Play Steps – UPDATED

Play Steps takes a closer look at different types of play demonstrated by children in activities commonly found in Early Learning and Childcare settings.  The sections are designed to be used independently focusing on the interests of the child or the areas where specific needs have been identified. 

The updated version and more guidance can be found using the following link.

Play Steps

Play Ideas

We have a new tab on the Blog which some of you may have already noticed and are accessing. The tab, ‘Play Ideas’, contains a selection of practical suggestions for developing play with additional support needs in mind. They may contain more sensory elements or have been broken down into smaller steps to help build up skills gradually.

The list of Play Ideas is being added to regularly so please ‘follow’ to get updates as they are added.

If there is any topic or activity you would like to see elaborated in this way please let us know via the ‘comments’.

Supporting learning at home for early years ASN

To help support learning at home for families of children with additional support needs, while their Early Learning and Childcare settings are closed, we have pulled together some ideas, activities and useful weblinks.

Not all of these may be relevant to you or your child but we hope you will find something helpful or something they like to support you through the days and weeks ahead.

Pre-school Home Visiting Teachers (PSHVT)

Please note that all PSHVTs are currently working from home, term-time. We are all contactable, as usual, by email or mobile phone (we are not able to access office phones and messages) and available for consultation. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This Blog contains a selection of materials from the Highland Council Psychological Service. The PSHVT sections are targeted at Early Years: Additional Support Needs topics (EASEYS for ASN), Play Ideas and  links to other good practice in ASN. Please explore the tabs above and ‘follow’ to get updates and new materials as they are published.

PSHVTs are contributing ideas to the Daily Tips being published on the Bumps2Bairns Blog. Please ‘follow’ Bumps2Bairns.  

Helping Children with ASN Engage with Songs, Rhymes and Stories

The Psychological Service Home Visiting Teachers are at it again!

A new EASEYS for ASN Together Time, has been added which contains ideas around the topic of making songs, rhymes and stories accessible to a whole range of support needs.

The EASEYS sheet comes complete with a booklet, “Together Time“, which was originally designed for parents, and focuses on enhancing bonding experiences and making literacy accessible.

Also available is an information sheet on the topic of sensory umbrellas.