Physical Play: Giant Light and Sound Spinning Top

In this blog Lorna Taylor, a Paediatric Physiotherapist, discusses the ways in which the Giant Light and Sound Spinning Top can support children's physical development. My Initial Thoughts on the Giant Light and Sound Spinning Top As a children’s physiotherapist, it was a pleasure to assess and review the Giant Light and Sound Spinning Top,…

ByAna Smith20 October 20230Comments

How to Support SEND Children with Programming

From tactile touch to touching screen Programming a computer can seem a rather abstract task. Text on a screen, interspersed with various bits of punctuation, all recognisable but somehow a bit jumbled up, which translates to an action, perhaps as an animation in front of you, or in the response of a device – a…

ByAna Smith3 September 20230Comments

Blog STEAM

Light up Learning by Little Miss Early Years

Is there anything more interesting than playing with light? As adults, we use light to create a mood, a sense of comfort and cosiness; is it any wonder that light is so appealing and calming for young children too? In this post, I want to share with you some ways we use light up learning…

ByAna Smith3 September 20230Comments

Blog STEAM

Meet Trevor … Our Calming Cat

In this blog, Beccie Hawes, SEND expert, explains how she introduced Calming Cat into a Year 2 class and the children named him ... TREVOR! There have been several research studies that show that stroking a pet helps increase our happy hormones. This has to be a good thing – especially in these extraordinary times! In one…

ByAna Smith3 September 20230Comments

Blog SEN

4 Ways to Support Pupils with Hearing Loss Through Classroom Layout and Environment

An estimated 3 out of every 1,000 children are born with a detectable hearing loss. Others may acquire hearing damage during childhood due to injuries, infections, or long-term exposure to loud noise. Hearing difficulties can impact a child’s personal, social, and emotional wellbeing as well as their school life. When supporting our pupils with hearing loss…

ByAna Smith3 September 20230Comments

Blog SEN STEAM

10 Ways to Use Recordable Talking Buttons

When I was a busy school SENCO I’d often have teachers asking me for resources to help their children. I would always give them what I had from my cupboard but with a limited budget I often had to find resources that were cost effective and very, very versatile. Now as Head of Service with…

ByAna Smith7 August 20230Comments

Blog Early Years SEN

Learning and Play with Marvellous Metallics

Children’s fascination with shiny objects, like coins, keys, and Metallic resources, is often referred to as the ‘Magpie Effect.’ The captivating treasures found in our Marvellous Metallic range have a special allure for children. This makes them an excellent catalyst for learning and play. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the various ways children can engage…

ByAna Smith7 August 20230Comments

Blog Early Years SEN STEAM

Exciting Activity Ideas for Early Years Mark Making

Discover engaging activity ideas to enhance fine motor skills, promote early writing, and foster a love for learning. Let the glow captivate young learners and make their educational journey shine bright. Building Foundations In the early years, fostering a love for learning and building the foundations is crucial. One exciting resource that can light up the…

ByAna Smith4 August 20230Comments

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