Sometimes it's hard for children to explain how school feels. Ask "How was school?" and the answer might simply be "fine" - even when there is more going on. 

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My School Experience cards give children another way to communicate. The cards use simple statements, alongside an illustration, to help children explore what they enjoy, what they find difficult and importantly what might help. 

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How do they work?

There are no right or wrong answers. Simply look through the cards together and let the child sort them into categories Like Me/Not Like Me and Helpful/Not Helpful. You can even do this without talking. 

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The Strengths and Needs deck help you discover what is going well and where the child might be experiencing difficulties. 

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The Strategy deck helps the child identify practical ideas that could make things easier - identifying the support they think would help. 

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A simple way to listen. A practical way to help. 

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​For professionals, such as Educational Psychologists, SENCOs, pastoral staff, learning mentors, and others, they can be used as an assessment tool. The cards are categorised into the four areas of need outlined in the SEN Code of Practice (Communication and Interaction, Cognition and Learning, Social Emotional and Mental Health, and Physical and Sensory) and include categories for strengths and difficulties and strategies to support need. Each card has an age-appropriate illustration to help children understand its meaning. Ideal for statutory assessments, annual reviews and transition planning. 

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Use the sorted cards and the child’s explanations to develop tailored recommendations for supporting their needs and building on their strengths at school.