Cognition and learning resources - Durham County Council

Cognition and learning: activities and resources for children and young people

The websites below are filled with fun games, activities and learning for a wide range of learning needs.

Please ask an adult to help you explore the websites!

Name	Description
Audible	Free audio stories - ask an adult to help set up an account.
SymbolWorld	SymbolWorld is a website created for symbol users. It has material for all ages and includes news, personal contributions, stories and learning materials, all supported with Widgit Literacy Symbols.
Easterseals	Resource containing templates for visual timetables, Now/Next boards, visual symbols etc.
CBeebies (toddlers and preschoolers)	Games and activities for toddlers and preschoolers.
CBeebies (primary age children)	Games and activities for primary aged children.
PhonicsPlay	Phonics games.
Priory Woods School	Accessible counting and clicking games.

Cognition and learning: resources for parents and carers

Explaining Coronavirus

Name	Description
BBC Newsround Coronavirus	A simplified explanation of the Coronavirus pandemic which may be suitable for older children or young people with learning difficulties.
Winston's Wish: Bereaved children with SEND	Supporting children and young people with learning difficulties and Autism with death and bereavement.

Creating a positive home learning environment

Name	Description
BBC Bitesize: Parents' Toolkit SEND	Parents' Toolkit: SEND provides resources, activities and support to help parents and carers during lockdown. Areas include: supporting wellbeing; activities and learning; tips and advice; personal stories section; learning with BBC Bitesize.
UCL Institute of Education: Homeschooling children with SEND	A series of information resources to help support pupils with SEND at home during the period of school closures. Includes: managing the transition to homeschooling; communication and interaction; social, emotional and mental health for young people and families; real life learning.
The School Run: SEN home learning survival guide	SEN Home Learning 'survival guide' offering practical tips to help establish a positive home learning environment.
Special Educational Needs Resources blog: Top tips for homeschooling during a pandemic (by parents)	Top tips for homeschooling during a pandemic (by parents).

Resources for teaching at home

Name	Description
Durham SEND and Inclusion App Resource	Do you have an iPad or tablet device? This interactive resource contains a range of apps which may be beneficial for children and young people with SEND and is intended as a useful starting point for parents, school staff and professionals.
Gov.uk: Coronavirus (Covid-19) List of online education resources for home education	The government has brought together an initial list of online educational resources to help children to learn at home. The list is split into subjects, including SEND.
Twinkl: SEND school closure home learning resource pack	Free pack of activities for parents and carers to use at home with SEND children. Packs for different ages are available.
Oxford Reading Tree free ebook library	The stories of Biff, Chip and Kipper are free to read at present. There are also older free books for children to read.
Pearson: Support for parents and learners during Coronavirus	A website with free activities, tools and advice to support learning at home. Includes sample home-school planners, reading and maths support, and access to free eBooks.
Scholastic Learn At Home	A range of learn at home projects sorted into specific year groups and weeks. There are resources for families and for teachers as well as tips and tricks to help.
The world of David Walliams	Stories and activities all inspired by David Walliams' books and stories.
National Literacy Trust (Words for Life)	Offers evidence-based resources, research and training aimed at improving reading, writing and language development. Free activities and ideas based around books. Also features ideas for apps and other media to support literacy learning. Extensive 'family learning zone' organised into different age ranges.
Easterseals	Resource containing templates for visual timetables, Now/Next boards, visual symbols etc.
Art Institute of Chicago: Art-Making Activities	Art making and creative activities based on the museum's extensive collection. Activities include creative writing prompts as well as visual art activities.
Facebook group - SEND lockdown essentials	Facebook group run by SEND Essentials: a parent/carer group sharing learning and information resources to support each other with SEND issues.

Cognition and learning: resources for professionals

Name	Description
Durham SEND and Inclusion App Resource	Do you have an iPad or tablet device? This interactive resource contains a range of apps which may be beneficial for children and young people with SEND and is intended as a useful starting point for parents, school staff and professionals.
Gov.uk: Coronavirus (Covid-19) List of online education resources for home education	The government has brought together an initial list of online educational resources to help children to learn at home. The list is split into subjects, including SEND.
Pearson: Support for parents and learners during Coronavirus	A website with free activities, tools and advice to support learning at home. Includes sample home-school planners, reading and maths support, and access to free eBooks.
Art Institute of Chicago: Art-Making Activities	Art making and creative activities based on the museum's extensive collection. Activities include creative writing prompts as well as visual art activities.
National Literacy Trust (Words for Life)	Offers evidence-based resources, research and training aimed at improving reading, writing and language development. Free activities and ideas based around books. Also features ideas for apps and other media to support literacy learning. Extensive 'family learning zone' organised into different age ranges.
TES: Phonics for pupils with special educational needs	Free resource for teaching phonics for pupils with SEND.