Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE Tips for parents to help with coronavirus changes: Planning transitions to school Introduction: We have put together this resource to support families in planning for their child over the next phase of transition relating to coronavirus changes For many this includes thinking about or making decisions about sending your child back to school Of course, as always, take those bits that are helpful for you and your family and remember that at times of change trying to too much that is new can be quite overwhelming for children with autism as well as their parents At this stage we would advocate some level of planning ahead even if the transition for you and your child feels quite far away Schools will be taking their role and working hard to link with the children that they support We have attached a checklist containing some of the ideas that are being shared for children with autism If you decide to complete this, it could be helpful to share your thoughts with your child’s teacher and/or SENCo to support their planning for your child’s transition Starting the planning process: This is a challenging time for many families and especially where a child has additional needs There are understandably many different needs and anxieties that parents are balancing in trying to map the best way forward for their child/ren Experts are advising us to accept the things which are unknown and plan around what we know so that we can start to take some practical next steps One of the key ideas that is being recommended is to use a mind map to plot out the main issues and any questions that you may have about your child’s transition (here is an example based on the recent work of Lynn McCann, Reachout ASC): Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE Lynn and her team have produced a series of short clips about planning to go back to school aimed at parents and teachers including planning for big transitions like starting a new school or college - https://www.reachoutasc.com (see ‘transition resources’ under the resources section) https://www.schudio.tv/courses/preparing-autistic-send-children-for-going-back-to-school Think about a phased or staggered start: If you feel that your child would benefit from a more part-time time table in the short-term to help their anxiety in starting back (like at the start of reception), have a discussion with your school about how this could work and if it could be possible Communication is key: One of the key messages from autism experts across the country is that more than ever, we need to employ our skills in preparing our children and communicating well with the professionals supporting them Communication with school in whatever way your find easiest in most important in planning for your child’s return or start: This could be phone call or email (if this is easier for you) If you have identified some things that you think could help your child, try to find a way to share this with your child’s teachers If you are worried about something specific then it’s always helpful to enquire rather than keep worrying Things to check in on might include information about your child’s timetable, how they will be grouped, seating plans in the classroom/s and access for them to a quiet or safe space (see attached Checklist for further ideas) In planning ahead it is also helpful to check in about how to keep the communication going while your child is settling in – this could be via email, a communication book or organised phone calls This is especially important if you child is starting a new school Talking with your child: Keep memories of school alive for your child and help them to remember the things that they enjoyed – for example, a favourite teacher, tree or climbing frame If your child is starting at a new school then they will need a further level of preparation and visuals Could completing a ‘Passport to my new school’ or ‘Passport back to school’ be helpful (see Twinkl resources) Transition books and visual reminders: If you have any transition work that you have done previously, it could help to pull this out and/or have a look at school pictures, website or twitter account to see pictures of the school and teachers Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE Some children might enjoy making a scrapbook or collage of pictures or doing a project to find out some facts about their school – any visual or thinking connection with school is likely to help them hugely in making the journey back in Some schools may offer a virtual tour of the school or some additional pictures of your child’s classroom and it could be worth asking about this if you think it could help your child in advance Find out about school uniform so that you can prepare your child for wearing or not wearing this as usual Some children might like to a practice walk in or drive past as well to help them get a better sense of this Social stories and coronavirus stories are a further helpful way of visually preparing your child for starting back at school (especially if they have worries about coronavirus) For example: - Here is a link to a simple little story with lovely illustrations: https://en.calameo.com/read/000777721945cfe5bb9cc?authid=Xu9pcOzU3TQx - Here is a link to a You Tube clip using playmobile characters: https://youtu.be/5DlOGKpMNs4 - ELSA: Coronavirus Story for Children https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/coronavirus-story-for-children/ - This lovely story is available in many different languages and has already been used to support many children from around the world: https://www.mindheart.co/descargables Some children may not have many coronavirus worries at all and so it is important not to create anxiety if your child seems to be fine with things However, stay open to their curiosity which may change as they start to mix with other children Think about the timing of preparation: Take into account the level of warning and preparation that is usually helpful for your child Some children with autism need to start preparation a long way in advance to get used to a transition, for others this can get them quite wound up and they need their preparation to be quite close to the event It will help to be clear about the timeline in your mind before you decide about the timing of conversations and visuals for them Supporting your child’s communication: Help to prepare your child (as described in the ‘Emotional processing’ advice) to share some of their experiences It could help to use visual resources like ‘My lockdown experience’ (by Reachout ASC) and/or worksheets from Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE ‘My 2020 COVID-19 time capsule’ (developed by Natalie Long of Long Creations, https://www.facebook.com/LongCreations) Consider your child’s experiences over lockdown – if their face to face communication has reduced then have a think about how to help them to practice this a bit more leading up to them starting school This could be online or socially distanced meet ups to help them get used to communication with others outside of the family again Consider whether your child could benefit from any further resources to help them with communicating feelings This may be their feelings about different aspects of the virus (see ‘Mapping Corona feelings’) or their feelings in general as they return to school: Revise advice to help with keeping safe: Children going back into school are likely to need help and support to remember their coronavirus safety Handwashing: We know that for many children remembering the handwashing can be difficult especially for those who had not developed these habits yet Providing and increasing visual reminders to target hand washing will help to prepare your child for the expectations of a school/setting Visuals like this one (put together by the Speech and Language therapists at Sheilings school) can help especially when they are stuck up around eating areas and where children use the toilet: Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE Many parents are finding that their children still need lots of extra prompting and practice at the handwashing Washing hands for the length of a favourite song or rhyme can help Another favourite is the elephant visual (which can be downloaded from ELSA support): Consider social distancing: Find out about your school’s policies on social distancing so that you can communicate these to your child Discuss any concerns about how your child may manage these with teachers and have a think about their autism profile in terms of any additional safety needs that they may have The attached visual ‘Mapping Corona feelings’ (put together by Reachout ASC) could be helpful to use with your child to explore how they feel about the measures Talk through any worries and explain what might be different for them when they go back to school (some of this may be supported by other visuals as well such as pictures of their classroom if these are available) Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE It could help to make a list or mind map of that will be different and things which will be the same Check in on the latest government advice relating to coronavirus safety for children and returning to school This is being updated all the time: - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Further references for coronavirus coping: Here are some further and updated links relating to coronavirus: American Psychological Association: Information on Pandemics (a wide range of resources) https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/researchinformation/pandemics?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=apapandemics&utm_con tent=pandemics-resources BBC: How to protect your mental health https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51873799 CBBC: Video and Questions https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51861089 ChildMind: Talking to Children https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/ Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE ELSA: Coronavirus Story for Children https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/coronavirus-story-for-children/ Evidence for learning: Including Barry Carpenter’s work on the need for a recovery curriculum https://www.evidenceforlearning.net/recoverycurriculum/ National Association of School Psychologists: Parent Resources https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safetyandcrisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource National child traumatic stress network Describe the range of natural responses that children may show relating to coronavirus trauma and change National child traumatic stress network Describe the range of natural responses that children may show relating to coronavirus trauma and change https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/factsheet/parent_caregiver_guide_to_helping_families_cope_with_the_coronavirus_disease_2019_covid-19.pdf) Reach out ASC Lynn McCann is an autism specialist and teacher She has put together a comprehensive course to support the transition of children back to school following lockdown – this free course made up of minute talks is highly recommended for parents and teachers (following the www.schudio link below) https://www.reachoutasc.com (see transition resources in the resources section) https://www.schudio.tv/courses/preparing-autistic-send-children-for-going-back-to-school Star Stream The Star Stream team based in Leeds have put together a comprehensive collection of social stories and resources to support children with autism in their emotional coping and transition packs for different ages all relating to coronavirus There is a useful free symbols sections for parents to personalise their own stories and timetables: http://www.starsteam.org.uk/coronavirus-resources Young Minds: Feeling Anxious about Coronavirus https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus This educational psychology website provides a further helpful overview of advice and resources: https://edpsy.org.uk/blog/2020/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-children-families-and-professionals/ Here are some books which may be help communication of feelings: Draw on Your Emotions Margot Sunderland A resource to help people express and communication their emotions Have You Filled A Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids Carol McCloud Encourages positive behaviour and expressing kindness and appreciation Bristol Autism Team – Family Learning and Support Hub (FLASH) Accessible City- Education and Skills P O Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE How are you Peeling: Foods with Moods Saxton Freymann & Joost Elffers Explores how emotions look through pictures of Foods A good way to talk about emotions with young children The Way I Feel Janan Cain Explores feelings and a helpful way to talk about emotions with young children ‘Think Good Feel Good’: A CBT workbook for children and young people Paul Stallard (2002) What To Do When You’re Scared & Worried: A Guide for Kids James Crist A help guide to processing fears and worries (ages 9-13) Scaredy Squirrel (Series of children’s books for children who worry about outings/events) Melanie Watt (2008) Also available in spoken form over You Tube Here are some books which may help communication about difficult events or bereavement: Something Bad Happened: A Kid’s Guide to Coping with events in the News Dawn Huebner How to process different world events (ages 6-12) The Day the Sea Went Out and Never Came Back Margot Sunderland A story for children who have lost someone they love (ages 4-12) I have a question about death: clear answers for all kids, including children with ASD Grad Gaines, A & Polsky, M (2007) Jessica Kingsley With thanks to Lynn McCann and www.reachoutasc.com for sharing their resources This document has been researched and developed by Tanya Rawlinson (Clinical Psychologist and NAS licenced EarlyBird Trainer) and Josie Ball (Earlybird Trainer and parent) ... https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts /school- climate-safetyandcrisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource National child traumatic stress network Describe the range of natural responses that children may show relating to coronavirus trauma and change National child traumatic stress network... https://www.evidenceforlearning.net/recoverycurriculum/ National Association of School Psychologists: Parent Resources https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts /school- climate-safetyandcrisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource... and updated links relating to coronavirus: American Psychological Association: Information on Pandemics (a wide range of resources) https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/researchinformation/pandemics?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=apapandemics&utm_con