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washing hands
Author: Karen Wilson, SEND Specialist
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Approximate reading time: 1 minute

Hygiene is not only an essential topic for all learners, but one that can be made practical, visual, and repetitive, too - which is great for learners with additional needs. Teaching hygiene isn’t just a health topic; it builds essential life skills. When young people learn routines like washing hands and brushing teeth, they are developing independence, self-care, and personal responsibility as they move towards independent adulthood.

Tip or Idea: Introduce core words such as soap, clean, and germs and then move to structured sentence stems like “I was my hands”. This supports language development, comprehension, and confidence whilst keeping instructions clear and accessible for all learners. Actions, chants, and routine visuals help to keep learning lively, memorable, and accessible.

Learning Village resource: Our Hygiene resource offers a wide range of activities to support your learners. Why not print the handwashing visual and display it by your sinks as a regular reminder?

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