Top 5 Resources for Supporting SEN Children in the Classroom

Teaching is a busy role and one that comes with constant change. It is important to keep up to date with new policies and technology to help your students as much as you can and it is in the area of supporting pupils with SEN where we often see the most advancements, as people try to find new ways to level the playing field and give children with additional needs the best support possible. Paper Plus are no different – we have recently launched a new range of SEN products with much more planned for the future.

Here are five products from the new catalogue that will support your children with SEN in the classroom, whilst also giving you the best chance to help them succeed and progress in their learning.

1. SEN Exercise Books

► Buy online: SEN Exercise Books

Children with dyslexia often find it difficult writing on white paper, in particular reading their work back and understanding what they have written. These exercise books from Paper Plus eliminate this issue by having tinted paper in various colours, reducing the stress for those who find it hard to access the words on the page. It is a quick fix, but also means children won’t stand out in the classroom – everyone could have the same exercise book, or it could be differentiated by colour and line size. These exercise books give children with dyslexia a head start and reduces the anxiety of having to decipher what is on the page before they even start learning.

2. Wooden Shapes

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From the Early Years onwards, play is a really important part of a child’s development, focusing on skills such as creativity and imagination as well as honing fine motor skills and working together with others. For children who find these areas tricky, it is essential that they have the opportunity to keep practising and working on them as they move through the curriculum. Therefore, having a selection of wooden shapes in the classroom is an easy and quick way for children with SEN to rehearse their skills. This could be an activity that happens every morning to warm up their fine motor skills before lessons begin, or it could be an intervention with other children to practise group work and social skills such as turn taking and sharing. There is also an opportunity for the shapes to be a calming activity, to help with over-stimulation in the classroom.

3. Light Panel

► Buy online: Light Panel

A light panel provides a great way for children to investigate shape and colour in a clear way with a clean, bright surface and design that allows for groupwork and collaboration. It is portable and easy to use, meaning it can be transported around the classroom or used in a smaller space for an intervention group. Having a light panel means children who may struggle with spatial awareness or identifying shapes can clearly see the differences and can manipulate resources in a variety of ways.

4. Rainbow Activity Wall Panel

► Buy online: Rainbow Activity Wall Panel

Here is a resource that will really brighten up your classroom! A rainbow is a naturally colourful and attractive decoration that draws attention, so why not make it useful and have it as an activity wall, with various sections that focus on hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills? This is another resource that children with SEN could use throughout the day – perhaps a movement break during a lesson or first thing in the morning to get them ready for learning. It also encourages teamwork – children could choose a partner to help them or work together to achieve a target that has been set for them. This could be timed, or it could be done in a set order that they have to remember. It is always great to have a resource that doesn’t feel like learning as using play means learning is natural and not forced.

5. Magnetism Set

► Buy online: Magnetism Set

Teachers are always on the look out for good science resources that are sturdy and stand the test of time, as well as showing science in action. For younger children in the Early Years and KS1, it is essential that they have the opportunity to see science in action and play with resources. For those with SEN, it is even more important, so they can link the practical to the theory. Studying forces and magnetism allows for many experiments that children can partake in themselves, with minimal risk. For example, using a horseshoe magnet to see what they can pick up or lining up magnetic marbles in different formations. This is another way of encouraging teamwork in children who find social situations tricky and can also start conversations between children about what they have observed.

Contact Us

If you’d like to know more about how Paper Plus can provide your school with the supplies and stationery it requires, please get in touch. Call us on 01444 238 050 or pop us an email at sales@paperplusuk.com