🌈Our Routine
At Special Steps, our daily routine is gentle, flexible and completely responsive to the needs of the children. We do not follow a rigid timetable. Instead, we create calm, predictable moments throughout the day while allowing the flow to adapt to how the children are feeling. This helps every child to stay regulated, engaged and ready to learn.
Below is an overview of what a typical day may look like – although no two days are ever the same, because no two children are the same.
🌟Starting the Day the Sensory Way
We begin each morning with sensory regulation to help the children feel settled and ready for the day ahead. This may include:
- dancing to the “Wake Up!” song on YouTube;
- a “Stop and Go” running game;
- deep pressure squeezes;
- massage and movement play.
These activities help children to organise their senses and emotions before beginning their day.
🥣Breakfast
We introduce breakfast with a song of reference, sung to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It:
“If you’re ready for your breakfast, clap your hands…”
At the table, the children:
- wash their hands using our portable sink;
- join in with the “wash our hands” song to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush:
“This is the way we wash our hands… now we’re ready to eat.”
The children then use symbols or objects to make a choice of food, supporting communication and independence.
👋Hello Song & Emotional Check-In
Once breakfast is finished, we gather for our Hello Song:
“Hello name, hello name, hello name, how are you today?”
While we sing, we hold a mirror so each child can look at their own reflection, supporting early identity and self-recognition. We then use an emotions board and encourage them to look at their reflection and point to the emotion they are feeling. Helping children begin to link facial expression to, feeling to, symbols.
🎶Song Time
Song Time follows the children's interests. We use:
- a prop to represent each song, which the children can choose from;
- a symbol strip for choice making;
- movement, sensory input and fun to support engagement.
Children choose what they want to sing using visuals or objects, helping them to feel confident and in control of their learning.
🍽️Lunch
Lunchtime follows the same structure as breakfast.Using the same referencing song: “If you're ready for your lunch..."
And the same "wash our hands" song to support consistency and independence.
☀️Good Afternoon Song
As we move into the afternoon, we mirror our morning greeting routine with our Good Afternoon Song:
“Good afternoon name, good afternoon name, good afternoon name, where are you today?”
Children are supported to:
- look in the mirror;
- indentify their own photograph, either from a selection of two or a small group;
- recognise their own name (for some children);
This builds early self-awareness, emotional literacy and identity.
🗨️Word Well
Word Well is our early communication curriculum based around core words, repetition and shared attention. During these sessions we build language through highly motivating, predictable activities that are repeated over time.
Please see our Word Well video to see what a session looks like in practice.
🔁Sensory Circuits
We use sensory circuits daily to support regulation, motor planning and confidence. This may include:
- crawling;
- running;
- balance beams;
- jumping and heavy work activities.
These circuits help the children organise their bodies.
🍯Daily Sensory Play
Every day includes sensory play experiences linked to the weekly theme. All sensory bases are edible, ensuring safety for all children, especially those who explore using taste.
🍎Eating as Learning
We follow the National Feeding Trust’s Eating as Learning curriculum, adapted to meet the sensory and developmental needs of our children.
This approach supports:
- children with restricted diets;
- children exploring new foods;
- building confidence around food;
- positive mealtime experiences.
Eating becomes part of learning, not a pressured experience. Children are supported to explore, smell, touch and, when they are ready, taste new foods at their own pace.
