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Supporting children who have additional needs and disabilities (SEND/ASN/ALN)

Our resources, information and guidance will help you protect children and young people who have additional needs and disabilities and help prevent abuse and neglect. 

We are using the term special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to refer to children who have disabilities or additional needs. Your organisation may use other terms such as additional needs, additional support needs (ASN) or additional learning needs (ALN). 

Guidance, resources and tools

Safeguarding children who have SEND

Read our guidance for schools on safeguarding children who have special educational needs and disabilities, including resources to support anyone working in education.

Safeguarding d/Deaf children and children who are disabled

Use our guidance and advice to learn more about how you can set up safeguarding measures for d/Deaf children and children who are disabled. Includes how to help protect them from abuse.

Safeguarding children in sport and activities

The CPSU website has information on safeguarding d/Deaf children and children who are disabled. Includes links to blogs, articles and resources to support adults and children.

Talk PANTS - SEND lesson plan

Lesson plan, slides, and resources to help children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), moderate learning difficulties, additional learning needs and/or autism aged 4-11 understand Talk PANTS. 

Talk PANTS - Makaton resources

We provide PANTS resources for children who communicate using Makaton, so they can understand the PANTS rules and to help keep them safe.

Speak out Stay safe for SEND/ASN/ALN

We have a specialist safeguarding programme for children aged 9 to 11 (and some older pupils at teachers' discretion) who have additional needs and disabilities.

Love Life

Films and supporting resources aimed at young people who have learning disabilities aged 11 to 25 to help them learn strategies for staying safe as they grow up and gain independence.         

 

Talk Relationships

Talk Relationships supports secondary schools to confidently deliver inclusive sex and relationships education. Includes lesson plans for children who have additional and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Navigating puberty

This booklet, created by Together for Childhood Stoke in collaboration with key local partners, helps provide parents and carers with advice, guidance and practical tips to support children and young people, who have a learning disability, through puberty.

Keeping children who have SEND safe online

We've partnered with Ambitious about Autism to create online safety tips, advice and activities for parents and carers of children who have SEND. 

Podcast: supporting young people who have a learning disability

Listen to our podcast episode to find out more about how the Love Life resources were developed and how you can use them in your conversations with young people.

Childline: help and support

If a child or young person needs confidential help and advice, direct them to Childline. Calls to 0800 1111 are free, and children and young people can also find lots of information and support about disabilities and learning differences on the Childline website.

Worried about a child?

Our child protection specialists are here to support you whether you're seeking advice, sharing concerns about a child, or looking for reassurance. Find out more

Worried about a child?

Our child protection specialists are here to support you whether you're seeking advice, sharing concerns about a child, or looking for reassurance. Find out more