Open Plan Classrooms not working? Classroom Teacher Shares her Top Tips

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Discussed in this Episode:

✅ Special Guest: Di Rickard Primary school teacher and a play therapist

✅ Inspired by question in Facebook Community

✅ How to support children on the spectrum in the early years in open plan, double teaching classrooms?

✅ See the blog for amazing suggestions from facebook community

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This PODCAST WAS INSPired by this facebook Message:

How to Help Make Transitions Less Overwhelming

Suggestions from Facebook Community in comments below:

1. Enter via Art Room or quieter area

2. Transition before everyone else : Slower, Calmer, Less Noise

3. Heavy Work

4. Take child into room without anyone one in there to give them time to process environment

Giving them a safe space to run to

Suggestions from Facebook Community in comments below:

1. Break times

2. Break Cards (Listen to Podcast or Read Blog Ep 59)

3. Timed Breaks (Listen to Podcast or Read Blog Ep 145 using Timers)

4. Help them to recognise their own signs of anxiety. Consider Masterclass on Emotional Regulation

5. Using Stations with interests and passions – listen to this weeks podcast for lots of tips

Make the space comfortable and enjoyable

Suggestions from Facebook Community in comments below:

1. Use Stations (listen to this weeks podcast with lots of fabulous suggestions)

– Tee- pee

– Cushions etc

– Min Bean bag chairs

Click Here to Buy Small Bean Chair (good for children 6 and under)

Click Here to Buy Large Bean Chair (good for children over 6)

Divide the room into zones

Suggestions from Facebook Community in comments below:

1. Create walls using opaque fabric

2. Label Stations (Listen to this weeks podcast how Di’s class names the areas)

3. Slow increase engagement

Have Ways to express when they’ve had enough

Observe what the challenges are

Give Sensory Adjustments

Suggestions from Facebook Community in comments below:

– Sit and Spin or Kelly Chair

– Sensory Mats

Sale!

Sue Larkey Live Virtual Workshop - Friday 4th September 2026

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SENSORY MAT

(If click this will be added to your Cart. You can change or delete during checkout)

Allow to run in safe spot. Feeling like they have a choice

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Products Mentioned in Podcast: Open Plan Classrooms not working? Classroom Teacher Shares her Top Tips

Image	Product	Quantity
	Sue Larkey's MEGA BOOK of Timesavers, Tips & Strategies for Busy and Complex Classrooms A MEGA book full of my most Popular Blogs, Tip Sheets and more in one easy to use reference! This book is for all ages and stages, for teaching neurodiverse students including Autism Spectrum, ADHD, ODD, PDA and more! Includes index to quickly look up Topic & Tips, as well as ideas for all parts of teaching and looking after neurodiverse children. 142 pages of Strategies & Tips at YOUR Fingertips. Add for $49.95 each 55 in stock	Sue Larkey's MEGA BOOK of Timesavers, Tips & Strategies for Busy and Complex Classrooms quantity
	The Early Years: The Foundations For All Learning \| by Sue Larkey & Gay von Ess \| This book is full of practical ideas to give children with an ASD and other developmental delays the KEYS to learning. Teaching to play, write, draw, imitate etc. Toilet training, community access, etc. To sit, ask for help, wait, play, attention to task, sign songs, etc. Great easy to photocopy programmes. Add for $39.95 each 30 in stock	The Early Years: The Foundations For All Learning quantity
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	A Manual To Provide Support and Care for Adults with Autism Spectrum This is a guide to help support workers to individualise support for each participant in order to help them gain independence, self-reliance and community inclusion. What's in it for me? Over 80 pages Over 500 Tips & Strategies to provide guidance for adaptations, modifications and understanding to meet the goals of participants Build your expertise to encourage participants to make decisions, find their strengths and use them as building blocks to develop skills https://vimeo.com/618721918 Add for $39.95 each 139 in stock	A Manual To Provide Support and Care for Adults with Autism Spectrum quantity
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