SEND Role Play Workshops for Schools, Resource Provisions and Specialist Settings
Inclusive Role Play Workshops That Support Every Child’s Learning and Development
Looking for engaging SEND workshops for your school or resource provision?
At Pop Up Play Village, we provide inclusive SEND role play workshops that help children develop communication, language, confidence, emotional wellbeing and social skills through imaginative, child led play.
Our workshops are carefully adapted to meet the needs of every child, creating calm, engaging environments where children can explore, communicate and learn at their own pace.
Whether you’re a mainstream primary school, SEND school, specialist provision, nurture group or early years setting, our workshops are designed to support children through meaningful play experiences that place their individual strengths at the centre of learning.
Why Is Role Play So Powerful for Children with SEND?
Children with additional needs often communicate, explore and learn in different ways.
Role play provides opportunities to rehearse everyday experiences, build relationships and develop communication without the pressure of formal learning tasks. Because the play is child led, children can participate in ways that feel safe, enjoyable and meaningful to them.
Our workshops help children to develop:
Communication and language
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
Confidence and self-esteem
Independence
Problem solving
Emotional regulation
Social interaction
Imagination and creativity
Fine and gross motor skills
Understanding of the world
Designed Around Children’s Individual Needs
No two schools and no two children are the same.
Before every visit, we work with staff to understand your pupils, learning environment and desired outcomes.
Sessions can be adapted for children who benefit from:
Smaller group learning
Visual supports
Predictable routines
Sensory friendly environments
Open ended exploration
Adult modelling
Communication scaffolding
Flexible participation
Every child is encouraged to engage in a way that is comfortable and appropriate for them.
Supporting Communication and Language
Communication sits at the heart of every Pop Up Play Village session. Children naturally develop language when they have meaningful reasons to communicate.
During role play they have opportunities to:
Ask and answer questions
Build vocabulary
Develop sentence structure
Practise conversation
Tell stories
Solve problems together
Listen to others
Share ideas
Children using gestures, symbols, AAC devices or emerging speech are equally encouraged to communicate in whichever way works best for them.
Supporting Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Many schools tell us this is where they notice the biggest difference. Our workshops encourage children to:
Develop friendships
Build resilience
Learn to cooperate
Take turns
Share ideas
Develop empathy
Make choices
Feel successful
Build confidence
Because there is no right answer in imaginative play, children are free to explore, experiment and celebrate their own achievements.
Perfect for SEND Schools and Resource Provisions
Our workshops are ideal for:
SEND schools
Primary schools
Early Years settings
Resource Provisions
Autism resource bases
Nurture groups
Speech and Language groups
SEMH provision
Alternative Provision
Small intervention groups
Sessions can be delivered for whole classes, smaller intervention groups or bespoke wellbeing programmes.
Curriculum Links
Our workshops naturally support learning across the curriculum, including:
EYFS
Communication and Language
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Speaking and Listening
PSHE
English
Science
History
Geography
Design and Technology
Computing through imaginative play
Why Schools Choose Pop Up Play Village
Schools choose us because our workshops combine educational expertise with meaningful child led experiences.
Founded by a qualified primary teacher, Pop Up Play Village has spent more than ten years working alongside schools, supporting thousands of children through imaginative role play.
Our workshops are:
Fully inclusive
Child led
Adaptable for different needs
Curriculum linked
Wellbeing focused
Designed to encourage communication
Suitable for mainstream and specialist settings
Delivered by experienced practitioners
The Research Behind Our Approach
Research consistently demonstrates that imaginative play supports children’s cognitive, social and emotional development.
Educational psychologists have shown that role play helps children develop self-regulation, language, executive functioning, problem solving and social understanding. It also provides opportunities for children to safely explore real life experiences while building confidence and emotional resilience.
At Pop Up Play Village, these evidence informed principles are combined with over ten years of practical experience delivering workshops in schools across the UK.
We believe children don’t always tell us how they feel, they often play it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the workshops suitable for?
Our workshops are suitable for mainstream primary schools, SEND schools, resource provisions, nurture groups, specialist provisions and early years settings.
Can workshops be adapted?
Yes. Every visit is individually planned to meet the needs of your children and school.
Can children using AAC or alternative communication methods take part?
Absolutely. Our sessions encourage every form of communication and are designed so all children can participate meaningfully.
Can sessions support emotional wellbeing?
Yes. Many schools use our workshops to develop confidence, resilience, communication, friendships and emotional wellbeing through child led play.
Book a SEND Role Play Workshop
Whether you’re looking to support communication, emotional wellbeing, confidence or social development, we’d love to help.
Contact your local Pop Up Play Village today to discuss a bespoke SEND role play workshop for your school or specialist provision.
