Mince Pies & Other Pastry.

Many children with severe, complex and profound special educational needs may experience feeding challenges. For some, this might be because of Dysphagia (physical difficulties that make it unsafe to swallow) or because of sensory challenges which make it an unpleasant and difficult experience. Whenever offering food related play, please ensure that you discuss it with the child’s dysphagia trained Speech and Language Therapist to make sure that it is safe for a child to do so and take into account any dietary requirements.

Play is a useful tool to improve a pupil’s relationship with food. Playfully interacting whilst engaging in a cooking activity can reduce demands to eat and allow opportunities to model interacting with a range of different tastes, textures and smells in a fun and playful way.

During the festive period, making mince pies is an excellent multi-sensory play activity from shaking the flour to rubbing in the butter, rolling out the dough, cutting the shapes and filling with goodness.

Outside of the festive season, do not be afraid to repeat the activity - fill the pastry with jam, roll it with cheese or just cut out shapes. Making scones and gingerbread biscuits will provide similar playful sensory food activities.

If you are enjoying our content, The Springboard Curriculum is available to buy here as an immediate digital download. You can follow the link to view sample pages before you buy. The reason we decided to share our work? To allow educators to use their time creatively to maximise play and tailor the learning activities to the strengths and challenges of each pupil.

£1 of every sale goes to the school’s charity to give back to the educators and pupils who inspired the curriculum.