As a mother of a child with special needs, I struggled to stay connected with my son’s school life and share important details about his mornings that could impact his behaviour throughout the school day. I also wanted to know more about what had happened during school hours, as those experiences often influenced his behaviour when he came home. Frustrated with what was already available, I decided to create a Communication Diary that would fit my needs.
The Communication Diary, also known as the Home-School or Parent-Teacher Diary, quickly became a lifeline for us. This simple tool allowed me to share important information with his teachers, track his progress, emotions, and daily needs. It bridged the gap between home and school, offering clarity and peace of mind while ensuring my son received the support he needed.
I truly hope this diary helps other parents of children with special needs, offering the same clarity and connection it’s given me. It’s been a valuable tool in creating a more consistent and supportive environment for my son, and I believe it can do the same for other families facing similar challenges.
How does the Diary work?
Each morning, the parent fills it out with details like the child's sleep or mood and hands it to the teacher. The teacher then adds updates throughout the day and places it back in the child’s backpack for the parent to read in the evening, ensuring both sides stay informed and aligned
Easy and quick to fill out:
A clear and simple structure for parents, teachers, and caregivers that allows for fast and organised recording and sharing of important and basic information. Daily log of mood, sleep, food, and toilet patterns.
"All About Me" section:
A one-pager with key information about the pupil’s likes, dislikes, and important details, designed to give anyone stepping in a quick, comprehensive overview of the child’s needs and preferences. This ensures consistency and helps provide the best support, even if the regular caregiver or teacher is unavailable.
Weekly Schedule:
Space for the weekly schedule, this way we don't forget on which day they have PE!
Contacts and Notes:
Plenty of space for contact details, school and home notes.
What parents say about the Communication Diary
A Lifesaver for My Non-Verbal Child
This Diary has Truly Been a Game-changer
You can order the Communication Diary from Amazon
The Communication Diary is available with a variety of covers, but the content remains the same across all versions. You can view some of the available covers here, with many more options available on Amazon.
Under the Sea - cover
School - cover
Unicorn - cover
Space - cover
The Story behind the Diary...
As a mother of a child with special needs, I often found myself navigating the uncertainty of not knowing exactly how my son was doing at school. It was a challenge to understand how he was feeling, what experiences he was having, and how those might impact his behavior. I also wanted to make sure that I was communicating any factors from home—like a rough night’s sleep or a stressful morning—that could affect his day. Without a clear way to share this vital information with his teachers, I felt like we were missing pieces of the puzzle that would help him succeed.
That's when I discovered the power of the Communication Diary, also known as the Home-School or Parent-Teacher Diary. This simple tool became a lifeline, allowing me to stay connected with my son’s school life while offering teachers the opportunity to keep me informed about his experiences. The diary created a strong, consistent bridge between home and school, ensuring that both sides were aligned in providing the best support for my son’s unique needs.
For parents like me, especially those of children with limited language or who are non-verbal, it can be incredibly difficult to know how a child is feeling or what they’ve gone through during the school day. Without easy communication, we’re left in the dark, trying to make sense of behaviours and emotions that might seem unclear. On the other side, teachers often have limited time to offer detailed updates at the start or end of the school day. This is where the Communication Diary made all the difference.
Through this diary, I was able to jot down important details about my son's morning—how he slept, what he ate for breakfast, and any other notes that could influence his day. The teachers, in turn, were able to track his mood, his interactions, what he ate, and other significant observations throughout the day. With both home and school keeping each other informed, the gap was bridged, and I had the peace of mind that my son’s needs were being met consistently and thoughtfully.
Over time, I realized that this simple, user-friendly tool could be something many other families could benefit from as well. There was a deep sense of relief in knowing that, by staying connected through this diary, both teachers and parents could work together to support the child’s development and well-being in the most effective way possible. And so, my vision expanded beyond my own son’s needs. I saw the potential for this diary to help other families, giving them the same clarity and connection that had brought such peace into our lives.
The Communication Diary isn’t just about tracking daily events—it’s about creating a seamless partnership between school and home, ensuring that everyone involved in a child’s care is on the same page. It’s about tracking progress, understanding emotions, and making sure no important detail slips through the cracks. And most importantly, it’s about giving parents and teachers a simple, reliable way to collaborate and support the child’s development, no matter the challenges they may face. For me, it’s become more than just a tool—it’s a way to help other families feel seen, heard, and supported, just as my own family has been.
Share your thoughts and ideas
If you have other or more complex needs and would like to suggest changes or improvements to this Diary, I’d love to hear from you. I’m passionate about creating the perfect pages to suit your unique situation, so please feel free to email me at greatcommunicationtools AT gmail.com to share your thoughts and ideas. Let’s work together to make this resource even better!