Bladon House School: empowering pupils to communicate, learn and thrive

Creating a consistent communication environment where every pupil can succeed

symbol resources
symbol resources
symbol resources

Bladon House School in Staffordshire is a specialist provision supporting autistic pupils, children with speech and language differences, and those with moderate to severe learning difficulties and associated behavioural needs. The school takes a neurodiversity-affirming approach, recognising each pupil's strengths, communication preferences, and individual needs.

Example Symbols
Example Symbols

A whole-school approach to communication

Widgit Online is used daily across the entire school, creating a consistent visual communication approach that supports pupils throughout their day. Staff use symbols in classrooms, therapy sessions, and residential settings to make information more accessible and meaningful.

Education teams create a wide range of resources, including visual schedules, Now and Next boards, choice boards, self-advocacy tools, communication books, and curriculum resources. These support routines, transitions, independence and learning, while helping pupils express their needs and preferences.

The therapy team uses Widgit Online to develop personalised resources, such as Social Stories, emotional literacy supports, and Widgit Communication Boards that help pupils describe feelings, pain, or discomfort.

Widgit Online also plays an important role beyond lessons. From menu choice boards and pupil voice questionnaires to resources shared with families and residential staff, symbols help provide a consistent and accessible communication experience throughout a pupil's day.

The impact

Since embedding Widgit Online in 2025, Bladon House School has seen significant benefits across the school community.

Pupils have more accessible ways to express needs, emotions and experiences, helping them communicate with greater confidence. Visual schedules and communication supports also provide predictability, reducing anxiety and supporting smoother transitions throughout the day.

In addition, staff have observed increased independence, with pupils able to make choices, navigate routines, and engage more actively in learning. The combination of symbols and text helps make vocabulary more concrete, improving understanding and supporting language development.

Widgit Online has strengthened consistency between school, home, and residential environments. Staff share templates, collaborate on communication strategies, and create resources that can be used across all settings. Shared resources also help families better understand their child's communication, including identifying discomfort, expressing needs and making choices.

Thanks to this whole-school approach, Widgit has helped create a coherent, supportive, and affirming communication environment for every pupil.

Staff feedback

Widgit Online has become an essential part of daily practice at Bladon House School.

“We use it for absolutely everything. It’s reduced our stress levels because creating resources is so quick and accessible.”

– Education team

“Absolutely give Widgit a go! It has transformed lives and how our young people communicate.”

– Senior leadership

“Behaviour is communication. Widgit helps our pupils share their thoughts and needs in a way that works for them and is easy for everyone to understand.”

– Behaviour team

“Widgit Online is the programme we never thought we needed and has somehow become the one we can’t live without.”

– Therapy team

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