Helpset — Free SEND Tools for Families

These tools were created from personal experience as a parent of a child with autism and dyslexia. The aim is simple — to provide helpful, easy-to-use resources that support SEND children and their families in everyday life. If these tools make things even a little bit easier, then they are doing their job.

All tools

24 tools and 6 phone apps — all free, all in one place

Not sure where to start? Here are 4 good ones.

📅
Visual Routine Builder

Build interactive daily routines with drag-and-drop steps, emoji, timings and a First/Then mode.

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Visual Communication Cards

Search 20,000+ ARASAAC pictograms and build a printable communication card set in seconds.

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Now / Next Board

Build a clear Now/Next visual board using real pictograms. Print, laminate and Velcro-ready.

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👥
Body Doubling Timer

Focus better by working alongside an animated companion. Set your task, pick your time, get it done.

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All tools & apps
📱 Phone Apps — Work Offline
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Now & Next App

A Now/Next/Then board in your pocket — 80 picture cards, photo cards of real places, child lock. Works with no signal.

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⏱️
Visual Timer App

A shrinking-disc countdown that keeps the screen awake and can't be stopped mid-wait. Fully offline.

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Choice Board App

Offer 2–4 options as pictures and let your child tap to choose — it can even speak the choice out loud.

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🗣️
Communication Cards App

Tap-to-speak cards that say what your child needs out loud — "I need help, please." 100+ cards in categories, plus photos.

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Brain Battery App

An energy check-in your child can show you — set the battery level and the phone says it aloud. Logs check-ins to spot patterns.

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Token Board App

A visual reward chart — pick the goal, award tokens with spoken encouragement, celebrate a full board. Stars, rockets or dinosaurs.

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About the Apps

What they are, how to install them on Android and iPhone, and why offline matters for SEND families.

How to install →
Routines & Visual Supports
📅
Visual Routine Builder

Build interactive daily routines with drag-and-drop steps, emoji, timings and a First/Then mode.

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📋
Ready-Made Routines

22 pre-built routines ready to open and print — morning, bedtime, homework, sensory break and more.

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🗓️
Visual Timetable

Build a weekly school timetable with lesson slots, breaks, TA support flags and room notes.

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⏱️
Visual Timer

A clear countdown with a shrinking circle and colour bar. Presets, custom times, sound alerts, full screen.

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Communication
🃏
Visual Communication Cards

Search 20,000+ ARASAAC pictograms and build a printable communication card set in seconds.

Open tool →
🔀
Now / Next Board

Build a clear Now/Next visual board using real pictograms. Print, laminate and Velcro-ready.

Open tool →
📖
Social Story Mini-Builder

Choose a scenario, add your child's name, and get a beautifully formatted social story to read and print.

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Feelings & Emotions
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Feelings & Emotion Tools

Help children name and communicate how they feel using visual scales, emotion words and "what helps" prompts.

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Social Battery

Explain "running low" before it becomes a meltdown. Add drains and chargers, set today's level and print.

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📦
Worry Box

Write down worries, take a breath, choose something that helps — then lock it away.

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Meltdown Trigger Tracker

Gently track triggers, intensity and what helped — without blame or judgement.

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Decompression Planner

After a day of masking and managing, your child needs the right recovery. Tell us about today.

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Learning Support
AI Task Helper

Type any task and get it broken into tiny, manageable SEND-friendly steps — AI-powered.

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Homework Helper

Break homework into calm, manageable steps with reduced pressure, clear starts and built-in stopping points.

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Word Decoder

Type a tricky word and get it broken into syllables, with a simple definition and how to say it out loud.

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Dyslexia-Friendly Text

Paste any text and instantly reformat it to be easier to read — adjustable font, spacing and layout.

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📏
Reading Ruler

A coloured strip that follows your mouse or finger to help track across the line — no losing your place.

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📚
Story Writer

A tool designed exactly for someone who loves writing stories but gets blocked by spelling.

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Daily Life
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Sensory-Friendly Home

Small home changes that make a big difference. A guided checklist to get started without overwhelm.

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🍽️
Safe Food List Builder

Add foods, tick the safe ones, sort into Always, Sometimes or Not Yet. Great for mealtimes.

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Medication & Appointments

Track daily medications with a simple tick system and keep upcoming appointments in one place.

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🌙
Sleep Pattern Logger

Track your child's sleep each night — bedtimes, wakings, mood and patterns over time.

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ADHD Support
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Brain Dump Pad

Too many thoughts at once? Get everything out of your head, then sort into Do Now, Do Later or Let It Go.

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👥
Body Doubling Timer

Focus better by working alongside someone — even virtually. Set your task, pick your time, get it done.

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Token Board Builder

Earn tokens, reach the reward. Build a personalised token board with custom tokens, colours and rewards.

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Why families choose Helpset

Built from lived SEND experience

🎨
Customisable for every child

Every SEND child is different. Change labels, swap icons, adjust colours — make each tool fit your child, not the other way round.

🖨️
Print-ready in seconds

One click to print. A4 for the wall, strips for the desk, individual cards to laminate and Velcro — however you need it.

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Private & no login

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is tracked. No accounts, no ads, no subscription — ever.

Bookmark Helpset — save it to your home screen for quick access
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