FREE Speech and language, OT, and many other SEND resources for families and schools
Sign up for a FREE monthly SEND newsletter here
This list was last updated - 04/05/2020
Announcements
- An inclusive skills/child-led curriculum for young people with additional needs and for those who might be struggling to engage with work at home - free for families.
- Transition passport Providing individualised support during school transitions - for children and young people, who might struggle with anxiety, changes to routines and who might require a personalised approach to transition.
Contents
Speech sound resources
- Free speech sound resources - Humber NHS trust
- Free visuals for speech sounds - momma speech therapy
- Speech sounds words | phrases | sentences - free resources - Home speech Home
- A huge range of speech sound resources - Twinkl
- Listening activity for children - Cbeebies
- Listening games - Speech Link
- Hearing the difference between sounds - Speech Link
- Hear sounds at the beginning and end of words - Speech link
- Free 'R' word resources - Bossy R word
- Saying 'i' and 'ee' game (English) - Twinkl
- Speech sound resources - Speaking of Speech
Language resources
- Webinar - Developing spoken language within the early years - WordAware
- Developing vocabulary and spoken language - Word games for families - Word aware Word games for schools - Wordaware. Thinking Talking
- Developing early vocabulary. Matching game - Twinkl
- Early language and play ideas - BBC Tiny happy people | Hungry little minds | Small talk
- Shape coding App - £2.99 to purchase - Apple/IOS | Google play/android
- A huge range of language resources covering various targets - Twinkl
- Sequencing and narrative - worksheets
- Sequencing - Functional daily tasks
- Problem-solving scenarios - Home speech home
- Vocabulary games - SpeechLink
- Questioning and verbal reasoning - Twinkl
- Attention and listening resources - Twinkl
- Listening activity for children - Cbeebies
- Auditory memory resources and activities - Twinkl
- Speaking and listening resources and activities - Twinkl
- Word finding, vocabulary, and categories - Humber NHS
- Colourful semantics resources - Integrated treatment services
- Understanding and using concepts 'first' and 'last - Language link
- Prepositions (in/on/under/behind/in front/ next-to) - Language link
- Following simple instructions - Language link
- Understanding and using negatives - 'Cant' | 'Can't' and 'don't' | 'No' and 'Not' | 'Like, don't like' | 'But not..'
- Understanding and using pro-nouns - 'Him, Her, Them' | 'He, She, They - 1 | 'He, She, They' - 2
- Understanding and using verbs/action words - Past and present tense verbs - 1 | Past and present tense verbs - 2 | Past tense verbs | Future tense verbs - 1 | Future tense verbs - 2
- Predicting what might happen next? - Language link
- Understanding and using 'Wh' questions - When? | Who? What? Where? | What?
- Why? Cards - Language link
- Developing vocabulary - Naming everyday items / Naming actions items
- Understanding and using concepts 'Same' and 'different' - Language link
- Identifying and naming categories - Language link
- Describing items using categories, what they're used for, or labeling features of them - Language link
- Understanding and using 'yes' and 'no' - Language link
- Idioms - ReadWriteThink
Speech and language activity resources and information
- Download 5 free communication boards, plus instructions for use - on our homepage here
- Or, download each board separately below:
- More/stop | More/stop plus activities | Core vocabulary plus activities | Core vocabulary - games and Ipad | Basic vocabulary -for playing with bubbles/ballons
- More communication boards - Hospitals, etc, and instructions
- Ideas for activities, and SLCN's information - Time to talk
- Speech and language ideas for children - SALT by the sea
- Ideas for practicing speech and language at home - Sheffield university
- Information and support for people who stammer, parents, families, and professionals - Stamma | Michael Palin Centre
- Intensive interaction - Introduction | Resources
- Widget - free and unrestricted access to Widgit Online and it’s ready-made materials for 30 days
- Free 90-day trial - Boardmaker online
- 10 weeks of free books, communication supports, speech/language activities for students with communication difficulties and SEND - Tobiidynavox
- Resources and advice for supporting children who are early years and primary aged. Hints and tips to support play and communication - ICAN charity
- APD support - Information and links about Auditory processing disorder
- NAPLIC - Developmental language disorder information
- ICAN charity - Talking Point - information on children’s communication
- The Communication Trust - Resources for parents
- The Communication Trust - Resources for all ages
Credit: Do-It solutions
Occupational Therapy (OT) resources and information
- Fizzy resources, by Kim Griffin, OT
- Handwriting - Pencil control pack | Make letters upper and lower case | Handwriting practice
- Fine motor activities - 11am daily, with Kim Griffin, OT
- Twinkl - Handwriting sheets | Letter formation
- Hand Gym - Fine motor exercises - Beacon House
- Scissor skills - Download a pack here
- Under the sea sensory bag - Twinkl - Butterfly sensory bag
- Home sensory processing activities - Obstacle course
- Yoga Cards - Created by an Occupational Therapist
- Activity ideas - Fine motor, sensory processing, muscle strength, etc
- Sensory processing activities - Sensory integration activities
- Sensory-based activities - Sensory Spectacle
- Sensory Project - List of online, sensory learning resources
- 150 Sensory based learning activities - Inclusive Teach
- Picture dictionary - Visual memory resources
- Podcasts on sensory processing - SENDcast
- Introduction to sensory processing - Podcasts from Living a Sensory Life
- Active bingo cards - ideas for movement breaks
Visuals and visual timetable resources
- Digital visual timetable you can use/adapt on a phone/tablet - Free trial - PicturePath App
- School closures kit - including visuals/Pecs, First/then board
- Pecs / visuals / Boardmaker resources GoBoardmaker
- 10 weeks of free content, leveled and thematic units created with Boardmaker - books, communication supports, speech/language activities for students with communication difficulties and SEND - Tobiidynavox
- Making choices board - Twinkl
AAC resources
- Widgit Online - Free, 30-day access. Create indivdualised boards
- Free, adaptable commenting boards and a guide to using them - AAC website
- Guides to using various AAC devices - Call Scotland
- Free games accessible via alternative methods - Eye gaze/switch, etc - SENict resources
- Fun resources for switch users - PC free switch games
- Free Eye gaze games - Special effects
- Inclusive apps (switch/eye gaze) - Inclusive technology
- Free communication boards - and instructions
- How to use communication boards
- More/stop - 2 images
- More/stop - activities - 6 images
- Core vocabulary - for a range of activities - 8 images
- Core vocabulary - for games and Ipad - 16 images
- Basic vocabulary - playing with bubbles/ballon - 16 images
- More communication boards - Hospitals, etc, and instructions
Signing resources
- BSL - free online course for under 18's
- BSL resource pack - Twinkl
- Free Makaton resources - Makaton
- Green Eggs and Ham - Makaton signed Dr Zeuss Story
- Signing sessions - Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2pm - Soundabout
- Signing Hands - Signed stories On Mon-Fri 10.30am join Signing Hands, on FaceBook | YouTube or Zoom for some daily fun
- Animal signing game - Twinkl
- Makaton-signed video -To help those with communication difficulties understand the current situation
- Makaton Coronavirus social story - Free to download
Visual impairment resources
- Worksheets in Braille - BrailleWeek
- Resources to support those with - Visual impairment
- Free apps to support students who are blind or visually impaired - Accessibite
- Inclusive apps - Inclusive technology
Literacy resources - Dyslexia and learning difficulties
- Dyslexia friendly - free, fun resources - Crossbow Education
- Reader Pen - A pen scanner for those with reading difficulties - that reads text out aloud in English/Spanish/French - Free 14 day trial - Sign up here
- CrickerSoft - Reading and writing software for all abilities - Free during this period
- Inclusive apps - Inclusive technology
- Learn to touch-type - Free access
- Free apps to support students who have reading difficulties - Accessibyte
- Phonic reading games for all children, including those who cannot read or have dyslexia. Email: trugs@readsuccessfully.com for 20% off using cv2020 - Trugs
- Emily Weston - 16 activities that children can use to aid their home reading, or their reading in school. It has a range of skills included such as prediction, summarising and inference
- Free access to Clicker at home during this period - CrickSoftware
- Teach your child to read - free resources
- PedFed - Free, daily literacy videos
- Free Phonics resources for children with SEND - Ann Sullivan (you might be asked to create a free account to access the resources)
- Reading aloud - Children can listen to stories being read aloud - YouTube
- Free online picture book activities - from books children might recognise - Anderson Press
- David Walliams - One audio story every day - free
- Gruffalo workshop, and lots more. Plus stories read by Tony Ross, author - 7 stories, Facebook
- Podcasts on dyslexia - SENDcast
Maths/numeracy resources
- Times table - Free App
- PedFed - Free, daily maths videos
- Simple addition game - Twinkl
Down Syndrome resources
- A list of resources to support learners with Down Syndrome and their families - Down Syndrome
- Inclusive apps - Inclusive technology
ADHD, autism
- ADHD and Me - a book for children and young people to help them understand what ADHD means to them as an individual Also available as a digital download
- ASD awareness centre - coping with change
- Resources to support young people with autism - Resources for Teens | Strategies for adults supporting | Attention Autism (attention and listening activities
- HowToADHD - Helping people understand more about ADHD - YouTube videos - How to explain ADHD
- Resources to support young people with autism - Resources for Teens | Strategies for adults supporting | Attention Autism (attention and listening activities
- Ambitious about Autism - National charity for autism and education
- ADDISS - ADHD charity - resources and information
- Reach out Autism - Blogs and advice
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
- FASD - Teaching resources for children with FASD
Learning activities and resources for a range of additional needs
- Advice, learning activities and recommended toys, books, and resources for children with SEND - SEN resources blog
- FREE downloadable inclusive resources - Inclusive teach
- Ideas for accessible and inclusive games, apps, resources - ALN home school
- There's an App for that! - A list of useful Apps for people with disabilities
- SEN Teacher.org - Free SEND resources
- Toy Theatre - Fun educational resources
- Let's all create - Online music lessons - SEND focused
- Fun, accessible, activity and games Apps - for people with disabilities
- Free Home Learning resources for families and schools - includes virtual tours of museums, zoos, online learning, music, arts/culture, and much, much more!
- Free spelling App - SirLinkalot
- Simple science activities - For children with SEND - WeCanAccess
- Free, daily maths and literacy videos - for primary aged children
- Free digital book and resources - explaining Coronavirus. Illustrated by Alex Scheffler
- Fun learning games online - Covering a range of topics and interests - BreakOutEd
Life skills
- Skills Builder - learning essential skills at home
- Real-life learning - Resources to support functional and life skills for children and young people during school closures
- First News - a newspaper for young people to get them thinking and talking about current affairs in a non-threatening way
Fun, engaging, online & offline activities
- Lockdown essentials - Facebook group sharing ideas/resources for SEND families
- Rocket kids club - Everyone can watch and be part of our Rocket Kids Club Shows broadcasting live every Friday
- Life skills challenges - A programme for young people with SEND
- Scavenger Hunts - Free 'find a....' activity sheets
- Learn to play the piano - Free Apple App
- Gardening - A short course for all abilities aged 13-19 years-old
- Free Photography Challenge - YouTube
- 40 - free, super-easy activities - for young children
- Inclusive theatre - Tuesdays and Fridays online - Shabang
- Online Lego workshop - 7 stories, Facebook
- Learning with MineCraft - Education MineCraft
- A modulated and monitored, online site for autistic children and young people - Autcraft
- Tinkercad - Free software tools that help you to think, create and make 3D models online. MineCraft, Lego, and other tools
- Board Game arena - Play board games online free
- Make a Coronavirus Time Capsule - to record this moment in history
- Chester Zoo - Fun resources / virtual tours
- Virtual Tours - Virtual online tours - including zoos, landmarks in foreign countries, etc.
- Aquarium – Georgia aquarium allowing you to tour under the sea
- Virtual farm trips - American dairy association
- Virtual field trips - Created for children, but they look great for adults too!
- Edinburgh Zoo - Live streams: Panda Cam | Tiger Cam | Penguin Cam | Rock Hopper Penguin Cam | Koala Cam
Movement and exercise
- Access Sport - Inclusive home activities - DOWNLOAD PDF HERE
- Jump Start Johnny - Exercise and dance for children
- Ideas for exercise/getting moving at home - Gnoodle - Energetic education
- Free, fun activities to get children moving - iMoves
- PE with Joe Wicks - YouTube
- Fine motor: Kim Griffrin, Occupational Therapist - Daily fine motor activities families can follow along to at 11am on Facebook - the videos will also be available on Griffin OT-YouTube
Concentration and behaviour resources
- Now/Next, Now/Next/Then, Now/Next/Then/Reward - Step-by-step instructions & resources to increase engagement in structured tasks - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Simple, positive behaviour support resource. Plus a resource to help improve motivation in structured tasks - No experience required, includes simple, step-by-step instructions and resources for those who:
- struggle with impulsivity
- display negative reactions to rules and routines
- struggle to regulate their emotions during structured and unstructured tasks
- who require a high level of adult support within structured tasks for attention, engagement and to complete tasks.
- Task Focus Boards - Redirecting and maintaining attention in tasks - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- Good sitting/listening/waiting - Independent and generalisation of skills - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- A free resource to support children and young people during structured tasks - Working towards boards - No experience required - includes simple, step-by-step instructions
- FREE weekly webinars from Studio III on managing behaviour/stress/autism among other topics. Email admin@studio3.org to book & to find out what's coming up this week.
- Managing behaviour of concern - Empathetic stress support - Studio III
- The challenging behaviour foundation - info on ‘Restrictions on Contact with Family’ and FAQs ‘Coronavirus and the Law’ both in collaboration with a Barrister to help with guidance throughout the coming weeks
Anxiety, emotions and coping with change
- Supporting children with a change in routine - Free ChatterPack resource
Credit: Julie Rayner, Irish Psychotherapy association Download PDF
- Video/visual breathing exercise to calm stress - YouTube
- Grounding/calming video - Beacon House
- Drama Therapist/Educator - Videos helping children through fun activities to manage their feelings during this time
-
A simple story - to help children manage anxiety about Coronavirus
- MIND - coronavirus and your wellbeing
- Young minds - mental health support for young people
- Bereavement support for children - NurtureUK
Credit: Mike Arminger - Download PDF
- Beating the Virus - Free e-book - A short wordless story, that will help people to understand what to do if you have Coronavirus and how to keep yourself and those who you care about safe.
- Phoenix education - Coronavirus information for children
- Why are schools closing? - Video by Skyward kids life skills
-
A simple, visual resource - explaining Coronavirus
-
Social Stories - about Coronovirus by Carol Grey - Carol's club - more social stories
- A video explaining social distancing - YouTube
Credit: Josie Maitland
Information for parents, carers, and schools
- FREE weekly webinars from Studio III on managing behaviour/stress/autism among other topics. Email admin@studio3.org to book & to find out what's coming up this week.
- Free CPD webinars for SENCOs - Starting on 21st April 2020
- A daily SEND Q&A session to answer any questions in the Education Matters group on FaceBook (UK) - Simpson Millar
- A video by Steve Broach, Public Law Barrister, explaining the coronavirus bill (UK) and the implications for disabled children
- Latest Coronavirus information for SEND parents - Lots more information in the articles on the left-hand side of the page (via the link to Special Needs Jungle)
- CCH Community Child health - A guide for parents and carers to support children with learning disabilities or autism while practicing social distancing and self-isolation
- Online articles for SEND parents - Relating to topics such as disability
- Information and training on ADHD, autism, SLCN's, Dyslexia, Sensory processing, Working memory, ABI and other areas of special educational needs and disabilities - list compiled by Jarlath O'Brien
- Educational Adviser, Gareth Morewood shares well wishes and useful resources on behalf of the entire S3 community during this uncertain time period: Audio recording here
- National Online safety - Top tips on how to learn safely online for: Parent/carers | Children | Teachers
- Twitter Online weekly chats for families and teachers - #PRUbookclub (Mon 7:30pm) | #SENexchange (weds 8-8:30pm) | #EYFSchat | #PrimaryRocks (Mon 8-9pm) | #SpecialEDchat
- CPD - Information and training on ADHD, autism, SLCN's, Dyslexia, Sensory processing, Working memory, ABI and other areas of special educational needs and disabilities - list compiled by Jarlath O'Brien
- Free TA courses - Maximising TA's | Home study | Open learn | Future Learn
- Free CPD and training opportunities - Via Andrew Kitterick
Sharing notice
The links in this list to the Speech Link and Language link website are all Copywritten to, Speech Link Multimedia Ltd
- They do not give permission to: Upload the files to other websites/file sharing facility / Sell the files or printed versions of the files / Email the files or post them on social media
- They do give permission to: Download and print the files for your own use/email or post a link to the files only
so informative
Fantastic resources. Thank you for compiling the list for us.
A great list of resources – thank you
Thank you for the amazing lists of resources
Such an amazing list of resources. Such a great help.