A substantial neuro-affirming autism and sensory toolkit for SENDCos, teachers, Early Years practitioners and families. Designed as a home-school bridge, it brings together strengths, sensory observation, all eight sensory systems, the autism iceberg and practical everyday sensory support.

This 24-page resource forms Journey 1: Understanding within the Journey Framework Toolkits.

It is designed to help families and education staff move beyond simply identifying “sensory behaviours” towards developing a shared understanding of what a child may be experiencing and what may help.

The pack includes:

an accessible overview of all eight sensory systems
additional emphasis on vestibular, proprioceptive and interoceptive experience
the full sensory observation checklist
guidance for looking across patterns rather than turning observations into a score
My Child’s Strengths
Gentle Scripts for Family Conversations
A Journey Many Families Recognise
Safe to Start Now
My Sensory Profile
the Autism Iceberg
Building a Home Sensory Menu
Sensory Go Bag
Build a Calm Corner
Daily Sensory Menu
Lending Your Calm
Notice → Name → Nurture

The checklist is an observation tool, not a diagnostic or standardised assessment. Any one behaviour can have several possible explanations.

Pupil perspective is included where accessible through speech, AAC, gesture, writing, drawing, choice or response. Where direct self-report is not accessible, the resource supports careful observation and family knowledge rather than inventing a pupil view.

Suitable for SENDCo-parent meetings, staff reflection, Early Years and primary settings, coffee mornings and shared home-school planning.

24 pages | UK English | PDF

Part of the Journey Framework Toolkits series by Vicky Carpenter.
The Journey Framework organises autism support across six connected areas: Understanding → Connection → Regulation → Communication → Identity → Advocacy.

These resources are designed as a practical home-school bridge. The same pages can be used by families and education staff to compare what they notice, develop shared language and agree support that makes sense across settings. Home and school do not need to look identical.

The Journey Framework is also described in Carpenter (2026), From understanding to advocacy: the Journey Framework as an enactment architecture for neuro-affirming autism education, published in Frontiers in Education.