Thank you for looking at possible resources to use with your child at home. We are currently in very difficult and challenging times and as such there is not an expectation that you are home schooling your children. The thing that your children will remember when we are past this scary time is how you made them feel, so please make their time fun, show them that you are there for them and reduce pressure. When we do return to school, we will meet the children where they are - our teachers are experts at this! Everyone is going through the same situation.

If you can spend some time working on your child's priority learning targets then great! Try to build things into your normal day and make them functional - most of our targets set in one plans are functional and you can build these into your day, e.g. tidying up, cooking or sharing stories or film.

We have prepared some other learning ideas and resources for you to consider below.

Most importantly, stick together and stay safe.

Together we will get through this.

Please follow this link for Government guidance to support children with SEND continue their education during coronavirus: Government guidance

If you would like some support about how to speak with your child about coronavirus please follow this link: Youngminds 

Here are some fantastic resources from The Sensory Projects - hope you find them helpful.

More Education resources

• The Oak National Academy is a government-backed online learning resource. It provides 180 video lessons each week for every year group – from Reception through to Year 10 – across a range of subjects, including maths, art and languages
• Bedrock Vocabulary offers evidence-based and fun online learning sites. Bedrock is suitable for all Key Stages and is free for all schools that are closed
• BBC Bitesize provides online learning for children and young people aged 3 to 16. Their new ‘Daily’ package delivers a tailored day of learning across TV and online, with curriculum-relevant offers for Years 1 to 10
• Amazing educational resources has a list of learning companies offering free subscriptions while schools are closed
• National Geographic Kids has activities and quizzes for younger kids

APPS

Busy Things – (iOS and ANDROID)

This is a popular website in school (see EDUCATING PUPILS AT HOME pdf above for home access) but they also have apps for both:

iOS ( https://apps.apple.com/gb/developer/busy-things-limited/id482059850 ) and

Android ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=busythings.co.uk&hl=en_GB ).

Though some are paid for, others are free.

Kid’s Brain Trainer – FULL (ANDROID)

This app has been recommended because it provides a collection of games and activities for children to help them grow, learn and have fun.

With four fun, colourful and educational sections, the app has 144 games specifically designed to contribute to, exercise and develop your child's motor and cognitive skills such as visual attention, visual-spatial relations, short term memory, visual-motor coordination, bi-lateral coordination and more.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=brilliant.sari.ads&hl=en_GB

Other items of interest

Anita from Cheeky Chimps Music

Anita visits us at school and is currently providing online music classes.  Her YouTube channel can be found here:  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4p0DZTGE4qxj6Zk7pdex3w

PE with Joe Wicks

Body Coach leads daily PE live at 9.00am and this can viewed anytme after. His Youtube channel can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ

David Walliams - Audiobooks & resources 

David is streaming  a free audiobook  each day on his website. These can be found here:

https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses/

Resource packs can also be found on his website, relating to some of his books:

https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/activities/

Audible - Audiobooks

Currently on their website, Audible is giving access to hundreds of children’s books to stream online. Ranging from ‘littlest listeners’ to teens, including classics and even some other languages too:

https://stories.audible.com/discovery

Phonics and Grammar

Printable worksheets to practice phonics at home. From the same people we use to do our phonics at school, Jolly Phonics.

https://mailchi.mp/jollylearning/free-jolly-phonics-worksheets-and-up-to-60-off-resources-3194969?e=d9611cfdd6

WIldnerness Foundation

 The Wilderness Foundation UK launches ‘Wild Time’ an online series of tools and exercises to stay engaged with nature and the outdoors – even from your window – during the lock down. Others are to manage your mental health.

These can be found on at https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/wildtime/ .

Three main resources:  mindfulness techniques, practical activities to do with the family or on your own, and reflections and tools for maintaining positive relationships are refreshed daily.  The Foundation is promoting social media channels for updates on all these topics plus more on nature and the environment-https://www.facebook.com/WildernessUK/ , https://www.instagram.com/wildernessfoundationuk/, https://www.instagram.com/chathamgreenproject/ .

Public are invited to engage by sharing photos, writing, art and their own ideas which will be added in and social media will boost the sharing platform.

Wild Time programme will help families and those living on their own to get through isolation for some and being squashed together for others. 

What support is available to parents to help them maintain their family’s wellbeing while their children are at home?

Social connections, alongside exercise, sleep, diet and routine, are important protective factors for mental health. Materials to promote and support mental wellbeing are included in the list of online resources we have published to help children to learn at home. Public Health England’s Rise Above platform supports young people. The Department of Health and Social Care is providing £5 million of additional funding to support mental health charities to increase their provision for adults and children at this time.

Social isolation, reduced exercise, and bereavement, may affect children’s wellbeing in this period.

Resources to promote and support children and young people’s mental wellbeing include:

• MindEd educational resources for adults about children and young people’s mental health, which is relevant for parents and carers as well as volunteers, teachers, and other professionals working with children
• the Every Mind Matters platform which supports looking after your own and other’s mental health
• guidance on looking after wellbeing and mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• guidance on supporting children’s wellbeing and mental health

All NHS mental health trusts are setting up 24/7 helplines, and seeking to use digital and virtual channels, to continue delivering support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.