Here are some tips and resources to support your child with home learning

1. Try to make space for your child to work, where they have access to the equipment they need. If you can, set up a desk or table in a quiet corner where your child can keep their laptop, tablet, books or notes.  They should find it much easier to focus in a designated space. 

2. Set good habits around phone use. Children can spend a lot of time on apps speaking with their friends. While some communication will be positive for their mental health, the opposite is true when social media fuels feelings of isolation and anxiety. You will need to set some ground rules for how phones and tablets are used during the day and keep an eye on your child’s mood. It is, as ever, very important you monitor your child whilst they use the internet to ensure they access appropriate websites and stay safe whilst they are online. For more advice please visit https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/. 

3. Help your child organise their day (and make sure they go outside for daily exercise and fresh air!) Without the structure of the school day, and without the engagement of peers, motivation and energy can take a dive. Help your child set up a timetable (see an example in the list of resources, below) that will work for them and covers the subjects that they need or have been set by the school. Divide up periods of study with movement breaks (e.g. star jumps).Try to make sure your child moves, goes outside, eats meals at the appropriate times and has offline conversations.

How do we keep ourselves active?

Below are also some links you could use to support your child's maths learning at home:

Resources for Children with Additional Needs (speech and language/occupational therapist/life skills):

• Oak National Academy has lessons from teachers at specialist schools in the following areas: communication and language, creative arts, independent living, numeracy (maths) and therapies- https://www.thenational.academy/online-classroom/specialist
• Resources from the National Autistic Society https://www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines/coronavirus.aspx
• If you know that staff at Hallfield, sign to your child in Makaton, you can learn some basic signs by watching this video of 'Useful Class Makaton Signs' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pid4PLNY0a0&t=4s Please note Makaton should always be used to reinforce spoken words. 
• Information on setting up a sensory circuit at home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EpBSD3dJnM may help your child regulate their energy level (especially if you are trying to complete other home-learning which requires focus and attention).

Below are also some links to online learning tools, or websites with fun and engaging, educational content. 

Internet safety resources

Use the following resource to support your child with internet safety.