supporting transition back into the learning … to...supporting transition back into the learning...

Supporting Transition Back into the Learning Environment

Ways to support understanding and reduce anxiety

We understand that going back to school or college may cause some people anxiety. It has

been a long time since children and young people have been in the classroom environment,

with peers and the routine they once knew. We have put together this booklet of resources

and tips in a bid to support parents and carers to find ways of helping their child. We have

included our own resources and those from other organisations, including, Reachout ASC

and Specialist Training in Autism and Raising Standards (STARS).

Understanding the changes to the environment

A great way of reducing anxiety within the environment and to help learners with sensory

processing difficulties to cope is to keep furniture and the layout of classroom and other

spaces predictable. However, due to COVID-19 this may not be possible, and the learning

environment may change in order to promote social distancing and safety, for example,

visual markers. Therefore, the following strategies may help your child to have access to

before they come back on site:

• Look at photos of the new layout together and make a story book about

‘school/college looks different’

• Ask for your child to go on a virtual tour. If this can be recorded and the video

shared with you, your child can watch it back as many times as they need, within the

safety of their homes and with family members to support answer any questions (or

pass questions onto teachers)

• Use social stories and social scripts to help your child understand the layout changes

and new school/college rules. Include lots of emotional language to demonstrate

that ‘most’ people are likely to experience similar emotions. Remember not to label

Phoenix Learning and Care Speech and Language Therapy Team

May 2020

emotions as good or bad, they may be comfortable or uncomfortable, but all

emotions are equal and require validation

• Use visual countdowns, e.g. a calendar that they cross off in the lead up to the date

they go back on site*

• Find out if your child can briefly visit their school or college to walk around the site

and see the new layout

• Make sure your child understands where to go to access a safe space, breakout

space or calm corner should they need this during the day

Ways to promote understanding

Some children and young people are going to be experiencing increased stress and anxiety,

which may make it difficult for them to communicate and use problem solving skills. The

following strategies may be useful to support transition back into the learning environment:

• Use transitional objects to support separation anxiety, for example, your child may

want to take your scarf or wear your watch to school or college

• Use a visual timetable to structure the day. This may be a now and next board or a

full visual timetable*

• Encourage exploring and checking in with emotions throughout the day. If your child

has poor emotional language and understand use visual resources to support their

exploration of their experiences *

o Support them to explore what is within their control and outside of their

control

o Use mindfulness strategies to release worries, e.g. talk about a worry then

blow it away in a bubble


May 2020

• Encourage your child to explore their strengths and the qualities which have helped

them to get through lockdown and learning from home*

• Use social stories and social scripts to help your child understand what has happened

and why (for example, social distancing within school*). Include lots of emotional

language to demonstrate that ‘most’ people are likely to experience similar

emotions. Remember not to label emotions as good or bad, they are comfortable or

uncomfortable, but all emotions are equal

• Start a lockdown journal, capturing their experiences during this time. This could be

written or visual scrapbook with photographs and drawings. Encourage your child to

take this into school/college so they can share their experiences and talk through

them with their teachers and support staff*

• Use visual countdowns, e.g. a calendar that they cross off in the lead up to the date

they go back on site*

• Encourage your child to do more of the activities which help to ground them and

help them to feel calm and alert. This may be sensory based activities, as

recommended by an Occupational Therapist or Sensory Integration Practitioner or

activities you’ve established together, e.g. mindfulness, yoga and PE with Joe Wicks

• Use the sensory qualities of food and drink to help manage emotional responses.

For example, drinking through a straw at regular intervals and eating chewy foods,

such as bagels, dried fruits and fruit roll ups (see our recent Facebook posts for more

information on this here)

* Resources available within this pack


May 2020

https://www.facebook.com/106726937633372/videos/696435364450551/

Created in WidgitOnline.com for Kate Boot Widgit Symbols © Widgit Software 2002 - 2020

Now

Next

Then


Begin the

countdown10 9 8

7 6 5 4

3 2 1 Back to

school today

My countdown to

going back to

school


Activities to help me get ready for going back to school

Draw a

picture for

my teacher

Practice

putting on my

school uniform

Wear my

school shoes

around the

house

Do a 'drive

run' to

school

Look at a photo

of something I

did at school

Clean my

school

lunchbox

Talk to someone

about my

favourite things

to do at school

Buy some

new pencils

Phoenix Learning and Care - Speech and Language Therapy

What I liked

What am I worried about, going back to school?

Any significant events

My lockdown experience

What was difficult?

How did I learn best?

What’s happening to me?

How am I feeling?

What can help me feel better? Created in WidgitOnline.com for WCReachoutASC Widgit Symbols © Widgit Software 2002 - 2020

home school family shopping

outside news work inside

calm worried sad annoyed

angry hopeful happy bored

ok scared upset relaxed

iPad TV exercise garden

Created in WidgitOnline.com for WCReachoutASC Widgit Symbols © Widgit Software 2002 - 2020







Where?

Created in WidgitOnline.com for WCReachoutASC Widgit Symbols © Widgit Software 2002 - 2020







About my feelings


What am I in control of?

In my control

Not in my control


What am I in control of visual choices

What I have for

breakfast

Which teachers will

be in Where I sit in class

Which of my friends will

be in at the same time as

me

Washing my hands Keeping myself busy

Using my transitional

object if I miss my family

Talking to someone in

school if I feel upset or

worried

Talking to someone in

college if I feel upset or

worried

Asking to call my

parent or carer

Using my sensory

toys

Asking to go for a

walk

If someone becomes

poorly in school

If someone becomes

poorly in college

We have left 2 blanks for you to add your own choices


Feelings Board

Happy Sad

Worried Scared

Nervous Excited


Social distancing at school

I have not been in

school because of

the Coronavirus

Coronavirus can

make people feel

very unwell

The Government

said schools can

start to re-open

But to make sure we can

help people stay safe, we

have to be socially distant

from others unless they

live in our houses.



Social distancing means

we have to stay two

meters away from

people when we are out

in public

When I go back to school,

I will have to practise

social distancing and I

will need to wash my

hands more often

Social distancing

will help to keep

everyone safe

It might feel strange

because I cannot hug,

high five or touch

anyone who does not

live in my house



I could agree different

ways to interact with my

teachers. For example,

pretending to throw a high

5 or hug to them to catch

Things like this will

help me to feel

connected to my

teachers

Things may feel

different for a while,

this might make me

feel sad or worried

This is OK. Most

people feel this

way.



If I feel sad or worried I

can talk to my parents

or my teachers and they

will help me to work out

my emotions

I could try to talk to

my teachers about

how I feel during

the daytime

Not talking can make

emotions feel really

big and

uncomfortable inside

Social distancing may

be strange but it will

help keep everyone

happy, healthy and safe.

To access the STARS lockdown journal go to:

http://www.starsteam.org.uk/coronavirus-resources

• Click on transition resources

• Scroll down to ‘Lockdown journal here’


May 2020

http://www.starsteam.org.uk/coronavirus-resources


What skills have

I learned during

lockdown?

What positives have come from lockdown?

For example, 'I can make lunch for everyone'


What new

talents do I

have?


For example, 'I have learned to model clay'


What special

qualities

have I used?


For example, 'I have adapted to learning from home'

supporting transition back into the learning … to...supporting transition back into the learning...

Documents