Sayers Common school gives home learning tips for autistic children

Jen Weeks, headteacher of LVS Hassocks, said: “Where possible try and incorporate learning into everyday activities within the home to promote independent skills.

“Blurring the lines between school and home can be challenging for SEN children, but there are ways to incorporate learning into your day to ensure that your child is developing essential skills and supplement online classes, even when they’re not at school.

“For example, ask your child to work to a budget and help complete an online shopping order, try an online class, or write a letter to a loved one or neighbour.”

Other tips from Jen are consistency, visual timetables, a mix of practical, workbook and online tasks, building in rewards, and to praise what gets done and not to worry about what has not been achieved.

Jen said: “Use cards to show what the current activity is and what is coming up next.

“Other visual cues like timers may be useful.

“Ensure your child has opportunities to get up and jump about, listen to some music or whatever they enjoy that helps them calm.

“The more anxious they are, the less able they are to focus on the lesson/task they should be doing.”