List of FREE Speech, Language, communication and SEND resources for schools and parent/carers
Speech, language, communication (SLCN) and Special educational needs and disability (SEND) resources for teachers and families
The links included within this list have been published publicly for general use - You will find any sharing restrictions at the end of this list
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SLCN's Resources
- BSL - free online course for under 18's
- Signing Hands - Signed stories On Mon-Fri 10.30am join Signing Hands, on FaceBook / YouTube or Zoom for some daily fun
- Ideas for activities, and SLCN's information - Time to talk
- Speech and language ideas for children - SALT by the sea
- Visual timetable resources - to help with school closures - EasterSeals
- Pecs / visuals / Boardmaker resources GoBoardmaker
- 10 weeks of free content, leveled and thematic units created with Boardmaker - books, communication supports, speech/language activities for students with communication difficulties and SEND - Tobiidynavox
- Now/Next, Now/Next/Then, Now/Next/Then/Reward - Step-by-step instructions & resources to increase engagement in structured tasks - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Simple, positive behaviour support resource. Plus a resource to help improve motivation in structured tasks - No experience required, includes simple, step-by-step instructions and resources for those who:
- struggle with impulsivity
- display negative reactions to rules and routines
- struggle to regulate their emotions during structured and unstructured tasks
- who require a high level of adult support within structured tasks for attention, engagement and to complete tasks.
- Task Focus Boards - Redirecting and maintaining attention in tasks - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Good sitting/listening/waiting - Independent and generalisation of skills - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Developing an awareness of emotions and triggers - Free resource -No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Support with changes to routine - A free resource which can be adapted to fit the current situation - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- A free resource to support children and young people during structured tasks - Working towards boards - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
Credit: Do-It solutions
Speech sound resources
- Free speech sound resources - Humber NHS trust
- Free visuals for speech sounds - momma speech therapy
- Speech sounds words / phrases / sentences - free resources - Home speech Home
- A huge range of speech sound resources - Twinkl
- Listening activity for children - Cbeebies
- Listening games - Speech Link
- Hearing the difference between sounds - Speech Link
- Hear sounds at the beginning and end of words - Speech link
- Free 'R' word resources - Bossy R word
- Speech sound resources - Speaking of Speech
Language resources
- Shape coding App - Free during this period - Apple/IOS | Google play/android
- A huge range of language resources covering various targets - Twinkl
- Sequencing and narrative - worksheets
- Sequencing - Functional daily tasks
- Vocabulary games - SpeechLink
- Questioning and verbal reasoning - Twinkl
- Attention and listening resources - Twinkl
- Listening activity for children - Cbeebies
- Auditory memory resources and activities - Twinkl
- Speaking and listening resources and activities - Twinkl
- Word finding, vocabulary, and categories - Humber NHS
- Colourful semantics resources - Integrated treatment services
- Understanding and using concepts 'first' and 'last - Language link
- Prepositions (in/on/under/behind/in front/ next-to) - Language link
- Following simple instructions - Language link
- Understanding and using negatives - 'Cant' / 'Can't' and 'don't' / 'No' and 'Not' / 'Like, don't like' / 'But not..'
- Understanding and using pro-nouns - 'Him, Her, Them' / 'He, She, They - 1 / 'He, She, They' - 2
- Understanding and using verbs/action words - Past and present tense verbs - 1 / Past and present tense verbs - 2 / Past tense verbs / Future tense verbs - 1 / Future tense verbs - 2
- Predicting what might happen next? - Language link
- Understanding and using 'Wh' questions - When? / Who? What? Where? / What?
- Why? Cards - Language link
- Developing vocabulary - Naming everyday items / Naming actions items
- Understanding and using concepts 'Same' and 'different' - Language link
- Identifying and naming categories - Language link
- Describing items using categories, what they're used for, or labeling features of them - Language link
- Understanding and using 'yes' and 'no' - Language link
- Idioms - ReadWriteThink
Occupational Therapy resources
- Handwriting - Pencil control pack / Make letters upper and lower case / Handwriting practice
- Scissor skills - Download a pack here
- Yoga Cards - Created by an Occupational Therapist
- Activity ideas - Fine motor, sensory processing, muscle strength, etc
- Sensory processing activities - Sensory integration activities
- Picture dictionary - Visual memory resources
Miscellaneous SEND resources
- ADHD and Me - a book for children and young people to help them understand what ADHD means to them as an individual
- A-Z information directory of SEND information - Diagnosis-specific resources, advice, and information about EHCPs, charities, legal advice and lots more
- BSL - free online course for under 18's
- Ideas for activities, and SLCN's information - Time to talk
- Speech and language ideas for children - SALT by the sea
- Visual timetable resources - to help with school closures - EasterSeals
- Pecs / visuals / Boardmaker resources GoBoardmaker
- Free Makaton resources - Makaton
- 10 weeks of free content, leveled and thematic units created with Boardmaker - books, communication supports, speech/language activities for students with communication difficulties and SEND - Tobiidynavox
- Now/Next, Now/Next/Then, Now/Next/Then/Reward - Step-by-step instructions & resources to increase engagement in structured tasks - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Simple, positive behaviour support resource. Plus a resource to help improve motivation in structured tasks - No experience required, includes simple, step-by-step instructions and resources for those who:
-
- struggle with impulsivity
- display negative reactions to rules and routines
- struggle to regulate their emotions during structured and unstructured tasks
- who require a high level of adult support within structured tasks for attention, engagement and to complete tasks.
- Task Focus Boards - Redirecting and maintaining attention in tasks - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Good sitting/listening/waiting - Independent and generalisation of skills - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Developing an awareness of emotions and triggers - Free resource -No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Support with changes to routine - A free resource which can be adapted to fit the current situation - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- A free resource to support children and young people during structured tasks - Working towards boards - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Free, adaptable commenting boards and a guide to using them - AAC website
- Podcasts on sensory processing and dyslexia - SENDcast
- APD support - Information and links about Auditory processing disorder
- NAPLIC - Developmental language disorder information
- ICAN charity - Talking Point - information on children’s communication
- The Communication Trust - Resources for parents
- The Communication Trust - Resources for all ages
- Special Needs Jungle - Information, resources, and advice about SEND and latest Coronavirus information for families
- Ambitious about Autism - National charity for autism and education
- ADDISS - ADHD charity - resources and information
- FASD - Teaching resources for children with FASD
- Reach out Autism - Blogs and advice
Home learning resources
- Reader Pen - A pen scanner for those with reading difficulties - that reads text out aloud in English/Spanish/French - Free 14 day trial - Sign up here
- Free Home Learning resources for families and schools - includes virtual tours of museums, zoos, online learning, music, arts/culture, and much, much more!
- Worksheets in Braille - BrailleWeek
- Resources to support those with - Visual impairment
- A list of resources to support learners with Down Syndrome and their families - Down Syndrome
- Dyslexia friendly - free, fun resources - Crossbow Education
- CrickerSoft - Reading and writing software for all abilities - Free during this period
- FREE downloadable inclusive resources - Inclusive teach
- Advice, learning activities and recommended toys, books, and resources for children with SEND - SEN resources blog
- Free apps to support students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, have reading difficulties - Accessibite
- Phonic reading games for all children, including those who cannot read or have dyslexia. Email: trugs@readsuccessfully.com for 20% off using cv2020 - Trugs
- Sensory Project - List of online, sensory learning resources
- Free access to Clicker at home during this period - CrickSoftware
- Teach your child to read - free resources
- Reading aloud - Children can listen to stories being read aloud - YouTube
- Emily Weston - 16 activities that children can use to aid their home reading, or their reading in school. It has a range of skills included such as prediction, summarising and inference
- Times table - Free App
- SEN Teacher.org - Free SEND resources
- Toy Theatre - Fun educational resources
Entertainment
- Free games accessible via alternative methods - Eye gaze/switch, etc - SENict resources
- David Walliams - One audio story every day - free
- Fun resources for switch users - PC free switch games
- Free Eye gaze games - Special effects
- Inclusive apps allowing adaptions for various needs - Inclusive technology
- A modulated and monitored, online site for autistic children and young people - Autcraft
- Board Game arena - Play board games online free
- Ideas for accessible and inclusive games, apps, resources - ALN home school
- Chester Zoo - Fun resources
Movement and exercise
- Ideas for exercise at home - Gnoodle - Energetic education
- Free, fun activities to get children moving - iMoves
- PE with Joe Wicks - YouTube
- Fine motor: Kim Griffrin, Occupational Therapist - Daily fine motor activities families can follow along to at 11am on Facebook - the videos will also be available on Griffin OT-YouTube
Behaviour, anxiety and emotional resources
Credit: Josie Maitland
-
A simple, visual resource - explaining Coronavirus
-
Social Stories - about Coronovirus by Carol Grey
-
A simple story - to help children manage anxiety about Coronavirus
- Supporting children with emotional regulation - Free ChatterPack resource
-
Supporting children with a change in routine - Free ChatterPack resource
- MIND - coronavirus and your wellbeing
- Beating the Virus - Free e-book - A short wordless story, that will help people to understand what to do if you have Coronavirus and how to keep yourself and those who you care about safe. It also shows how to safely help others who may be self-isolating
- Young minds - mental health support for young people
- Makaton-signed video - to help those with communication difficulties understand the current situation
- Phoenix education - Coronavirus information for children
- Why are schools closing? - Video by Skyward kids life skills
- School closures kit - including visuals/Pecs, First/then board
- Managing behaviour of concern - Empathetic stress support - Studio III
- The challenging behaviour foundation - info on ‘Restrictions on Contact with Family’ and FAQs ‘Coronavirus and the Law’ both in collaboration with a Barrister to help with guidance throughout the coming weeks
- ASD awareness centre - coping with change
- Drama Therapist/Educator - Videos helping children through fun activities to manage their feelings during this time
SEND information and training
- A daily SEND Q&A session to answer any questions in the Education Matters group on FaceBook (UK) - Simpson Millar
- A video by Steve Broach, Public Law Barrister, explaining the coronavirus bill (UK) and the implications for disabled children
- CCH Community Child health - A guide for parents and carers to support children with learning disabilities or autism while practicing social distancing and self-isolation
- A FREE webinar by Professor Andy McDonnell on the Low Arousal approach (behaviour management) - 31st March at 3pm - email admin@studio3.org to book & receive a link for the event. Also, more events coming from Studio III
- Educational Adviser, Gareth Morewood shares well wishes and useful resources on behalf of the entire S3 community during this uncertain time period: Audio recording here
- National Online safety - Top tips on how to learn safely online for: Parent/carers / Children / Teachers
- Introduction to sensory processing - Podcasts from Living a Sensory Life
- Twitter Online weekly chats for families and teachers - #PRUbookclub (Mon 7:30pm) | #SENexchange (weds 8-8:30pm) | #EYFSchat | #PrimaryRocks (Mon 8-9pm) | #SpecialEDchat
Books for SEMH, EAL, SEND - Credit: @EstAyo_Psych
Sharing notice
The links in this list to the Speech Link and Language link website are all Copywritten to, Speech Link Multimedia Ltd
- They do not give permission to: Upload the files to other websites/file sharing facility / Sell the files or printed versions of the files / Email the files or post them on social media
- They do give permission to: Download and print the files for your own use / email or post a link to the files only
Credit: Elly Chapple
Elly is my good friend and her daughter, Ella, is very unwell in hospital right now. Please take a moment to watch this short TedX talk, I know it would mean the world to her. Plus, you won't regret it and you certainly won't forget it! A shoeness of a shoe