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The first few days of a foster placement can be challenging for any child.

For children with additional needs, the change can feel especially overwhelming.

New routines, unfamiliar environments, different expectations and uncertainty about what happens next can all increase anxiety and make communication more difficult.

At Fledglings, we regularly hear from carers and professionals looking for practical ways to help children settle during times of change. That is why we have created our new Foster Care SEN Starter Kits.

Why the first few days matter

Moving into a new foster placement is a major transition. A child may be meeting new people, sleeping in a different room, adjusting to new routines and trying to understand what is expected of them.

For children with SEN, ALN, autism, sensory processing differences or developmental needs, this can be even harder to process. They may need more support to understand what is happening, express how they feel, and manage anxiety or sensory overwhelm.

This is where simple, practical tools can make a difference.

What challenges can foster carers face?

Every child and placement is different, but carers may notice:

• difficulty understanding new routines
• anxiety, withdrawal or emotional distress
• difficulty expressing feelings or needs
• restlessness or sensory seeking behaviour
• distress around transitions, bedtime or school

These responses do not always mean a child is being difficult. They may be trying to cope with uncertainty, change or overwhelm.

Why we created the Foster Care SEN Starter Kits

Foster carers are often expected to respond quickly, sometimes with very little time to source specialist products or work out what may help.

We created these kits to provide a practical starting point. Each bundle brings together products that can be used straight away to support communication, reassurance, routine and regulation.

The aim is not to provide a one-size-fits-all solution, but to give carers useful tools from day one.

What is included?

The kits have been designed around four key areas of support:

1. Communication and understanding

Visual tools can help children understand what is happening now, what is happening next, and what is expected of them.

2. Feelings and emotional support

Feelings prompts can help children begin to express emotions, particularly when verbal communication is difficult.

3. Routine and predictability

Simple instruction and routine supports can help create structure during a period that may otherwise feel uncertain.

4. Calm and regulation

Fidgets, comfort items and, in the Enhanced kit, deep pressure support can help some children manage restlessness, anxiety or sensory overwhelm.

Choosing the right kit

Kit	Best for	Main focus
Essential	Immediate support during the first few days	Basic communication, reassurance and calming tools
Core	Children who need more structure and routine support	Visual communication, routine building and emotional support
Enhanced	Children who may need additional help with regulation	Routine, reassurance, sensory support and deep pressure input

Support for carers too

Each kit includes a digital support pack to help carers use the products with confidence.

The support pack includes:

• First 7 Days Foster Support Guide
• Example Daily Routine Planner
• What to Share with School sheet

These resources are designed to be simple, practical and easy to use. They are not clinical documents, but everyday guidance to support carers during the early stages of a placement.

Practical support from day one

No product can remove the challenges of transition completely, and every child will respond differently.

However, simple visual supports, predictable routines and calming sensory tools can help create a more reassuring environment during those early days.

Our Foster Care SEN Starter Kits have been created to give carers a practical starting point when a child needs support quickly.