UK Edition: Social Narrative: Riding the Bus for Travel Training, SEND, KS4 and Post-16

A UK edition social narrative for KS4, post 16 and young adult SEND learners. Riding the Bus walks a young adult through a bus trip from start to finish: checking the route, waiting at the stop, tapping on, finding a seat, pressing the bell, getting off safely, and what to do after missing a stop. It is written in first person in a calm, adult voice, with UK wording throughout.

Why I made this

Most social narratives I found were written for little children. The young people I work with are 14 to 25, and they deserve something that sounds like the world they are walking into. This one is short, respectful and practical, and it ends with a plan the learner can keep on their phone.

What's included (9 A4 pages)

• Teacher page: how to read it, when to read it, and how to fade it out

• Story pages in first person, with a simple picture box on each section

• Talk About It questions for a small group, a TA or a job coach

• Practice page: real situations with three choices, to pick the calm next step

• My Plan page to fill in for the learner's own real situation

• Discussion key

How I use it

Read it before a travel training session, then take the My Plan page on the real route. Cross out and write in real names, places and times. The closer it matches real life, the more it helps. When the learner can do it on their own, they may only need the My Plan page.

Who it is for

KS4, sixth form, FE college and post 16 SEND groups, learners on SEN Support, supported internships and Preparing for Adulthood work. It fits employment, independent living, community and health outcomes in an EHCP.

What you download: one printable PDF, A4. An editable Word version is kept by the author. Licence: single teacher or setting.

Written by Jeremy D. Gooch, a teacher with 20+ years in education. Part of the Social Narratives UK series from The Transition Cliff.

Keywords: SEND, EHCP, Preparing for Adulthood, KS4, Post 16, social narrative, EHCP outcomes, autism, learning disability, visual supports, young adults, supported internship