At Ysgol Y Gogarth, HelpKidzLearn’s ChooseIt Maker is transforming how children with additional needs learn and communicate. From supporting pupils’ language development to enabling non-verbal students to share their day, this software seamlessly integrates into daily routines, making learning fun, inclusive, and impactful.
Ysgol Y Gogarth, based on the beautiful coastline of Llandudno, North Wales - caters to over 270 pupils aged 3 to 19 with additional learning needs. Beyond its role as a school, Ysgol Y Gogarth is a hub of support for families, providing a range of activities such as parent groups, yoga sessions, and a climbing club. The school's dedicated team promotes an inclusive and creative learning environment, encouraging all pupils to thrive. With various awards, including Eco School and Investors in Families, Ysgol Y Gogarth is a key part of its local community, working closely with families and services to ensure a holistic approach to each pupil’s well-being and education.
Ysgol Y Gogarth's staff, including Hannah Davies (AAC & AT Support) and Hannah Martin (Additional Learning Needs Teacher), spoke about the challenges of finding software that meets the needs of their pupils. Hannah Martin explained how some software isn’t user-friendly or adaptable across devices, while Hannah Davies highlighted the importance of inclusivity. She noted, "HelpKidzLearn is really easy to edit, which makes it inclusive for everybody."
The school has been using HelpKidzLearn software for over ten years, with ChooseIt Maker being a core part of their daily activities. Hannah Martin shared how they incorporate it into everything from morning registration to end-of-day collective worship. "It’s fun to make different activities, and it’s so easy to use," she said. ChooseIt Maker allows the school to personalise activities, with some pupils signing in by recognising their photo, while others use their name. It also helps with transitions—one pupil uses an iPad to sign in, making the process smoother for them. During collective worship, ChooseIt Maker helps reinforce the day’s activities. Pupils use symbols and pictures to recap events like art sessions or outings. "It’s lovely when the class comes together at the end of the day," Hannah remarked.
Hannah Davies explained how the school uses ChooseIt Maker alongside the Blank Levels framework to develop pupils’ language and thinking skills. Working with Speech and Language Assistant Bryony Hughes, they tailor activities to match each pupil’s comprehension level, from basic tasks like naming objects to more complex questions requiring reasoning. Hannah shared how activities based on stories, such as The Gruffalo, are created using ChooseIt Maker, making learning engaging and interactive for each pupil. By using ChooseIt Maker alongside the Blank Levels framework, the staff at Ysgol Y Gogarth ensure that every child can develop their language and cognitive skills at a pace that suits them. Whether it’s recognising an object by sight or answering more complex reasoning questions, the activities help to make learning engaging and accessible for all.
One special moment involved a visually impaired pupil who used ChooseIt Maker with an iPad and Bluetooth switch, set to auditory scanning, to independently choose his snack. Hannah Davies described the pupil’s joy in being able to make his own choice: "It gave him so much independence to be able to choose. He was nonverbal, and for him to be able to choose, it was just amazing to see." Another moment that stood out for Hannah Martin was the first time she used ChooseIt Maker during collective worship: "Every single pupil interacted with it. It’s so inclusive - it was how I envisioned it, and it ticked all the boxes."
HelpKidzLearn’s ChooseIt Maker has become integral to Ysgol Y Gogarth’s inclusive approach. From supporting non-verbal pupils in communicating their favourite parts of the day to promoting language skills through tailored activities, it helps every child express themselves in their own way. "ChooseIt Maker just ticks all the boxes for inclusivity, creativity, and ambition," said Hannah Davies. Hannah Martin explained how she integrates ChooseIt Maker into promoting health and well-being. Hannah uses symbols familiar to the children from their textbooks, enabling them to express how they feel in the morning directly on ChooseIt Maker through the interactive board. "One pupil acts as the helper for this session, coming up to inform us about the weather, what clothes to wear, including if we need a coat, and also the day and month of the year. The pupils love joining in," she shared.
ChooseIt Maker is also used at the end of the day, allowing children to share their favourite parts of the day. "This includes everybody; it's part of our curriculum and integrated into other sessions," she added. Hannah Martin explained how this information is communicated to parents at the end of the day.
The lasting impact of ChooseIt Maker at Ysgol Y Gogarth is clear: it’s not just a tool for learning but a platform for connection, expression, and growth. It enables children to thrive in an environment where their abilities are celebrated, and their voices are heard - whether verbal or non-verbal. As both Hannah’s summarised, “Inclusive, user friendly, accessible and fun.”
