One of the biggest triggers for “SEND meltdowns” at school isn’t the work—it’s the change. In 2026, with schools increasingly utilizing internal suspensions and varied staffing models, your child might interact with several different adults in a single week. When a regular teacher or TA is absent, years of “unspoken knowledge” about your child can vanish.
The solution? The “About Me” One-Pager.
What is an “About Me” One-Pager?
This is a single-page, highly visual document that sits in the front of your child’s home-school diary or on the teacher’s desk. It is designed to give a supply teacher or new therapist the “cheat codes” to success with your child in under 60 seconds.
What to Include (And What to Leave Out)
Avoid copying and pasting the EHCP. Instead, focus on the “Daily Reality”:
- Triggers: What are the “red flags”? (e.g., “Sudden loud noises” or “Being asked to read aloud without warning”).
- Glimmers: What helps them regulate? (e.g., “Talking about Minecraft” or “Holding a fidget spinner”).
- Communication Styles: Does your child need 10 seconds of “processing time” before answering? Do they take sarcasm literally? Put it here.
- The “Success Strategy”: One specific instruction, such as: “If I look overwhelmed, please allow me to use my ‘Time Out’ card without questioning me in front of the class.”
The MySendFriend Strategy
Don’t wait for a crisis to share this. Give it to the SENCO at the start of the term and ask for it to be kept in the “Supply Folder.” This ensures that even if a teacher is called away at short notice, your child’s needs remain visible and respected.
Remember: You are the expert on your child. This document isn’t “over-parenting”—it is essential guidance that helps staff do their jobs effectively and keeps your child feeling safe.
Check out our Resources page for a variety of “About Me” templates, including visual versions for non-verbal learners.
