Supporting children with SEND to navigate exams
Exam season can be overwhelming for many young people, and for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), it can bring additional challenges. As a parent, you may also feel overwhelmed when supporting your child’s exam preparation and wellbeing. Understanding their support entitlements and access arrangements is key, but there are also practical strategies to help children feel prepared, calm, and confident as exams approach.
Create a Calm Study Environment
The right environment makes a big difference. Try to provide a quiet, organised, and low-distraction space for studying. Break revision into shorter, focused sessions with regular breaks to maintain concentration. Using visual timetables, colour-coded notes, or mind maps can also help give structure. This approach can help your child stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.
Adapt Revision Techniques to Individual Needs
For children with dyslexia, using audiobooks, speech-to-text software, and overlearning with specific memory strategies can be particularly effective. For children with ADHD, using timers to stay on track, incorporating active revision methods such as flashcards or verbal quizzes, and allowing regular movement breaks can support focus and engagement. For autistic children, establishing a predictable and consistent revision routine, along with incorporating sensory breaks, can help them regulate and prevent the build-up of pressure.
Support Confidence and Motivation
Exams can put pressure on self-esteem, so nurturing your child's confidence can help them approach exams with a positive mindset. You can remind your child that effort matters more than results, and it’s important to celebrate every step forward. Encourage them to remember that exams are just one part of their journey, not the whole story, and that they have strengths and talents that go far beyond the exam room.
Prepare Practically for Exam Day
Practical preparation and rehearsal can reduce anxiety, and a few simple steps can help make exam day feel calmer. Visiting the exam venue or room beforehand, if possible, can help your child feel more comfortable with the setting. Being organised with essentials such as pens, water, and snacks in advance also helps avoid last-minute stress. Rehearsing the morning routine can make the day feel predictable and smooth, setting a positive tone from the start.
