Widgit Symbols are simply drawn, colourful symbols designed to illustrate a single concept in a clear and concise way. They cover a range of topics (including many curricular areas) wide enough to make them suitable for symbol users of all ages and abilities.

Already used by many SEND departments and schools, the entire symbol database of over 15,000 images is now available to all LGfL TRUSTnet schools to search and download.

The use of these symbols increases the accessibility of written text by giving readers of all literacy levels greater access to information. As they are designed specifically for written information, Widgit Symbol users can develop real independence in reading and writing.

There are many ways to use the symbols, but some common ideas are:

• Symbol Sentences – this is when a regular sentence has symbols above the words illustrating the main points in the sentence. Not all of the words may have symbols, as abstract symbols are unnecessary and distracting for most symbol readers, but there should be enough symbols to ensure that the meaning can be understood even if the text isn’t.

• Key Symbols – one or two symbols that can be used with or without text to convey a single piece of information. At most, they provide the same amount of information as a short sentence of text. They can help reinforce meaning and give reassurance by acting as reminders for any level of reader.

• Communication Grids – typically these have one symbol per grid cell alongside the text. The grid can facilitate a conversation with one or more people pointing to the symbols to express their ideas. Communication grids can be printed as low-tech supports, or there are high-tech communication devices and apps that reinforce the symbol choices with speech output.

• Symbol Flashcards – cards containing one symbol and text. They have a very wide range of uses. They can be used as educational games to learn a topic, picked from to make choices, ordered to create a timetable and shown to aid communication.

We also have over 1000 worksheets available which are differentiated and include Widgit symbols to help you make the curriculum accessible for all learners.