Zippy's Friends for Pupils with SEND
Zippy’s Friends for Pupils with Special Needs is based on the coping theory and has been evaluated and found to improve children’s coping skills, social skills, emotional literacy, improve the class climate and reduce bullying. Read about the evidence behind Zippy’s Friends for Pupils with Special Needs and the impact the programme has had on children and teachers.
Pupils with Special Educational Needs are at much greater risk of developing mental health problems and there is a lack of suitable resources for these pupils to promote social and emotional wellbeing.
Our Zippy’s Friends for Pupils with Special Needs programme was developed in 2013 in collaboration with special schools with support from the National Association of Independent Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools. The programme was adapted with alternative and additional activities to include a range of children with SEND to increase their coping and social skills.
The programme uses visual aids and Widgit Symbols. There are a variety of different activities for teachers to choose from depending on ability of the class or child and story has been adapted to four different reading levels.
The programme has been successfully implemented with 6-16 year olds.
Watch our short video about how the programme is helping children with SEND:
- See examples of the Zippy's Friends for Pupils with SEND resources
- Sign up to receive regular newsletters and receive exclusive access to sample sessions of Zippy’s Friends for SEND and our other Skills for Life programmes
- Train to run the Zippy’s Friends for SEND programme at your school
- Are you based outside the UK? Find out about our work with international partners here
Take a look at our other programmes:
- Zippy's Friends for ages 5-8
- Apple’s Friends for ages 7 to 9
- Passport for ages 9 to 11
- SPARK Resilience for ages 10 to 12
Buy programme teaching materials for Zippy's Friends for SEND
Jeff Adams, Teacher at Wren Spinney Community Special Schools talks about his experience of Zippy’s Friends for SEND.
The Alex Panton Foundation, Partnership for Children’s licensed partner organisation in the Cayman Islands, launched Zippy’s Friends, Zippy’s Friends for Special Educational Needs and Apple’s Friends in October 2019. Log in to Vimeo see their video:
Zippy 2020- 2021 cycle from Social Butterflies on Vimeo.
‘ I’d just like to say thank you for giving us resources which are appropriate for special schools, the success of this programme is truly stunning.’UK Teacher
