$9.67
Introductory launch price for a limited time
Help the adults around a child understand their communication, notice early signs of difficulty and respond with calm, consistent support.
This editable 18-page Emotional Regulation and Distress Support Plan helps families, schools and other settings record what a child is like when settled, what may affect their regulation, how distress may be communicated, and what support helps before, during and after difficult moments.
The plan treats distress as communication rather than a fault. It supports adults to look beyond behaviour, consider unmet needs and respond in a respectful, person-centred and least restrictive way.
What is included
• One editable Microsoft Word document containing 18 A4 pages
• Cover page with space for the child's details and an optional photograph
• Clear guidance explaining how to complete and share the plan
• A one-page regulation and distress summary for quick reference
• Review pages so the plan can change as the child's needs change
The plan covers
• What matters to the child and the people they feel safe with
• What the child is like when settled and what helps them stay regulated
• Communication, sensory experiences, demands, change, relationships, health and other possible pressures
• What distress may be communicating, including pain, uncertainty, overload and the need for connection or space
• The child's individual early signs and helpful early responses
• Proactive support that may reduce distress
• What adults should do when the child is beginning to struggle
• Clear support during intense distress, including words and approaches to avoid
• Communication, sensory and environmental support
• Individual safety planning and when urgent help may be needed
• Recovery, reconnection and what may need to change next time
• Support across home, education, community, travel and short-break settings
• A simple pattern-recording page focused on learning rather than blame
• The child's views, agreed changes and ongoing review
Who this resource is for
• Parents and family carers
• School, college and childcare staff
• Short-break and respite services
• Health and social care professionals working alongside families
• Children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, sensory or communication differences, or other individual support needs
Why families and teams may find it helpful
• It brings important information together in one consistent plan.
• It helps adults recognise small changes and offer support earlier.
• It records the child's own communication, preferences and views wherever possible.
• It supports continuity between home, education, community and care settings.
• It encourages calm, compassionate support rather than punishment, shame or unnecessary confrontation.
Format and editing
• You will receive one Microsoft Word file in .docx format.
• The document is fully editable, so you can type into the spaces, adapt wording to the child and add or remove information as needed.
• The pages are A4 and can be printed after completion. Microsoft Word is recommended for the most reliable formatting. Other compatible programs may display the layout slightly differently.
Professional and person-centred approach
• Created by a Learning Disability Nurse with 15 years' experience.
• The wording is warm, respectful and non-judgemental. Behaviour and distress are treated as communication, with emphasis on dignity, genuine choice, accessible communication, reasonable adjustments and understanding the child's individual needs.
Please note
• This is a digital download. No physical item will be posted.
• This resource supports planning and communication. It does not replace individual medical, therapeutic, educational, safeguarding or emergency advice.
• The document is supplied blank for the purchaser to personalise. No completed support plan or individual assessment is included.
Licence
• For the purchaser's personal or professional use. You may complete and share an individualised copy with the child's agreed support network. The blank template must not be resold, redistributed, shared as a blank resource or used to create a competing product.
Learning Disabilities Support Studios
Created by a Learning Disability Nurse with 15 years' experience
© 2026 Learning Disabilities Support Studios.
Digital downloads
Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I receive?
You will receive the editable A4 Microsoft Word documents listed in the individual product description. They are supplied as an instant digital download. Nothing will be posted to you.
Do I need the newest version of Microsoft Word?
No. The files are supplied in .docx format and should open in versions of Microsoft Word that support this file type. Very old versions may occasionally display small formatting differences.
Can I edit and print the templates?
Yes. You can type directly into the documents, save your completed copies and print them when needed. Please check the page layout before printing, particularly after adding large amounts of text.
Can I use the files in Google Docs, Pages or another program?
The templates are created and checked in Microsoft Word. Other programs may open .docx files, but formatting can change, so compatibility and page layout cannot be guaranteed outside Microsoft Word.
Who are these resources for?
The resources are created primarily for parents and family carers supporting children, young people and adults with learning disabilities. Completed documents may also be shared with relevant health, education and social care professionals.
Are these official NHS or local authority forms?
No. These are independently created, person-centred templates from Learning Disabilities Support Studios. They are not official NHS, local authority, education or social care documents.
Do the templates replace professional advice or existing care plans?
No. The templates help organise and share information, but they do not replace clinical records, professional assessments, prescribed guidance, care plans, risk assessments or emergency advice.
What should I do if I have difficulty opening a file?
Please message me through Etsy and explain what is happening. I will be happy to help you check the download and resolve problems with the supplied files.