Play is critical for the development of young children as it increases learning, developing social and communication skills, and leads to social awareness and empathy skills. However, for young children with disabilities, accessing play and social interactions can prove to be challenging.
Assistive technologies can be used to support a variety of skills, including play skills, understanding of cause and effect, moving from exploration to intentional action, turn taking, and interactions with peers and communication.
Websites
Accessibility and safety online
Find information and safety settings for your child's devices and apps, along with guidance to tackle online issues they may face.
Support for children
Special effect transform the lives of physically disabled people right across the world through the innovative use of technology.
Ace Centre work with people of all ages who use or need Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) to communicate.
Call Scotland help children and young people overcome disabilities and barriers to learning, and to fulfil their potential. There is a collection of informative posters about single message devices, cause and Effects and Apps for developing AT skills.
1voice organises social opportunities for individuals and families who use alternative forms of communication (AAC), to be part of an AAC community, meet role models, and access regional, national and online events.
Self-help resources
The SENDCO Helpdesk is a free early advice service that can discuss concerns at an individual or whole school/setting level. It is aimed to help support SENDCOs (or practitioners supporting SEND in early years) to consider the next steps when implementing the Graduated Response so that the needs of children with SEND are met as early as possible.
HelpKidzLearn -includes a wide range of early years activities including cause and effect, inclusive stories and games to support the early years curriculum.
SEN Switcher – cause and effect free cause and effect games.
Apps for Communication Support Needs a wide range of iOS Apps for supporting the development of Communication skills.
Monarch Reader digital books suitable for all ages.
The Bridge School- A Special School that has grouped together a wide range of resources to support preschool age children.
Doorway Online - a collection of free and highly accessible educational activities that learners will find easy to use independently.
Training
Bespoke training for settings can be requested as a chargeable service in the early years. Please contact The SENSS Team senss@oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information.
Early Years SEND Advisory Team training offer The Early Years SEND Advisory Team provides a comprehensive range of training to assist settings in the identification and support of Early Years children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The training offer includes: Early Years SENDCO Core training, SEND training for Childminders, the Graduated Response, planning and reviewing SEN support and outcome plans, effective communication and partnership with parents and carers as well as specific sessions to address particular areas of learning need.
Specialist support in Early years settings
The SENSS Assistive Technology (AT) team work with children and young people from Early Years to Year 13. We offer specialist multi-disciplinary assessment, provision, and review of specialist ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and/or AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication).
The team comprises:
- Advisory Teachers who support children and young people with special educational needs or disability which primarily affects their fine motor skills and physical access to learning and recording.
- Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists (SaLT), employed by Oxford Health, support children who require specialist AAC.
It is likely that the SENSS Physical Disability (PD) team, the Vision Impairment (VI) team and /or Speech and Language Therapy Team (SaLT) will already know a child or young person who needs a referral to our team.
Before completing the referral form:
- for a referral for ICT, please discuss the pupil’s needs with the relevant SENSS Advisory Teacher.
- for a referral for AAC, please discuss the pupil’s needs with their Speech and Language Therapist.
Our SENSS AT Referral is also available.
For further information about using ICT in learning, please refer to our information and resources
A Single Point of Request for Involvement (SPORFI) is a multiagency form used to request support from various educational and health teams for children under 5 with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For further information see the Single Point of Request for Involvement (SPORFI) Flowchart.
Complete the SPORFI form to make a request. Services that can be requested include:
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Speech and Language Therapy (feeding)
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Early Years SEND team
- SENSS – Physical Disability
The Speech and Language Therapy service support children and young people who have speech, language and communication difficulties to develop the best possible communication skills that they can. For some, this might be spoken communication, and for others it might be learning to use a communication aid, or an approach based on signs, symbols or gestures. Speech and Language Therapists also assess, treat and advise on eating, drinking and swallowing problems.
The Occupational Therapy service helps children participate in everyday life and become as independent as practically possible at school and at home. The service provides assessments, advice, activity programmes and therapy for children with a range of physical or developmental conditions that affect their daily life.
Health Visiting Services offer support to families at home and in the community from pre-birth until the child turns 8 years old. See information on how Health Visiting and early years settings working together.
Early Help Children’s Services Early help refers to the collaborative approach taken by all services working with children and families to provide support for a family before problems escalate. Accessing early help can address potential issues and improve outcomes for children, young people, and families. More information can be found here.