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Wolverhampton Information Network

Resources and Home Learning - Special Needs Early Years Service (SNEYS)

The SNEYS have put together the collection of activity ideas below, along with suggestions for where to find more ideas.

Most ideas will be suitable for everyone, but some are aimed at specific groups, this doesn't mean you can't still give them a go. You will find full details of the activity either as an attachment (see downloads) or the related links on this page.

Remember, these are just ideas, you don't have to try everything. The important thing is to keep safe and have some fun at the same time.

Sensory Activities

Please contact us for more information.

Makaton Signs

Many of you will be familiar with Makaton signing which is now widely used in our groups, nurseries and on many mainstream children’s TV shows. 

You can use this when you are telling or asking your child, or you could try teaching your child to sign it if it could improve their communication with you.

You may have been talked to about this by your child’s speech therapist, and we always politely remind you to remember what your specialist therapists have advised when attempting new strategies such as signing. It will never hurt for you to sign alongside talking if your child is having any difficulties in understanding you. 

Visual Aids

Many of you have been asked to show your child a visual aid when giving them instructions or encouraging your child to make use of a visual way of asking for items. Please contact us for more information.

Sensory Impairment Services

Here you will find details of the Sensory Inclusion Service; and the Sensory Disability Service - they can assist you with any queries and signpost you to other related service areas.

Occupational Therapy Services

Here you will find details of the Occupational Therapy Service and the Children's Occupational Therapy team.

Speech Therapy Services

Here you will find details on the Speech Therapy Service. Like SNEYS, the Speech Therapy Service are having to work in different ways. They already have many resources and suggestions on the activities and advice website but they have recently put together some great information sheets on the subjects of:

The following external Charities and Organisations also provide relevant advice and support.

Give us a break
Give Us A Break is a charity run by volunteers in the Wolverhampton area providing activities during school holidays for children and young people with severe and complex learning difficulties and physical impairments. 

ERIC
The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity is the UK’s leading charity supporting all children and teenagers with a bowel or bladder problem.

For over thirty years, we have been providing information and emotional support to families about these common but often misunderstood conditions.

TACPAC
Tacpac is a commercially available package which is much used and loved by SNEYS staff and families. The makers explain it “draws together touch and music to create a structured half hour of sensory communication....”

Special Needs Early Years staff mostly use kit 1 and intend offering some interactive sessions via Zoom (we will be able to send home the equipment if you already use it at the GEM). If you would like to make use of a different kit on your own, the TACPAC company are offering kit 5 for FREE!! You just need to register online and it then gives really easy to understand instructions to get going. Follow the link above for a step by step explanation sheet to get you registered and download the free kit.

Newlife charity for disabled children
Newlife is a charity based in Cannock who loan specialist toys and equipment, usually for a period of 3 months. You will need to complete an online form, details of which are linked below for accessing the service.

Child & Family Services - newlifecharity
Play Therapy Pods - newlifecharity

Variety
Variety are a charity who offer funding grants for wheelchairs and other specialist equipment / sensory rooms / interactive IT / playground equipment. Down-loadable forms to apply for grants are available on the home page.

Their website also has a link on how to make your own sensory kit out of everyday household items. They have lots of really easy activities using items around your home such as torches, cotton wool, empty plastic bottles. Most of these activity suggestions come with an explanatory video or information sheet.

On the Variety home page they also offer Pod-Ability pod-casts which “explaining unseen, complex challenges facing parents”.

The Family Fund
The Government has announced that the Family Fund will receive funding of £37.3m in 2020-21. This includes £10m which has been allocated to help families in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, for more details click here.

The Family Fund provides grants to families on low incomes who have disabilities or severe medical conditions. To find out more visit the Family Fund website.

Please also remember to follow all individually given advice regarding your child when making use of our suggestions.

Please let SNEYS know if you have any comments or suggestions by contacting SpecialNeeds.EarlyYears@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Who to contact

Telephone
Lisa Hollingshead: 01902 556517
Debra Baker or Amelia Jackson: 01902 558406
Parent Organisation
Special Needs Early Years Service

Other Details

Record Last Updated on: 08/03/2024

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