Visual task plans and task boards

Benefits of visual task plans

Visual task plans can help your child or young person by:

• reducing anxiety of the unknown or what is coming next
• supporting them with attention and memory difficulties
• helping them work independently
• helping children complete tasks

Types of task plans

Written word task plan - This is a task plan where the details are written down. They will be written out step-by-step to help them understand what they are working on and what will happen next.

Symbols and written word task plan  - This type of plan uses a lot of pictures and symbols to help support the written words. This can be useful for children and young people who have difficulties with reading or understanding language. You can also use words alongside the pictures and symbols. 

Creating a task plan

Task plans can be as generic or tailored as you want. You can adapt them to the type of task you are doing or to meet the needs of a child or young person.

When you make a task plan, use the language level of the child or young person. 

Task plans do not have to be a printed worksheet. They can be on a mini-whiteboard, a laminated worksheet, sticky notes or be on a digital device like a tablet. Whatever meets the needs of the child or young person. 

If you are a professional working in a classroom, you can create a generic task plan template. This can be laminated. A laminated task plan can be used repeatedly by lots of different pupils using non-permanent marker so it can be rubbed off. 

Preparing to start a task

Before you start the task or activity with the child or young person,

1. Check to see how much the child/young person understands. 
2. Explain the steps that the child/young person needs to do to complete the activity.
3. Check the child/young person understands what is needed for each step.
4. Write the key steps on the task plan. You can use symbols or drawings when needed to help show the steps.
5. If possible, try to encourage the child or young person to take control of the task plan. They can write or draw the steps themselves. 

Working on the task using a task plan

It may take some time for your child or young person to get used to checking the task plan. When you start using a task plan with a child or young person, you may need to work beside them and encourage them to us it.

Start by working through each step together. Encourage your child or young person to check the planner for the next step. You can do this by asking them to explain what needs to be done next. 

As they get used to using the task planner, you can encourage them to do several steps by themselves without your help. 

Initially you can look for signs that your child or young person has lost focus to the task.

Encourage your child or young person to check the task planner by use non-verbal or verbal prompts. You can do this when they need to check what they are doing or to find out what they should do next. 

The aim is to use the board to refocus their own attention and move themselves through each step to complete the task.