.

Looking after yourself as a parent

Supporting a young person who is grieving can be a very emotional experience, so take time to look after yourself and top up your own batteries. If you are also grieving, things may feel overwhelming at times. Where possible, allow time and space for your own grief - and remember that it's okay to ask for help from family, friends and others when you need it.

If you need more support with your own grief, or you feel you're struggling to cope, it's really important that you get the help you need so you can be there for your child. You can access online and face-to-face counselling, helpline support and online and in-person support groups via the bereavement services listed at the end of this guide.

Get help now

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

Help us improve our content

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

This form is anonymous. Please do not include personal details like your name or email address. If you would like us to reply, you can contact us instead at ymenquiries@youngminds.org.uk.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Read our guide to supporting a young person who has experienced a bereavement, including information on talking about loss and where you can get support.

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Winston's Wish is the UK's childhood bereavement charity. We support children and their families after the death of someone important.

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Activities for children to support with a bereavement

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Our pupil Inclusion team have been discussing what it means to be inclusive at Millbrook Junior School. They designed this image to reflect their ideas.

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How to support children with speech and language needs

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Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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Speech and Language UK: Information and support

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Speech and Language UK: Help for parents and families

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As a service we strive for:

Timely and appropriate referrals to Speech and Language Therapy Service

Improvement in parental awareness, knowledge and the home communication environment

Increased educational professional confidence in understanding, developing and supporting children's speech, language and communication

Improved outcomes for children with Speech and Language and Communication needs

Successful collaborative working with families and services for shared outcomes

As a service we do not offer:

Elocution

Teaching English as an additional language

Developmentally normal speech sound errors

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Children's Therapy Services - Speech & Language Therapy Team

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As a service we strive for: Timely and appropriate referrals to Speech and Language Therapy Service Improvement in parental awareness, knowledge and the home communication environment Increased educational professional confidence in understanding, developing and supporting children's speech, language and communication Improved outcomes for children with Speech and Language and Communication needs Successful collaborative working with families and services for shared outcomes Elocution Teaching English as an additional language Developmentally normal speech sound errors

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Supports children with speech, language and communication difficulties. Children with communication difficulties might find it hard to express themselves, understand words, speak in sentences and understand simple instructions. I CAN’s mission is to ensure that no child who struggles to communicate is left out or left behind.

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From the Anna Freud Centre

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At school we have been using the 'Zones of Regulation' to support the children to recognise and talk about their feelings.

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We use the following script for supporting children to reflect on their behaviour

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Useful clips for parents/carers from the school nursing service including wellbeing, emotion coaching and how to make a sooth box.

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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This website places cookies on your computer to improve your experience. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more details, see our privacy policy. I agree

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The British Dyslexia Association is the voice for the 10% of the population that are dyslexic

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The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity - an integrated health and education service.

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Useful tips about how to prepare your child for the transition to secondary school

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Starting secondary school - BBC Parents' Toolkit - BBC Bitesize

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Advice for parents who have a child starting secondary school this year, with tips on the emotional and practical sides of the transition.

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If you feel that your child may have ADHD, speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance to discuss your concerns and possible support.

A period of monitoring might be useful and strategies to support tried at home and school.

If difficulties persist the SENDCo can organise a referral to the ASD/ADHD team for further assessment.

We would need to show evidence of what we have already tried at home and school for this to be accepted.

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Alternatively, you can ask your GP to complete a 'Right to Choose' referral. These can have shorter waiting times than a referral completed by the school.

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Right to Choose - If you are based in England under the NHS you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and your choice of mental healthcare team.

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We are a dyslexia friendly school and all staff have had training on using dyslexia friendly strategies for learning.

If you feel that your child might be dyslexic, speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance to discuss your concerns and possible support.

A period of monitoring might be useful and strategies to support tried at home and school.

If difficulties persist the SENDCo can organise screening at school.

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The SEND Support Service offers advice and support to children, young people, families, carers and a range of educational establishments for children with a wide range of special educational needs and/or autism, aged 0 to 19 years.

They run courses for parents and can give advice via a consultation.

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How we can support you

The SEND Support Service offers advice and support to children, young people, families, carers and a range of educational establishments for children with a wide range of special educational needs and/or autism, aged 0 to 19 years.

Support available without a referral

You can request consultation support or access courses and workshops without a referral.

Consultations

Anyone seeking advice for an individual child can request a consultation.

Parent consultations

Consultations for parents or carers are usually held by telephone and take around an hour.

Professional consultations

Professional consultations are only available for Early Years (0 to 4). They can be anonymous (the child's name is not disclosed) and through a telephone conversation.

Follow-up consultations are available if families or professionals request them, once the initial advice and strategies have been implemented.

Request a consultation

Email [email protected] , providing the child's:

You should also include a brief background of the child's Special Educational Need (SEN) and what you hope would be the outcome of a consultation.

You will be contacted with dates available. Professional consultations can remain unnamed.

Courses

We offer a range of virtual courses and workshops to help parents understand and support their child's Special Educational Need (SEN).
Learn more about Send Support Service courses
Last updated 09 February 2023

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SEND Support Service | North Northamptonshire Council

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The SEND Support Service offers advice and support to children, young people, families, carers and a range of educational establishments for children with a wide range of special educational needs and/or autism, aged 0 to 19 years. You can request consultation support or access courses and workshops without a referral.

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Information pack for parents/carers which details information about Autism; information about referrals and advice and support available locally

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An introduction to autism that aims to raise awareness among young non-autistic audiences and to stimulate understanding and acceptance.

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Autism Support Service leaflet

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This animation by the British Dyslexia Association seeks to preempt misconceptions among young audiences by shedding light on the real challenges dyslexic children face whilst also acknowledging their strengths and potential.

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Information pack for parents/carers which details information about ADHD; information about referrals and advice and support available locally

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Many of our children with additional needs access sensory circuits at the beginning of the day. This helps them to be ready to focus on their learning.

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These are really useful for movement breaks

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These are really useful for movement breaks

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Services for children and young people in Northamptonshire (aged 0-25) with special educational needs and disabilities.

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Community healthcare - children and young people

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We provide a range of services for children and young people in our county from the ages of 0-19.

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Our North Northants Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Information, Advice and Support Service (SEND IASS) operates at arm's-length of the council. Introduction to the Information Advice and Support Service
We provide free, confidential, impartial advice, guidance, and support to children and young people with SEND, and their parents and carers and help them understand their entitled rights, fulfil their aspirations and reach their potential.

Our experienced team of officers is independently trained in SEND and has a wealth of experience and knowledge across education, health, and social care.

We provide a range of flexible services which include, training, referrals to statutory and voluntary agencies, access to local and national support groups, a telephone advice line operational Monday to Friday and in-person appointments.

The world of SEND can be daunting and overwhelming, but we want to help you and work with other teams at the council and different organisations to achieve the right outcome.

Contacting our team

Advice Line: 0300 373 2532, Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @NNCSENDIASS on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram

Information, advice and support

We provide information on:

the law on SEND

health and social care (where linked to education)

local policy and practice

personal budgets

the Local Offer

Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP)

transition arrangements

mediation and dispute resolution

SEND Tribunal Service

complaints procedure

We advise on:

gathering, understanding, and interpreting information

signposting to other services for information, advice, and support

what to do when things go wrong

how to get the best from a meeting

We support with:

preparing for and attending meetings

writing letters

understanding reports

the EHCP process and reviews

appeals and tribunals

admissions and exclusions

post 16 provision

working in partnership with schools and the LA to develop positive relationships

Other resources and support

We also manage:

digital resources including independent social media platforms @NNCSENDIASS

Truth from the Youth - a young person's advisory council to gather their voice and feedback

A steering group which includes parents/carers and representatives from local voluntary groups, NPCV, Children's Services, Education, Health, and Social Care

training and Resources related to SEND across education, health and social care

Meet the SEND Teams, providing families with face-to-face, in person access to the SEND teams within North Northamptonshire

Last updated 02 April 2024

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SEND Information Advice Support Service | North Northamptonshire Council

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Free, impartial information, advice and support to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and their families

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Virtual or face-to-face workshop.
Length of course
2 sessions lasting 90 minutes, over 2 weeks.
What the course will include
Learn how social communication difficulties affect anger.

It will cover how to:

evaluate behaviours

teach relaxation techniques

teach your child to understand what anger is and other different emotions

communicate emotions

It will also look at creating individualised plans, specific to your child's needs.
Book a place
You can find the next available course dates and sign up using Eventbrite.

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SEND Support Service - Courses for parents and carers | North Northamptonshire Council

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Virtual or face-to-face workshop. Length of course 2 sessions lasting 90 minutes, over 2 weeks. What the course will include Learn how social communication difficulties affect anger. It will cover how to: evaluate behaviours teach relaxation techniques teach your child to understand what anger is and other different emotions communicate emotions It will also look at creating individualised plans, specific to your child's needs.

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In the first instance, please speak to your child's class teacher. For further advice please phone Mrs Farnworth (SENDCo) or email: sendco@millbrookjuniors.co.uk

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Explaining ADHD from a child's point of view

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NCMH (National Centre for Mental Health)

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Information from the Anna Freud Centre about how to support your child with transition to secondary school

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Youth Works Northamptonshire Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered address: Keystone Centre, 97 Rockingham Road, Kettering, NN16 9HX Charity Reg. No: 1177502 - Registered in England and Wales

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Mindfulness activities for children

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Ideas to support your child learn their times tables

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12 steps tp good sleep practice (1) - Copy

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Use the microphone to record your ideas

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Use social stories and comic strip cartoons to help children understand different situations and perspectives

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Social stories and comic strip conversations

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Find out more about social stories and comic strip conversations, and how they can help autistic people communicate.

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Help make Mike's vision a reality - sensory room fundraising

New Projects in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes from Summer 2021 click here to find out more

Click here to find out more about our vision, mission and values.

Click here to find out more about our Policies.

Service Six awarded £25,000 by the Garfield Weston Foundation

Join our Board of Trustees - Treasurer Required

Service Six chosen as Gateway HR and Training Charity of the Year 2022

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Pearson Treehouse Web Development (c) 2017

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Help make Mike's vision a reality - sensory room fundraising New Projects in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes from Summer 2021 click here to find out more Click here to find out more about our vision, mission and values. Click here to find out more about our Policies.

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Examples of social stories

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Printable social stories for kids, including free social stories & social story templates

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Skip to content

Here are dozens of free autism social skills teaching resources, most with free downloads. The resources vary in difficulty and can be used for children between ~ age 6 and ~ age 18.
Click on blue links below for specific areas of content.

~ For quick tips on navigating the website, click here.~

Photo sent in by SLP in USA

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Social Skills Activities for Children with Autism

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Skip to content Here are dozens of free autism social skills teaching resources, most with free downloads. The resources vary in difficulty and can be used for children between ~ age 6 and ~ age 18. Click on blue links below for specific areas of content.