Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle Multi-Sensory Story

Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle Multi-Sensory Story 1

Our Charles Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle multi-sensory story was originally created for a Key Stage 4 class, linking with the Cornerstones Curriculum topic “Darwin’s Delight.” This story was designed as part of our Stage 5 immersive storytelling series, which features more advanced language, layered imagery, and opportunities for deeper exploration. While the vocabulary and … Read more

All About Me Lessons for SEN: Importance and Benefits Explained

Why Teach “All About Me” Lessons In SEN one of the most important things is to get to know your pupil. All about me sessions are a generally accepted part of the process. These lessons are often done in September on a change of class or on the transition into school. I am a real … Read more

Make Your Own Maths Manipulatives

Make Your Own Maths Manipulatives 2

50 Free DIY Maths Manipulatives In this post, we will look at two great resources to buy and two free to make maths manipulatives. As an SEN teacher, you will be used to making the most of what you have. Specialist Sensory toys, resources, and equipment are usually very expensive. This means SEN teachers need … Read more

3 Engaging Maths Games

3 Engaging Maths Games 3

We got our hands on these three great maths game resources from Learning Resources. I had seen a post on instagram with the pirate treasure game. It was being used by a speech therapist so I was very excited when I got a chance to have a play learning session with it. I am currently … Read more

Maths: Multisensory Activities for Teaching Big and Small

Maths: Multisensory Activities for Teaching Big and Small 4

Big and Small Teaching Activities Big and Small These concepts are generally taught together but we also use them to describe objects without a comparative object. “wow that’s a big smile” “What a big yawn!”. We throw around size-related mathematical language with scant regard to accuracy. “I’ve made a huge mistake.” “You are a massive … Read more

Mr Potato Head Scavenger Hunt

Mr Potato Head Scavenger Hunt 5

The Mr Potato Head scavenger hunt is a great accessible activity that can be set up for AAC (Augmentative and assertive communication). There are many other activities you can use Mr Potato Head for: Following Instructions Developing Fine Motor Skills Team work and interaction Emotions Playing with food Problem Solving Sequencing Senses (Worksheet available below) … Read more

Spitfire: A VE Day Sensory Story

Spitfire: A VE Day Sensory Story 6

Our Spitfire VE Day sensory story forms the third of a collection of sensory stories written to be delivered during the week of the 75th VE day celebrations in May 2020, Now Updated for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day in 2025 with a sound board that contains the sounds for our sensory story you … Read more

Free Life Skills Sensory Stories for SEND & EYFS Learners

Free Life Skills Sensory Stories for SEND & EYFS Learners 7

Life Skills Sensory Stories: Preparation for Adulthood Help your learners master real-world independence skills with our free Life Skills Sensory Stories. These engaging, multisensory tales are designed for SEND, EYFS and post-16 learners, focusing on key functional tasks like sorting socks, washing up, and dressing for the weather. Each story comes with a free downloadable … Read more

Sensory Templates For Early Literacy

Sensory Templates For Early Literacy 8

The influence for these early literacy sensory templates is the book Find Colours by Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford. It features die-cut pages which you “colour” yourself by holding them over different surfaces that become the colours. Early Literacy Activities One of the challenging elements of special education is finding or creating motivating and engaging … Read more

Sensory Story: Dunkirk

Sensory Story: Dunkirk 9

Dunkirk: A sensory story compliments our Blitz story. They were written to support the teaching of the World War 2 history curriculum around the VE day celebrations in 2020. As with our other free sensory stories it was written for a PMLD group. Due to the nature of the content. This story does not link … Read more

Scavenger Hunt Communication Boards

Scavenger Hunt Communication Boards 10

This will be an ongoing post where I upload the scavenger hunt AAC communication boards and other activity sheets I make. I hope you find these useful and please share if you like them. We also have a post outlining 150 sensory learning activities you may be interested in. All the boards are fully editable … Read more

150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning Ideas

150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning Ideas 11

Free, Simple Sensory Activities For EYFS or SEN There are many options for embedding effective sensory learning curriculums for children who cannot access worksheets and online teaching resources. Sensory learners need sensory learning ideas. Preferably simple and free ones. This list of 150 (ish) ideas should give you some ideas to try at home, EYFS … Read more

Talking Phonics Flashcards: Carters Yard

Carters Yard Talking Phonics Flashcards SEND

AR Phonics and SEND Developed by two teachers, who kindly sent me a pack to use at school these cards are pretty good as simple flashcards for use in your phonics lessons. Clear, well made and easy to use. However it is the innovative use of AR (Augmented reality) that brings these cards to life. … Read more

AAC Game: Frustration

AAC Game: Frustration 12

Frustration is a classic game that one of my classes chose to buy with their pocket money (Residential school). The one we have is the slamtastic version. It is brilliant for developing a range of skills. The flip paddles add a brilliant tactile element to the game. The class was a mixed group of 6 … Read more

Fuzzy Ocean: Tactile Book Review & Resources

Fuzzy Ocean: Tactile Book Review & Resources 13

This book was a Christmas present for the youngest (3). It quickly become apparent that Fuzzy Ocean was a very engaging book. We could discuss sea creatures and fish as well as link to positional language. Fuzzy ocean would also fit well with the Blue Abyss sensory story created for an underwater topic. I have … Read more

Sensory Story: Snow Bear

Sensory Story: Snow Bear 14

This winter themed Sensory Story has been written for our “Time” topic where we are exploring the seasons. Snow Bear provides plenty of opportunities for exploring the cold of the Arctic. I have included a subtle message about climate change which depending on the age group you use it with may be useful to tie … Read more

AAC Game: Squawk

AAC Game: Squawk 15

AAC and Interaction Games There are many ways to inspire and motivate children to communicate. One way I have found effective is structuring a game/play session. It is important to enable reluctant communicators or those who rely on AAC to fully engage with their peers. AAC means Augmentative and Alternative Communication and can range from … Read more

Sensory Story: A Sensory Odyssey Part 1 – Troy

Sensory Story: A Sensory Odyssey Part 1 - Troy 16

When I was younger I was enraptured by a storytelling by Tony Robinson. The story was that of Odysseus. Told solely by Tony running around old ruins and weaving the narrative between ancient blocks of stone. My memory is as worn as the ruins but it was this that I wanted to relive (Not even … Read more

Sensory Story: The Autumn Forest

Sensory Story: The Autumn Forest 17

An Autumn Sensory Story This is due to be the first in a series of 4 stories (1 for each season). Check out he winter sensory story – Snow Bear. Please take a few minutes to watch the video of my daughter reading it! The idea that each sensory story will have a unique feel … Read more

6 Ways Symbols Support Special Education Learning

visuals support learning SEN

Symbols can be used to support both receptive and expressive communication. They support word recognition in pre-readers and can be used in times of increased stress to communicate a need when word recall is impaired, for example showing an exit symbol for time out instead of having to ask or explain why.