Children and young people who have physical difficulties can find recording using handwriting difficult because of issues with their fine motor skills or limb difference. Please talk to the team to discuss options. Schools can also request a consultation with our SEND ICT adviser for advice about suitable equipment or software.
The following sections provide alternatives to consider:
- Scribe
Using a “scribe” (record using handwriting or typing) allows a child or young person to record their ideas or complete a curriculum activity without needing to use technology. This can be beneficial as the pressure of the process of writing is removed, facilitating improved completion of tasks or quality of information recorded.
Learning to record using a scribe takes practise, especially for assessments or exams. A child or young person needs to feel comfortable with the adult who will be supporting them.
Key points for using a scribe:
- A scribe can only write what you tell them
- A scribe will write exactly what you say
- A scribe will only put capital letters and punctuation where you tell them to.
- A scribe cannot prompt you to add more or explain terms.
Top tip:
Before exams and assessments you can tell your scribe the following (not an exhaustive list):
• When I say full stop please put a capital letter after it
• For names please use capitals - Voice recording using technology
Children and young people can use the inbuilt dictation settings, on a laptop, to create either audio recordings or a voice to text recording. This will allow a child or young person to enter text using their voice anywhere they would normally enter it with a keyboard (eg. documents, searches and emails). A quiet environment is best, though using a headset with a microphone can help.
It is possible to modify the way that a computer works to make recording easier; Computer and mobile Motor adjustments
The child or young person’s voice can be used to control what the computer does as well as for dictation. The following link provides instructions to help set this feature up: Using your voice to control your devices. An Easy Read document.
Additional advice about using dictation can be found using the following link: How to use dictation in Windows 10 | My Computer My Way (https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk/using-dictation-windows-10)
- Typing
Typing is the most common alternative to handwriting. Children and young people can use either a laptop, a Chromebook or a tablet. The available device will often depend on the ICT policy of the education setting. Using technology also allows the child or young person to have access to features such as word-prediction, spelling correction and word bank software such as Clicker ( Clicker – Crick Software UK ).
Top tips:
Before introducing technology, it is good practice to start with keyboard familiarisation sessions. Our SEND ICT page offers advice about developing keyboard and mouse skills.
Developing keyboard skills – Support for schools and settings
Developing mouse skills – Support for schools and settings
If a child or young person is new to using a tablet, it is good to start with a single row of apps, rather like when we learn to read. As they become more confident, more apps can be added
- Keyboards or pointing devices
Technology accessibility can often be improved by attaching a specialist input device. To read more information about the different options please use the following link: Keyboard and mouse alternatives and adaptations | AbilityNet
For students with limb difference or hemiplegia. AbilityNet offers advice about using a keyboard with one hand; Keyboard – Single Handed Use | AbilityNet
- Fine motor skill development;
There are apps that can help with developing fine motor skills that will be useful for typing or handwriting. Use the following link to read more information:
Fine motor and handwriting skills – Support for schools and settings
- Using technology for exams and assessment
The Joint Council for Qualifications offers advice for exam officers about the regulations for using technology to access exams and assessments. The following link directs you to their web page: Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration – JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications
Schools will need to evidence that the technology used reflects the child or young person’s typically way of working.