Everyday life at home
Sleep, sensory needs, meltdowns, anxiety and communication — practical help for daily life.
142 free resources
Sensory differences guidance
Understanding sensory sensitivity and seeking in autistic children, with practical adjustments for home and school.
Meltdowns guidance
What meltdowns are, why they happen, and how to help before, during and after one.
Sleep advice service
A free, tailored sleep support service for children with neurodevelopmental conditions, including a sleep guide.
Children's sleep resources
Practical, evidence-based help with children's sleep, including SEND-specific advice sheets.
Parents helpline
A free, confidential helpline for any adult worried about a child or young person's mental health.
Speech & language resources
Free tools and advice for supporting children's speech, language and communication needs.
Behaviour that challenges resources
Free information sheets and support where a severe learning disability is linked to behaviour that challenges.
Family support helpline
A free, confidential helpline and parenting support for any family worry.
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique Printable (NHS)
Free NHS one-page printable of the 5-4-3-2-1 five-senses grounding technique to help a child refocus and calm down when anxious or overwhelmed.
ABC chart with guidance (printable template)
Free printable Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence chart with guidance notes to record incidents and spot patterns to share with school or SENCO.
ADHD: A Parent's Guide (YoungMinds)
Free parent guide on ADHD covering diagnosis, supporting your child while waiting, and practical strategies like visual timetables and routines.
Anxiety and Autism Hub
Free hub of evidence-based webinars and resources on understanding and reducing anxiety in autistic children and young people.
Anxiety in Autistic People (guidance)
Free guidance on why autistic children feel anxious and practical strategies: anxiety diaries, visual schedules, sensory tools and relaxation.
Anxiety in Children: Advice for Parents (NHS)
Free NHS advice on supporting an anxious child: talking through worries, deep breathing, keeping routines, making a worry box and when to seek help.
Anxiety in Young Children: Advice for Parents
Free Anna Freud guide helping parents recognise signs of anxiety in young children and respond with warmth, reassurance and predictable routines.
Anxiety Scale Poster with Coping Vocabulary
Free printable anxiety scale with feelings vocabulary and self-soothing questions, ideal as a display or talking point with an anxious child.
Autism and anger management: a guide for parents
Strategies for preventing and managing anger using traffic-light feelings scales, calm spaces and visual supports to help your child cope.
Autism and Sleep: Practical Strategies
Free guide on why autistic children struggle with sleep and practical strategies covering sleep diaries, bedtime routines and bedroom adjustments.
Autism-Friendly Attractions & Days Out
Youth-network roundup of autism and sensory friendly UK attractions, museums, theme parks and relaxed screenings with quiet sessions.
Autism-Friendly Cinema: A Guide for Families
Guide to relaxed, autism-friendly cinema screenings across the UK (lights up, lower volume, freedom to move) plus tips for planning a visit.
Autistica Tips Hub app
Free iOS/Android app of evidence-based, autistic-led tips covering diagnosis, wellbeing and everyday life, designed by and for the autistic community.
Back to School Reset Worksheet
Free printable A4 worksheet (early years, primary and secondary versions) to gently help children ease back into routine after the summer.
Back to School Teacher Toolkit (50+ pages of symbols)
Free 50+ page PDF of visual timetables, reward charts and wellbeing supports to help non-readers settle back into school after the summer break.
Bedtime Routines for Children
Free Sleep Charity guide to building a calming, predictable bedtime routine, with timing, screen and relaxation tips and a sample evening plan.
Breathing Exercises for Stress (NHS)
Free NHS guide to a simple belly-breathing exercise that calms stress, anxiety and panic; needs no equipment and can be done anywhere.
Cboard: Free AAC Communication App
Free open-source AAC web and mobile app giving non-verbal children a voice through picture symbols and text-to-speech, supported by UNICEF.
Cerebra Free Toy & Sensory Library
Free UK postal lending library of sensory and switch toys plus books for families caring for a child with a brain condition.
Cerebra parent guides library
Free, downloadable evidence-based parent guides on autism, behaviour, sleep, anxiety and legal rights for families of children with brain conditions.
Cerebra Sleep Cards (visual supports)
Free printable visual sleep cards to support a calm, predictable bedtime routine for children with autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Challenging behaviour: a parent's guide
Frames behaviour as communication about hidden feelings, with boundaries, praise and calming tips, plus a free parents helpline for support.
Child & adolescent to parent violence (CAPVA): support directory
UK charity page explaining CAPVA and signposting specialist support services and a directory for families experiencing violence from their child.
Child to parent abuse: free support for parents
Free, non-judgemental UK support for parents and carers experiencing child to parent abuse, including a safe online peer community.
Children's Sleep Diary (printable PDF)
Free printable NHS sleep diary to record your child's sleep over time, helping identify patterns to discuss with your GP or sleep service.
Children's Sleep Diary (printable)
Free printable sleep diaries for children and teens to track sleep over two weeks, helping spot patterns and triggers to share with professionals.
Children's Sleep eBook
Free downloadable (and audio) eBook for parents of children who struggle to get good quality sleep, part of the Tired of Being Alone campaign.
Communication and Challenging Behaviour (info sheet)
Free CBF information sheet showing how improving communication reduces challenging behaviour, with practical ideas for families.
Communication Passport Templates
Free passport templates (PowerPoint, Keynote, Canva, Book Creator) so a child who can't easily speak for themselves can share key info at transitions.
Contact Freephone Helpline for Families with Disabled Children
Free UK-wide helpline (0808 808 3555) advising parents of children with ADHD or any additional need on behaviour, benefits and support - no diagnosis needed.
Dealing with Change (autism)
Free guidance on why change is hard for autistic people and practical strategies (countdowns, plan B/C, preparation) useful for transitions.
Distressed behaviour: a guide for all audiences
Explains behaviour as communication, how to use a behaviour diary to spot triggers, and how to understand the function behind distressed behaviour.
EBSA guidance for parents, carers and young people (PDF)
Educational-psychology EBSA toolkit for families: understanding school avoidance, the cycle of anxiety and graded return-to-school planning.
EBSA Practical Resource Pack for Parents and Carers
Free practical EBSA pack with planning tools to help parents understand school avoidance and work with school on a graded return.
EBSA Support Plan template (editable Word doc)
Free editable Word EBSA support plan template on an assess-plan-do-review framework, co-produced by school and family to plan a return to school.
ELSA Support Free Emotional Wellbeing Resources
Hundreds of free printable emotional literacy and regulation worksheets for children, widely used in UK schools to support emotions and behaviour.
Emotion Thermometer printable
Free printable emotion thermometer to help an autistic child rate and communicate how they feel and link feelings to calming strategies.
Emotional Outbursts: a guide for parents (PDF)
Free guide on understanding emotional outbursts in children with a learning disability, with practical support strategies for families.
Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA): parent self-help
Free self-help guide explaining why a child 'can't' rather than 'won't' attend school, causes of school anxiety and how parents can help.
Euan's Guide: Disabled Access Reviews
Free UK directory of disabled-access reviews of venues and days out, written by families, useful for finding sensory and quiet-friendly places.
Feelings diary booklet (printable)
Free printable diary where a child logs the time, emotion and reason plus a 1-5 intensity scale; useful evidence of patterns ahead of an assessment.
Free ADHD Booklets for Parents, Children and Teenagers
A library of free downloadable ADHD booklets from a UK charity, including parent, child and teenager guides, plus planners and EHCP fact sheets.
Free Anxiety Thermometer (Worry Scale) Printable
Free printable anxiety thermometer that helps a child scale how big their worry feels on a number scale; laminate and reuse with a dry-wipe pen.
Free Communication Aid Templates
Free downloadable symbol-based communication aid templates (communication fans, GoTalk and device overlays) from a UK symbol-software company.
Free Feelings Scale / Chart for Autistic Children
Free editable feelings-rating chart using numbers, colours or faces to help an autistic child show how they feel and build emotional awareness.
Free Makaton Sign Library (Free Membership)
Free Makaton membership giving access to Sign of the Week, song sheets and downloadable signs and symbols each month from the official charity.
Free PECS symbols and parent materials
Free downloadable PECS picture grids, home visual schedules, communication guides and skills checklists from the official UK PECS provider.
Free Picture Exchange (PECS) Card Maker
A free printable tool to make and customise picture-exchange cards from a library of 15,000 Creative Commons symbols (Mulberry, ARASAAC, Tawasol).
Free Printable Visual Supports (Now and Next, Routines)
Free printable NHS visual supports including Now/Next/Then boards, night and getting-ready routine sequences for home use.
Free Sensory Diet & Movement Break Cards
Printable colour-coded sensory diet cards (alerting and calming) by a UK occupational therapist, free to download after a free email signup.
Free Sensory Processing Course (Section 1)
Free 2-hour online introduction to sensory processing and the eight senses for parents and school staff, taught by a UK occupational therapist.
Free Social Stories Library (incl. 'I am Starting School')
Free printable social stories for neurodivergent children, including 'I am Starting School' and 'I Can Cope with Change' to ease transitions.
Free Symbol Communication Resources & Chat Boards
Free printable symbol-supported communication boards and curricular resources from CALL Scotland at the University of Edinburgh.
Free Worry Jar / Worry Box Printable Pack
Free printable worry jar, worry slips and parent guide by a UK clinical psychologist; email signup needed to receive the pack. Helps children let go of worries.
Getting NHS Speech and Language Therapy
Charity guide to accessing NHS speech and language therapy in England, including referral routes and getting provision written into an EHC plan.
Grounding Exercises for Kids (free printable PDF)
Free direct-download printable of 15 grounding techniques, including the 5-4-3-2-1 five-senses method, written by a UK clinical psychologist for calm corners.
Guidance on the Use of Weighted Blankets
NHS safety guidance on weighted blankets for children, including the 10% body weight rule, who should not use them and supervision advice.
Help Your Baby Learn to Talk
Free NHS guide with practical everyday ways to build a baby or toddler's talking, from chatting through routines to singing and sharing books.
Helping Your Disabled Child Sleep
Free Scope guide for disabled children aged 4+: bedtime wind-down, dark cool bedroom (16-18C), night wakings, sleep diaries and parent support.
How to Help Your Autistic Child Sleep Better
Free guide on autistic children's sleep covering early waking, blackout curtains, white noise and calming bedroom set-up, from a UK autism charity.
How to Make a Self-Soothe (Calm) Box
Step-by-step guide to building a calm box using the five senses to help a child ground and settle when anxious or overwhelmed.
How to Prepare for Secondary School (autism)
Free NHS-commissioned guidance on the primary-to-secondary move for autistic children: visits, social stories, route practice and sensory tips.
If Your Child Is Stammering: Help for Parents + Free Helpline
Parent guidance on supporting a child who stammers, with reassurance and a free helpline (0808 802 0002), webchat and email from the national charity.
Let's talk about anxiety: free animation and toolkit
Free animation plus worksheets and assembly materials helping 11-13 year-olds understand and manage anxiety, useful for school-related worries.
Makaton PANTS Prompt Cards (Printable Symbols)
Free printable PDF of 35 Makaton symbol and sign prompt cards to support the Talk PANTS safety message with non-verbal children.
Managing Challenging Behaviour (factsheet PDF)
Free factsheet explaining what challenging behaviour is, why it happens and practical, quality-assured strategies for parents and carers.
Managing Your Child's Behaviour (Scope)
Free UK advice for parents of disabled children on understanding behaviour triggers and building a calm, consistent behaviour strategy.
Meltdowns - a guide for all audiences
NAS guide explaining what an autistic meltdown is, how it differs from a tantrum, common triggers, and practical ways to help and prevent them.
Meltdowns and shutdowns explained
Charity guide on why a meltdown is distress not a tantrum, what a shutdown is, plus triggers, sensory changes and recovery strategies.
Molehill Mountain: Free Anxiety App for Autistic People
Free app co-owned with King's College London helping autistic people track worries and learn autism-adapted CBT techniques to manage anxiety.
Moving Up! Transition to Secondary School
Free animation plus lesson and assembly toolkit helping Year 6-7 pupils name worries about secondary school and build coping strategies.
My Bedtime: A Social Story
Free printable bedtime social story PDF that walks a child through each step of going to bed, supporting understanding and reducing bedtime anxiety.
My Self-Care Plan: Primary
A free downloadable self-care plan worksheet helping primary-age children identify activities that support their wellbeing and self-regulation.
National Sleep Helpline
Free UK helpline (03303 530 541) staffed by trained sleep advisors to help families whose child struggles with sleep, including ADHD-related issues.
Not Fine in School: support for school attendance barriers
Free parent-led guidance on reporting anxiety-related absence correctly, challenging attendance coding, gathering evidence and avoiding wrongful fines.
Now and Next Board (free printable)
Free printable Now and Next board to help autistic children understand what is happening now and what comes next, useful for bedtime transitions.
Now and Next Board free printable
Free printable now-and-next board template from a UK autism-parent site, with a clear guide on how to introduce and use it with your child.
Now & Next Boards and Communication Card Packs
Free downloadable now-and-next board plus communication card packs for bedtime, food, medical and activities, from a UK learning-disability charity.
Occupational Therapy for Sensory Processing Differences
NHS page explaining how children's OT supports sensory processing differences and who can make a referral, with a free self-led offer.
Occupational Therapy Sensory Advice
NHS sensory strategies organised by sense (movement, touch, sound, sight, oral) you can build into a daily sensory diet at home and school.
Over 1,000 Free Speech, Language & Communication Activities
Free searchable bank of 1,000+ speech, language and social communication activities for parents and professionals, filterable by age and skill.
PANDA: helpful approaches for PDA (infographic)
Free guide and downloadable PANDA infographic: prioritise, manage anxiety, negotiate, disguise demands and adapt to lower demand avoidance.
Planning for Adulthood (England) Guide
Free guide for families of young people with severe learning disabilities on planning the move to adult education, health and social care services.
Preparing for Adult Life
Free hub for families on moving a disabled child into adulthood: planning, money and work, housing, services, health and a free helpline.
Primary 7 to Secondary School Transition (Autism Toolbox)
Free transition guidance and templates: colour-coded timetables, school maps, transition plans, social stories and 'what if' prompt cards.
Printable Visual Timetable (Girlguiding)
A free printable now/next/then visual timetable with picture and feelings cards to help children who benefit from knowing what comes next.
Proprioception & Body Awareness Activity Sheet
Printable NHS PDF of proprioception and heavy work activity ideas for children who need deep pressure input to feel calm and focused.
Proprioception & Heavy Work Activities
NHS page listing heavy work and proprioceptive activities (pushing, pulling, carrying, tug of war) that calm and organise children's bodies.
Quality of Life at Home Toolkit (animated films)
Five free animated films for parents using the iceberg model to understand behaviour as communication and reduce family conflict at home.
Reasonable adjustments and disability discrimination in school
Free guide explaining schools' Equality Act duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils, with examples and steps to resolve discrimination.
Relaxation and calming techniques for children
Free quick calming and grounding techniques (breathing, muscle relaxation, visualisation) children can use to self-regulate strong feelings.
Rotherham Sensory Toolkit
Free SEND Local Offer toolkit covering the senses, sensory checklists and calming, alerting and heavy work strategies for home and school.
School attendance and absence: penalty notices and the law
Free legal information on attendance fines, illness/anxiety authorisation rules, and that schools shouldn't routinely demand medical evidence.
School attendance and mental wellbeing toolkit
Free guidance booklet and video on emotionally based school avoidance and what helps children reintegrate to mainstream school.
Sensory Behaviour Checklist
Free downloadable NHS checklist to help parents notice and record their child's sensory behaviours before an occupational therapy session.
Sensory Differences in Autism
Clear guide to hyper- and hypo-sensitivity across all the senses, explaining sensory seeking vs avoiding and how to reduce sensory overload.
Sensory Processing: A Guide for Parents
Free parent guide explaining sensory processing, the eight senses, seeking vs avoiding, assessment and practical strategies to try at home.
Sensory Processing: A Guide for Parents
Free Cerebra parent guide explaining sensory over- and under-reactivity and sensory seeking, with practical strategies to build a sensory plan at home.
Sleep: A Guide for Parents and Families
Free NAS guide on autistic children's sleep: visual routines, bedroom environment, light and noise, melatonin and support for parents.
Sleep: A Guide for Parents (Cerebra)
Free parent guide on understanding and tackling sleep problems in children with brain conditions including ADHD, with practical strategies.
Sleep Advice for Children with SEND
Free, practical sleep guidance for children with additional needs - sleep diaries, sensory issues, screens, visual routines and when to seek help.
Sleep Advice Service
Free one-to-one sleep support for families of children with brain conditions, plus downloadable sleep tips booklet and guides for autism and ADHD.
Sleep Advice Sheet for Children with SEND (Printable PDF)
A free printable advice sheet with strategies to help children with additional needs settle and sleep better, including sleep diaries and visual cues.
Sleep and Young Children (Bedtime Routine Tips)
Free NHS advice on settling young children with a calming, predictable bedtime routine, gradual bedtime shifts and tips for restless sleepers.
Sleep Charity Advice Sheets (bedtime routine, bedroom, SEND)
Free downloadable advice sheets: good bedtime routine, ideal bedroom environment, night terrors and SEND, in colour and print-friendly versions.
Sleep in Young Children: How Much and Bedtime Routines
Free NHS page giving recommended sleep hours by age (4 months to 13 years) plus tips on routine, environment and self-settling.
Social Stories library (editable & printable)
Free editable Word/PowerPoint and PDF social stories plus Widgit-symbol communication boards, with tips on adapting stories for your child.
Speech and Language Development (12 to 24 Months)
NHS hospital guide to expected talking and understanding milestones from 12-24 months, with activities and when to consider a speech therapist.
Speech Sound Development Chart (by Age)
Free NHS one-page chart showing which speech sounds children typically master at each age stage, with example words and common sound errors.
Speech Sounds: Ages Children Say Each Sound
Charity guide showing the ages English-speaking children usually master each speech sound, helping parents judge if their child's speech is on track.
Starting School Resource Pack (Autism)
Free downloadable pack with pupil profiles, person-centred planning tools and visual timetables to help autistic children settle into starting school.
Stories Online For Autism (SOFA) app
Free research-backed app from the University of Bath to create and share personalised social stories using photos and words for autistic children.
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
Free, widely-used parent questionnaire on a 2-17 year old's emotions, behaviour and attention; free to download for families and non-profits.
Support for families
Free parent-carer support from a UK autism charity: the Talk about Autism online community and a parent toolkit covering diagnosis and supporting under-5s.
Support for Parents of Children Who Stammer
Free Stammering Support Hub with FAQs, top tips, films and an advisor, plus links to the Michael Palin Centre, from the UK children's stammering charity.
Supporting Your Child's Transition to Secondary School: Guidance for Parents
Free downloadable guidance, written with clinicians and teachers, on supporting a child through the move to secondary school.
The Behaviour Checklist (recording tool)
Free checklist for parents to consider what may be driving behaviours that challenge, useful evidence to share with clinicians over time.
Transition Pack (editable symbol resources)
Free editable symbol-supported pack: social stories, photobooks, checklists and profiles for starting school, changing class and moving to secondary.
Transition Resources (end of term & moving on)
Free printable transition activities: memory wheels, worry cards, 'message to new teacher' and moving-on certificates for end-of-year change.
Understanding ADHD and Sleep
Free UK charity guide on why ADHD makes sleep hard, with tips on calming routines, screen limits and when to ask a GP for help.
Understanding and Supporting My Child's ADHD (Parent Booklet)
A free printable booklet for parents explaining what ADHD is and practical ways to support your child at home and school.
Understanding the causes of behaviour (the iceberg)
NHS explainer using the iceberg model: visible behaviour is only the tip; learn to look at cause, behaviour and function to understand your child.
Understanding Your Child's Behaviour (Contact)
Free downloadable Contact guide helping parents understand and respond positively to challenging behaviour in disabled and SEND children.
Visual Supports (printable guide)
Free NHS PDF explaining how to make and use visual supports such as visual timetables, now-and-next boards and symbol cards at home.
Visual timetable, now & next and transition templates
Free downloadable templates: primary visual timetables, large and small now-and-next boards, plus nursery-to-school transition checklists.
Weighted Blankets for Sleep Difficulties: Factsheet
Free evidence-based factsheet summarising research and safety around weighted blankets for sleep in children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Weighted Equipment Guidelines
NHS guidelines PDF on safe use of weighted blankets and vests for children, with the 10% body weight rule and time-limit recommendations.
What is a Now and Next Board? (Free Template)
Free downloadable Now and Next board template plus a clear how-to guide explaining how the board reduces anxiety around transitions for autistic children.
What Is a Sensory Diet? (with examples)
NHS explainer for parents on what a sensory diet is, with calming and alerting activity examples to help children stay regulated through the day.
What is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?
Clear explainer of DLD with free info sheets, a short film and videos covering what it is, its impact and how to get help, from the awareness campaign.
Worried About Your Child's Speech & Language
NHS guidance for parents worried about a child not talking or not understanding, with red flags and practical next steps for each concern.
Worry Buster Mini Booklet (one-page fold)
Free child-friendly booklet folded from one A4 sheet explaining what worry feels like, why it grows and what helps; no writing required.
Worrying Thoughts Worksheet (challenge the worry)
Free CBT-style worksheet where a child writes a worry, what they fear will happen, what is likely to happen, and later what actually happened.
Zones of Regulation: Feelings & Calming Activities
Free NHS page explaining the colour-coded Zones of Regulation, with a printable and focus, movement and calming sensory activities for children.
More along the way
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