Practitioner spotlight; Jane

Jane Clay (SENDCO and Music Lead) shares her experience below of using visuals to support children with complex communication needs at Corpus Christi Catholic Primary.

Using visuals for a number of pupils.

We have a group of 7 pupils with complex communication needs taught within the same classroom who are all beginning to use symbol exchanges for communication. However, to do this properly you need two staff per child which isn’t possible so we have agreed on 5 action words to focus on for the next few weeks. This includes visuals, Makaton actions and also the spoken word to develop a total communication approach. To ensure consistency, we have shared this with all staff working with the pupils, they have the visuals on the lanyards and also in different areas within the classroom and lunchroom etc.

We have also given parents the visuals and links to the videos for the signs/actions. We plan to have a parent meeting with the Speech and Language Therapist to check in and discuss successes and challenges. We have started this today and already seen success with this, a pupil taking the symbol card to communicate he wants his coat zipped up and also another pupil using the word ‘zip’.

Objects of reference

A few of our pupils with complex communication and sensory needs have benefited from having a backpack with sensory toys inside to use as an object of reference for transitions. When wearing this, it seems to have helped ground them allowing them to take an adult’s hand and walk to a different location whereas previously they would become dysregulated and throw themselves to the floor.

Jane Clay, March 2026.

Find out more about using visuals and objects of reference.

Inclusive practice supports all children and young people to fulfil their own individual potential. Inclusive practice benefits everyone and is part of the Leeds City Council SEND and Inclusion Practice Framework. Education practitioners across Leeds have shared their good practice and recommendations below. These are shared to inform, inspire and share good inclusive practice.