Posted: Fri 18th Oct 2024
Dear Parents & Carers,
With the half term coming up, I wanted to focus this newsletter on helpful tips for preparing for the half term and also how to help the children return back to school.
Preparing for half term:
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Maintain some routines such as mealtimes and bedtimes so that there are aspects of your child’s day that remain consistent. It can be difficult to achieve a ‘fun half term’ with spur of the moment trips, especially if your autistic child thrives on routine, structure and predictability.
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You could plot a weekly calendar and make plans to fit your family, lifestyle, locality, transport and financial situation.
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You could set out a daily task list with regular activities and set mealtimes, this will put routines in place. Include some quiet time, creative time and even some schoolwork. Prepare your child for these changes and try to stick to routines as much as possible. You could colour code your plan to highlight what is happening and when.
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Check facilities and accessibility before you go. Avoid trigger situations. Look out for changes in your child’s behaviour, increased anxiety and them becoming upset. Have a distraction ready or be prepared to call it a day and revert to something tried and tested.
Returning back to school:
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Mark the return to school date on a calendar and cross off the days as the start date approaches.
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Revisit the school run as a reminder of the route and timings.
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Try and re-set bedtime routines that might have slipped over the half term. If they have been sleeping in late, start to wake them a few minutes earlier each day until a ‘school day’ waking time is achieved. Adjusting the body clock and setting recognisable physical routines makes it easier to cope with any additional emotional stress at the prospect of going back to school.
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Being asked ‘What did you do in the holidays?’ is the usual question but some children may struggle to join in the conversation. You could help them with a practice chat about their ‘best bits’ of the holidays.
Have a wonderful break.
Mrs Fearon
SENCO
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