The following are links to materials and advice on a range of themes. Some the EPS has written, often in partnership, or we are recommending at the point the link was updated.
It is recommended practice to discuss with a peer or colleague the guidance or strategies published on here to determine which approaches would be most likely to be successful with the child or group of children that you are thinking about.
Guidance and Materials from Falkirk EPS
Additional Support Needs
Education Scotland National Improvement Hub (2022). Rights, Reviews, Promises and Inclusion for All evaluation tool
The Rights of Children with Additional Support Needs: This film aims to increase knowledge and awareness among parents and practitioners of new children’s rights legislation. The Education (Scotland) Act 2016 (commenced in January 2018) has provided children aged 12-15 years with Additional Support Needs (ASN) with independent rights regarding their education which are almost equivalent to those held by parents and young people, including the right to advice and information and to request particular types of assessment. This link takes you to a short film, the full report and a summary report.
Review of additional support for learning implementation report (independent review) (published by Scottish Government June 2020) and executive summary.
Better outcomes for children who need additional support (Scottish Government published March 2019) includes link to updated presumption of mainstreaming guidance and inclusion resources developed by Education Scotland.
Falkirk Council specialist provision descriptors
Wakelet on Curriculum and Accessibility provided by Education Scotland Inclusion, Wellbeing & Equalities
The Inclusion Ambassadors are a group of secondary school-aged young people who have a range of additional support needs and attend a variety of school provision. The provide a valuable insight into education policy, what works and what could make things better. An example of their work is this available on their resource bank and this visual resource identifying what makes an inclusive learning environment.
Anxiety (including stress, worry and concern for mental health & wellbeing)
Assessment of social emotional development
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – https://sdqinfo.org/a0.html
Parent version scoring tool – SDQ Excel tool
Assessment Arrangements (SQA)
Guidance on the principles and procedures that must be followed when providing assessment arrangements to allow young people who are disabled, and/or have been identified as having additional support needs, access to appropriate arrangements to complete the assessment without compromising its integrity.
Attention Difficulties
Attention Difficulties and Intervention Strategies in the classroom
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder advice and guidance
The British Psychological Society/Division of Education and Child Psychology (2022) have provided a briefing paper on non-pharmacological interventions to support children who have difficulties with attention, activity and impulsivity.
Autism
The Autism Toolbox is a great source of advice and materials for parents and teachers. It is advised to use the tools or materials in discussion with a colleague or parent in order to identify specific approaches or strategies and agree a consistent approach. It was created through a Scottish Government Project. Scottish Autism have provided a video, What’s on the Autism Toolbox, to give an overview and help navigate.
The National Autism Implementation team have a really helpful set of resources on their website. Their resources section can be direct linked. there is a host of visual supports, materials on SCERTS, working with parents, further training and evidence based practice guidance.
One of the approaches that is recommended for children with autism, to help them understand the social world and their behaviour in it is a Social Story TM (Carol Gray). There are a number of videos available online. This one is particularly helpful for thinking about how to write a social story.
Update: February 2021, please find an audio narrated PowerPoint on social stories/comic strips at this link on our blog Social stories & comic strips. There is also a useful audio narrated PowerPoint on the Incredible 5 point scale on our blog at this link Incredible 5 point scale.
Video modelling and video self-modelling are more recent innovations that can assist pupils with autism learn social behaviours. The article and links in this page are a useful place to start if you identify that a video approach may be helpful.
Understanding different behaviours between school and home (provided by the National Autistic Society)
Understanding the Spectrum (a brief summary available in different languages)
Falkirk Educational Psychology Service (2022). Supporting Autistic Learners: Environmental and Classroom Audit Tool (Upper Primary/Secondary).
National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) (2020). Anxiety Related Absence: A guide for practice.
Behaviour and relationships
See our fantastic new resource pack:
Relationships and Behaviour – School and class approaches FEPS
Resources to accompany the Understanding Behaviour in Context training
Understanding behaviour PDF handout
Social and Emotional Development in Childhood
Guide to development through toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence covering the domains of: emotional awareness, recognition & regulation; social skills; relationships, self-identity and self-esteem. Click on image to access and accompanying document.
Theory of mind is the ability to differentiate and attribute thoughts, desires, beliefs, emotions intents and knowledge to the self and others. When children develop Theory of Mind, they can understand that others may think differently to themselves. They are also able to begin to discriminate between what is real and what is not real as they begin to understand deception and lying. There is a widely agreed sequence of the development of Theory of Mind in which children develop skills towards understanding others as having different mental states and that they are their own agents, separate to others. Click on image to access.
Care experienced children and young people
The Independent Care Review (2020) made a number of recommendations, generated The Promise is a commitment to change and re-organise how Scotland thinks, plans and prioritises for children and their families (based on foundations at the heart of this change). ‘Children must be listened to and meaningfully and appropriately involved in decision-making about their care, with all those involved properly listening and responding to what children want and need. There must be a compassionate, caring decision- making culture focused on children and those they trust’ Useful infographics
The Children’s Hearing: What practitioners should know – This resource provides educational practitioners with information about the Children’s Hearing System and resources to help them more effectively support children and families going through this experience.
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) (2022) have updated information materials about the role of the Reporter
- New pages on our website for children and young people
- Two cartoon animations – one on the role of the Reporter and another about contacting the Reporter
- An easy read guide for parents and carers
- A BSL video with subtitles and audio
Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care & Protection (CELCIS) Education Forum
Children’s and Young People’s Voices
Falkirk Council Inclusion and Wellbeing Service have produced a booklet to assist conversations with children about the wellbeing indicators and gather their views.
Highland Council (2020) have produced Tools for Gathering the Views of Children and Young People.
Children in Scotland (2022) is working with Education Scotland and the Scottish Government to build knowledge and influence practice development around support for young people with additional support needs in an education setting. Engagement pack available and information about contributing to the project.
Scottish Government (2020) collated access to children and young people’s views, ideas and experiences that have been gathered on a range of topics. If you are planning to engage with children and young people, check for previous engagement on that topic and look at this previous engagement to assist you in considering the different methods that could be used.
NSPCC Learning (2015). Solution-focused practice toolkit. The toolkit provides inspiration for worksheets and activities to use, adapt or devise for the children and young people you work with. The worksheets and activities are designed to be used with children and young people aged 5-19 years old. Ideally for practitioners who already have some training in solution-focused practice.
Child Protection
Falkirk Council and Forth Valley child protection policies, procedures & guidelines
Education Scotland have provided Domestic abuse information for educators.
Domestic abuse learning resource for professionals – awareness-raising resource serves as an introduction to domestic abuse and coercive control. The tool provides an overview of the main considerations when responding to domestic abuse, however it does not replace specialist domestic abuse training.
See also sections below: Nurture, Trauma and Adversity & Risk Assessment and Management
Children’s Rights
Education Scotland (2023). Recognising and realising children’s rights: A professional learning resource to promote self-evaluation and improvement planning.
Scottish Government/Parents Club & UNICEF. Your Guide to Children’s Rights and the united nations convention on the rights of the child: A booklet for parents, carers and family members.
Critical incidents in school communities
UK Trauma Council and Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families have provided various resources for events that are potentially traumatic and affects a large part or whole of an educational community. The five key principles that can help recovery are safe, calm, connected, in control, hopeful. There are resources for supporting children and adults. The resources are informed by research and best practice to provide a compassionate response to assist children and adults to cope.
Digital Inclusion & Online Learning
New partnership offer to improve availability of online learning across Scotland (announced 25 June 2020)
Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
Specific Learning Differences and Literacy Pathway Falkirk Council April 2018
Further information on the literacy pathway and materials is available on the Specific Learning Differences blog.
Call Scotland (2023). A Technology Checklist to creating a dyslexia-friendly classroom (poster).
Scottish Government/Education Scotland (2022) working definition of dyscalculia has been collaboratively developed to provide education staff, partners, families and learners with a nationally agreed description of the range of indicators and associated difficulties of dyscalculia.
Dyscalculia | Learning resources | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)
Families
Cost of Living – Scottish Government (2022) launched a one-stop website which provides information on a range of cost-of-living topics. This includes information on benefits and income, debt, health and wellbeing, advice for businesses, and has dedicated sections for children and families, and older or disabled people. Cost of living crisis – Cost of Living Support Scotland Young Scot also have a webpage with information on new offers, tips on saving money, benefits and links to support. Coping With the Cost Crisis | Young Scot
Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)
GIRFEC Forth Valley Practitioner Pages
GIRFEC – an overview (June 2022). This is a 30 minute introduction to GIRFEC provided by Louise McClatchey, Educational Psychologist. This consists of 1) audio PowerPoint, 2) a draft copy of Falkirk’s Child and Young Person’s Integrated Assessment and Plan and 3) useful links. This can be viewed by anyone working as part of a team around the child/young person or as a whole team CPD activity.
Grief & Loss
Growth Mindset
Mindset – 8 tips to promote a growth mindset
Inclusion
Scottish Government (2019). Presumption to provide education in a mainstream setting: guidance.
Education Scotland National Improvement Hub (2022). Rights, Reviews, Promises and Inclusion for All evaluation tool
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (gtc Scotland) (2022). National Framework for Inclusion (3rd edition).
Children in Scotland Inclusion Ambassadors
Interpretation and translation support
Falkirk Council Interpretation and Translation Support (updated 2022)
Learning
Quick reference on most effective learning approaches chart (2019) based on the John Hattie meta-studies captured in “Visible Learning”. Collective Teacher Efficacy is #1.
Literacy
Specific Learning Differences and Literacy Pathway Falkirk Council April 2018
Further information on the literacy pathway and materials is available on the Specific Learning Differences blog.
The Addressing Literacy Toolkit is a free resource managed by dyslexia Scotland and funded by Scottish Government. Free online modules are available as part of the resource which support GTC Scotland Professional Standards, Professional Update and Professional Recognition .
Paired Reading and Thinking resources.
CALL Scotland (Communication, Access, Literacy & Learning) based at the University of Edinburgh have a range of materials to help children and young people across Scotland to overcome disability and barriers to learning including assisting with reading difficulties, Android Apps for reading and writing difficulties (including dyslexia), iPad Apps for reading and writing difficulties (including dyslexia).
Mental Wellbeing and Health
A Whole School Approach Framework for Schools to Support Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing (published by Scottish Government August 2021).
Falkirk Educational Psychology Service Anxiety Toolkit Resources
Wellbeing Pack: symbol-supported books and activities to support children’s wellbeing.
Penumbra have created an online portal about self-harm for professionals and the public. The portal was created to provide recovery-focussed support, tools, and information that anyone can access to enable people to support themselves and others. This includes sections for those who self-harm, people supporting someone who self-harms, and professionals working with someone who self-harms.
Information on referrals to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Forth Valley.
Stress and mindfulness – a post for Christmas on stress
An e-learning module called ‘We All Have Mental Health: an introduction for teachers’ is available from the Scottish Association for Mental Health website
Children in Scotland wellbeing resource for teachers and practitioners to support children and young people’s understanding of their wellbeing. The resource is divided into sections for different age groups.
Numeracy
Guidance for assessment and intervention for identifying and supporting specific learning differences in numeracy (dyscalculia) is available from East Dunbartonshire Council. It is based on the specific learning differences (literacy) pathway designed by Falkirk Council available above. East Dunbartonshire Dyscalculia Guidance (2018)
CALL Scotland (Communication, Access, Literacy & Learning) based at the University of Edinburgh have a range of materials to help children and young people across Scotland to overcome disability and barriers to learning including iPad Apps for children/young people with numeracy difficulties (including dyscalculia).
Nurture
Applying Nurture as a Whole School Approach
- A framework to support self-evaluation
- Nurturing Schools Pack FINAL
- Nurture Training Materials
- Education Scotland Applying Nurture As a Whole School Approach – A framework to support self-evaluation
Nurture and transitions
- 6 principles of nurture for phased education return (South Ayrshire Educational Psychology Service)
- 6 principles of nurture for return to education (Ed Psych Insight)
- Self-evaluation tool for considering inclusive transitions to ensure effective support for children and young people during the covid-19 pandemic (from Inverclyde Educational Psychology Service).
Nurture, Trauma and Adversity
Trauma-informed practice toolkit (Scottish Government, March 2021)
National trauma training programme for the Scottish workforce
Improvement Service. Adopting a trauma-informed approach.
Trauma Sensitive Schools Checklist
Emotionally regulate before we educate (British Psychological Society)
Education Scotland have developed a range of curricular materials targeted at upper primary to support pupils learning: The Compassionate and Connected Classroom: A health and wellbeing curricular resource for upper primary
Psychological Services are piloting an Education Scotland training resource to support practitioners in this area and more details are available here: CCC-training-launch-leaflet
Offending
Supporting learners who offend or are at risk of offending
Disclosure: What educational practitioners should know
Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice website including updates on age of criminal responsibility
Online safety
Education Scotland (2022). Cyber First Aid Box (Digilearn). The site will ask a series of questions to help families determine the best response to a harmful online incident, including how to approach the subject with children & young people, possible solutions, and the first steps to recovering from it.
Parenting
Multiple online, self-directed modules for parents for children/young people of all ages and specific modules for children/young people with additional support needs. Free access using the code TARTAN
Positive, Sustained Post-School Transitions
Skills Development Scotland website
Autism Toolbox transitions section
Promoting positive post-school transitions for deaf young people in Scotland
My World of Work including School Leavers Toolkit
ThisMayHelp is a collection of very short videos and clear advice for parents/carers who have are looking for help for a wide range of concerns about young people, including understanding teenagers, teenagers safety, school avoidance, gaming and online activity, building resilience, self-care tips and much more.
Preterm babies
Supporting children born preterm in school – link to a project partnership by University of Leicester, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, University College London, and Ulster University. The website contains five online modules for education staff and can be completed in approximately one hour. The modules are:
- What is preterm birth?
- Educational outcomes following preterm birth
- Cognitive and motor development following preterm birth
- Behavioural, social and emotional outcomes following preterm birth
- How can educational professionals support preterm children
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/helm/dev/prism/index.html
Reading at home
Shared reading is a great way to develop children’s language and communication and to boost their reading skills. The Education Endowment Foundation have 7 top tips to support reading at home. This is also available in the following languages: Bengali, Lithuanian, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu. You can access the translations here.
Requests for assistance from other Services
Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Falkirk Community Mental Health and Wellbeing (glowscotland.org.uk)
Forth Valley Neurodevelopmental Difficulties (NDD) Assessment Pathway
Guidance for Local Authority Staff across Forth Valley (2023) Assessment Requests Guidance and information on Supporting referrals to the Forth Valley NDD pathway and Do’s and Don’ts to making an NDD referral (posters).
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Forth Valley Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service includes CAMHS contact details, information about coming to CAMHS, sources of advice for parents & carers and information about Healios Assessment Services.
ThisMayHelp (NHS) website has a short video and advice called ‘How to prepare for your child’s first CAMHS appointment’
Speech and Language Therapy Service
Information and seeking advice
Occupational Therapy Service
Resilience
The Journey: Adventures in Resilience a resource from Education Scotland written for 13-16year olds to be used by practitioners or parents/carers.
Resilience Alphabet (primary) (secondary resource pending)
Risk Assessment and Management
Falkirk Council and Forth Valley child protection policies, procedures & guidelines
The National Risk Framework to Support the Assessment of Children and Young People (Scottish Government, 2012) is a ‘toolkit’ for child protection to support practitioners in identifying and acting on child protection risks in children and young people.
Forth Valley Managing and Preventing Harmful Sexual Behaviour guidelines and resources
Falkirk Council Care and Risk Management (CARM) procedure recognises the link between young people’s offending/risk taking behaviour and unmet need. It applies to young people between 12-18 years within Falkirk Council who present a serious risk of harm to others as a result of sexual and/or violent behaviour.
The Framework for Risk Assessment, Management and Evaluation (FRAME) (2014) is for local authorities and partners working with children and young people who offend (managing high risk and transitions).
Falkirk Council risk assessment pro-formas
Scottish Government (2020). Harmful sexual behaviour by children and young people: Expert Group Report.
Self Regulation
Supporting Children to Learn Self Regulation
Sensory barriers to learning
Scottish Sensory Centre webpages
Falkirk Council Children with Disabilities Team Occupational Therapists have produced the following guide: Making Sense of Sensory Behaviour: A practical approach at home for parents and carers
Social Skills
Circle of Friends – 2001, Circle of friends Training Pack 2
Solution Oriented Approaches
Solution Orientated Approaches
Severe and Complex Learning Needs
Falkirk Educational Psychology Service provide link Psychologist support to two Primary School Wings and a Secondary provision within Falkirk for pupils with severe and complex needs. Our team also provide strategic consultation and training to this sector such as input on the Low Arousal Approach to behaviour, the Star Analysis framework for analysing behaviour and An introduction to Positive Behaviour Support.
A useful framework for practitioners supporting pupils with severe and complex learning needs was developed by South Lanarkshire and can be referred to on their website by clicking on the link. Aberdeen have developed advice on Extending the Early Level Curriculum and NICE offer useful guidance on supporting challenging behaviour and children, young people and adults with learning difficulties.
CALL Scotland (Communication, Access, Literacy & Learning) based at the University of Edinburgh have a range of materials to help children and young people across Scotland to overcome disability and barriers to learning including assisting with: Android Apps for Complex Communication Support Needs, iPad Apps for Complex Communication Support Needs, iPad Apps for Learners with Complex Additional Support Needs, Eye Gaze Software Curve, Eye Gaze Setup Guide
Augmentative and Alternative Communication – CALL Scotland has produced a series of 2 online learning modules on Augmentative and Alternative Communication accessed AAC Modules (aacscotland.org.uk)
Communication Matters has access to resources, research and a support forum for practitioners who support learners with significant communication needs, including those who use alternative and augmentative communication approaches.
Transgender
Supporting transgender young people in Scottish schools guidance (Scottish Government, August 2021)
Those affected by war and conflict or seeking refuge
Scottish Government (2022). Ukraine Psychological Wellbeing Advice Pack – Guidance for Services.
Beacon House (2022). Information for families seeking refuge from conflict in their home country. (Available in English, Russian Ukrainian)
Children who have parents in the Armed Forces – Forces Children’s Education website; Forces Children’s Education (November 2021). Supporting Armed forces families in Scotland: Teacher Toolkit.
Falkirk Council interpretation and translation support (updated 2022)
Young Carers
Education Scotland (2020). Supporting Young Carers in Education.
Carers Trust (2021). Supporting Young Carers in Schools.
Advice and Materials from other sites
Adoption UK
Lets Learn Together: A guide for parents and teachers of adopted children in primary schools in Scotland
Addressing Barriers to Learning
Dundee Educational Psychology Service have made available online support materials within their ABLe process. It is “based on the idea that successful learning takes place when the learning profiles of each member of the group or class interact positively with the learning environment on offer.”
There are a series of mind maps, notes and ideas available for practitioners in schools to use. It is important to consider both the learning environment as well as the learner themselves. It is recommended to talk through the process and materials with a colleague and ask Falkirk EPS for advice if you are a Falkirk based practitioner rather than the Dundee EPS. Topics include:
- attention
- memory
- organisation
- language/communication
- selective mutism
- motor movements
- reading
- spelling
- numeracy
- self-regulation
- behaviour management
- anxiety and trauma
- attachment difficulties
- anger and conflict
- bereavement
Forth Valley Practitioner Pages
Information about the Forth Valley Practitioner Pages , 7 minute briefings and website.
Selective Mutism
The Educational Psychology Services of Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council produced guidance with health partners that can really assist school based practitioners work with children who have or may have selective mutism. Their guidance is available here.
Sexualised behaviour – Guidance
Guidance that was developed across Forth valley to assist practitioners in Managing Sexualised Behaviour.
The Brook Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool (2012 – due to be updated 2020) and Guidance for using the Tool (2015 – due to be updated 2020) can be used for reference, although these do not have priority over the Falkirk Child Protection guidelines being followed as required.
Scottish Government (2020). Harmful sexual behaviour by children and young people: Expert Group Report.
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
The main advise is to be confident in the schools assessment of teaching and learning with additional support needs; use the positive behaviour and relationship based practices of the school and consider specific targeted intervention based on assessment. This is a series of helpful guides from the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK.
