Classroom adjustments card for anxious pupils
The in-class adjustments card is a tick-box menu of small changes for an anxious pupil: no cold reading aloud, a warning before their turn, a low-stimulation seat, an exit card, movement breaks before the hard part. Agree it with your SENCo and give a copy to every adult who teaches the pupil.
A4 PDF · part of the free Calm Classroom pack · print as many as you need
How to use it
Pick a few adjustments that target what actually makes the day hard for this pupil, rather than ticking everything.
Agree it with your SENCo so it sits inside the school’s support for the pupil, and review it. Some adjustments are short-term bridges, not permanent arrangements.
What’s on it · Primary (Reception to Year 6)
A tick-box menu — fill it in (or take it to your SENCo to agree), then give a copy to every adult who teaches the child, so the plan doesn't live only in your head.
Child: ……………… Year: …… Agreed with SENCo on: ………
- Demand ☐ no reading aloud cold ☐ pre-warned before their turn ☐ reduced / no homework ☐ differentiated task ☐ named role instead of full participation (PE, assembly) ☐ trigger subject adjusted short-term
- Senses ☐ low-stimulation seat (back to wall, out of the gangway, away from the door) ☐ ear defenders / low-stim, freely available ☐ sensory / movement break before the hard part ☐ light & acoustic check done ☐ quieter place to be at playtime
- Exit ☐ time-out / exit card ☐ agreed safe base named: ……………… ☐ leaves 2 minutes early to beat the corridors ☐ goes ahead of the line at transitions (hall, playground, lunch) ☐ return expected and welcomed
- Safe base ☐ least-stigmatising option chosen ☐ not labelled 'Learning Support' / the naughty chair ☐ quiet route to it
- Review ☐ what we've dropped: ……………… ☐ review date: ……… ☐ shared with: all teaching & lunchtime staff, supply
- Other: ………………
What’s on it · Secondary (Years 7 to 11)
A tick-box menu — the SENCo or tutor ticks what applies and drops it straight into the one-page profile, then it reaches every adult on the timetable, not just the ones you happened to brief.
Student: ……………… Year: …… Agreed with SENCo on: ………
Demand ☐ no cold-calling / no forced reading aloud ☐ pre-warned before their turn ☐ reduced / no homework ☐ differentiated task ☐ trigger subject adjusted short-term Senses ☐ low-stimulation seat (back to wall, near the door, out of the gangway) ☐ ear defenders / low-stim, freely available ☐ sensory / movement break before the hard part ☐ light & acoustic check done ☐ quieter place at break / lunch (canteen and toilets are common triggers) Exit & base ☐ time-out / exit card to an agreed base: ……………… ☐ leaves 2 minutes early to beat the corridors ☐ return expected and welcomed Exams (AARA) ☐ flag to SENCo now to build a 'normal way of working' and a 'picture of need' across Years 7–9 ☐ note: low-level exam nerves alone are not grounds for separate invigilation — a real need is evidenced the normal way, through the SENCo Other: ………………