Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Supporting pupils who have autism

  Mon 30 Mar 2020

   Advice for parents of pupils with autism during the Coronavirus crisis

   

  Firstly

  • Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, this is crisis to be got through, not home-schooling
  • Do what works for you, this will be different for everyone
  • If work sent home by school helps , use it, if not don’t

  As one sensible head teacher put on Facebook:

  ‘You are doing enough. You are loving your kids and supporting them through a difficult time. Look after yourself. Minimising stress is absolutely vital in a time like this for mental health. Don't let this be something that stresses you. Only you can control that by accepting it is in your circle of control, you are the primary educator and this is all your call.’

   

  Structure and routine

  • Decide on a structure and routine for each day and stick to it as far as possible
  • If possible, maintain the same routine each day
  • Give clear visual information about what is happening in a form that your child can understand
  • This may be objects of reference, visual symbols, pictures, written lists, depending on the needs of your child
  • Give overall information on the structure of the day (e.g. visual timetable) but also structure to activities, where you can, or feel you need to
  • Structure work sessions (if you are doing this) visually, e.g. using start and finish baskets, workstation systems, task lists

   

  Hygiene and Social Distancing

  • Use visuals to support hygiene routines such as handwashing
  • Build hygiene routines into the day regularly
  • Teach directly about personal space and social distancing

   

  Communication

  • Use visual supports if needed to find out what your child wants / needs
  • Use clear visuals and social stories to talk about corona virus – examples in pack
  • Speak clearly and reduce language, emphasising key words:

     Say less and Stress

    Go Slow and Show

  Anxiety and well-being

  • Build in regular physical and sensory breaks – see below
  • Use social stories, visuals to support to discuss coronavirus – in resource pack
  • Support to understand and express feelings with visuals e.g. 5 point scale, emotion thermometer, traffic lights etc – see resource pack
  • Include activities that your child find soothing and enjoyable – e.g. Lego, reading about/researching interests / outdoor activities e.g. den building or gardening / listening to music / playing suitable online games. Some of these could be an ongoing project that could be done daily.
  • Teach relaxation techniques, e.g. breathing exercises and use relaxation tools e.g. a Happy Book  - see resource pack

   

  Sensory and Physical

  • Build in regular physical movement breaks – more appearing each day online- e.g. Joe Wicks does a session at a regular time each day
  • This could be a walk around the house or garden if you have one, or a daily walk as per government instructions
  • OT or Physio programmes, if your child has one
  • A series of simple exercises, yoga, tai chi etc – lots are available online to follow
  • A game of table tennis or a ball game
  • Include outdoor activities if you can - e.g. den building, mud pies, gardening
  • Include sensory activities – particularly deep pressure and heavy work – at regular intervals throughout the day – further information in resource pack
  • Create a sensory area, e.g. tent or den where your can have a sensory break / stimulation according to sensory needs (I’m sure many of you have this already)
  • In some cases this may need to be very low sensory stimulation – e.g. a blackout tent

  with nothing in

  • In others preferred sensory experiences may be provided e.g. lights, music and sounds, tactile materials, aromas etc Ideas for some tactile experiences in resource pack

   

  Learning

  • Provide clear structure to tasks so your child knows what to do, how much to do and when it is finished
  • This can be done using work systems such as Start and Finish baskets, work-systems with coloured or numbered drawers, task lists visually clear tasks
  • For activities without a clear finish – or to end a preferred activity – use timers
  • Provide motivation for completing activities and ensure this is visually clear – incorporate into work-system or use a visual reward syste

   

  The National Autistic society has also put resources on its website here:

   

  https://www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines/coronavirus/resources/helpful-resources.aspx

  but if anyone requires any additional resources for any of the issues discussed below, email me at afowles@southparade.wakefield.sch.uk and I will send a parents pack.

   

  Thank you,

   

  Mrs Fowles

   

    

• Useful info from our SENDCO, Mrs Fowles

  Wed 25 Mar 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers, 

   

  Firstly, I would like to thank you all for the way in which you are all coping at this worrying time.  I feel so proud that, as always, our South Parade family are united in keeping our children safe and secure.  

   

  As the days go by and the messages and instructions change, this causes us all to be unsettled and concerned about the uncertainty of how the situation is going to affect us but for some of our children these levels of anxiety can be very difficult to manage. 

   

  Behaviours associated with high levels of anxiety or perceived threat might include: 

   

  • Carrying out extensive research into coronavirus (to the extent that this interferes with other daily activities) 

  • Compulsive handwashing 

  • Being unable to sleep 

  • New heightened anxiety on separating from the parent/carer 

   

  The following tips may be useful for reducing anxiety around coronavirus: 

   

  Try reducing your exposure to media coverage of coronavirus, particularly if the information is likely to be misleading, inaccurate or sensationalising. Try restricting yourself to particular sources of key information  

  (e.g. UK Government Response and NHS advice) 

   

  Be mindful of what children might be overhearing on the news or from adults and other children, and let children know that they can talk to you about anything they might be worried about.  

   

  Explain that coronavirus cases are still very rare, and that measures are in place to keep people as safe as possible. Be truthful but remember your child’s age: It is better for children to take an honest and accurate 

   

  approach – give them factual information, but adjust the amount and detail to fit their age.   

   

  Allow children to ask questions, It is natural that children will have questions, and likely worries, about Coronavirus. Giving them the space to ask these questions and have answers is a good way to alleviate anxiety. Again, try to be honest in your responses – it is ok to say you don’t know. At the moment, there are questions we don’t have answers to about Coronavirus – you can explain this to your child and add in information about what people are doing to try to answer these questions. 

   

  Give practical guidance, remind your child of the most important things they can do to stay healthy – washing their hands and the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ advice for coughs and sneezes. Help your child practise and increase their motivation for keeping going (maybe thinking of a song they want to sing while washing their hands). 

   

  You could also use mindfulness or relaxation techniques with your child.  A nice one to use on line is;  https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/seven-techniques-for-helping-kids-keep-calm but there are lots of other ones out there. 

   

  Finally, look after you! Remember what they tell you to do when you are given the safety instructions on an aeroplane. Always attach your oxygen mask first so that you are able to look after others. 

   

  Below is a list of some sources of support that you may find helpful.    

   

  Stay safe and look after one another 

   

  Kind regards 

   

  Mrs Fowles 

  SENDCo and LKS2 Leader 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Sources of support 

   

  General – for parents 

   

  Samaritans  

  Call 116 123 

  https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ 

   

  Mind UK 

  https://www.mind.org.uk/ 

  https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/support-community-elefriends/ 

  UK Mental Health Charity with information and an online mutual support community 

   

  General – for young people 

   

  www.kooth.com 

  www.youngminds.org.uk 

  www.keep-your-head.com 

   

  Parenting pressures 

   

  Family Action 

  Telephone: 0808 802 6666 

  Text message: 07537 404 282 

  https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/familyline/ 

  The Family Line service supports people who are dealing with family pressures in a new and innovative way by using a network of volunteers from across the country to support family members over the age of 18 through telephone calls, email, web chat and text message. 

   

  Family Lives (previously Parentline) 

  Call: 0808 800 2222 

  https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/ 

  Family Lives offers a confidential and free helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. The helpline service is open 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday. 

   

   

  Gingerbread 

  Single Parent Helpline: 0808 802 0925 

  gingerbread.org.uk 

  One Parent Families/Gingerbread is the leading national charity working to help lone parents and their children. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Grandparents Plus 

  Call: 0300 123 7015 

  grandparentsplus.org.uk 

  Grandparents Plus is the only national charity (England and Wales) dedicated to supporting kinship carers - grandparents and other relatives raising children who aren't able to live with their parents. 

   

   

  Helpful resources for talking to children about Coronavirus 

   

  Covibook 

  https://www.mindheart.co/descargables 

  A short book about Coronavirus for children under 7 

  Newsround video 

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51342366?fbclid=IwAR3CyZq5rzXVoyGCgWjjpx6YqoetuZ1tP16y7wMjUR6uwgWyhRmf0aFTrAs 

  Drs Chris and Xand explain what’s happening 

   

   

  Resources for children and young people with additional needs: 

   

  https://theautismeducator.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Corona-Virus-Free-Printable-Updated-2-The-Autism-Educator-.pdf 

  https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus.pdf 

  https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/health/coronavirus - 

  contains a link to the most up to date version of their “Easy Read” for young people and adults with learning difficulties 

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