Visual timetables are often used with children who are on the autism spectrum, helping them make sense of everyday life. They can help to provide structure and routine, encourage independence, prevent frustration, confusion and anxiety and build confidence. Visual timetables can be beneficial for children with a range of special needs.

‘The picture-only symbols can then begin to have symbols with a single word underneath as the child begins to show emergent reading skills,’ Sheilagh explains.Ī social story is a written narrative with accompanying pictures which illustrates specific situations, problems and challenges and helps children understand how they might approach them. Radlett Lodge School often uses symbols from the Widgit Communication in Print system. For example, a picture of a stick person next to a clock represents waiting, while a picture of a person with their finger on their lips would show it is time to be quiet. Pictures are used to show children what’s going to happen during the day. Photos are taken to represent the activities and tasks that will take place over the course of a child’s day and attached to the timetable in the correct order.Īgain, this could be a simple ‘now and next’ timetable or have a number of different steps, depending on the child’s needs.