Do you want to create a more inclusive classroom for your SEN students?
Discover how you can make reasonable adjustments to better accommodate all your students with our tips and strategiues.
Inclusive education means making sure every child is part of the class, including those who have special educational needs (SEN). It helps create a happy and fair place for all children to learn, no matter what challenges they might face. By including everyone, teachers give all students the chance to get a good education and do their best.
When classrooms are inclusive, something amazing happens. Children learn to understand and support one another, which makes the class stronger and more caring. Inclusivity doesn’t just help SEN students—it helps everyone. It builds a world where teamwork, kindness, and understanding lead the way.
Reasonable adjustments are changes or help given to make sure children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) can learn and take part in school like their classmates. These changes follow the Equality Act 2010, which says schools must treat children with disabilities fairly and help them learn in ways that suit their needs.
For example, simple adjustments might include giving children with poor eyesight books with bigger letters or letting children who need more time finish their tests later. Bigger changes could include providing special devices to help children communicate if they find speaking or writing difficult. All these adjustments are made to help children overcome challenges and do their best in school.
Schools can make classrooms easier for all children to learn in by making small changes to help students with different needs. For example, they can offer special workstations that are quieter and more organised. This helps children who need fewer distractions concentrate better. Adjusting classroom lighting is another way to help – schools can use dimmable lights or more natural light for children who are sensitive to bright lights.
Using sensory-friendly tools is also a big help. Things like wobble cushions, yoga chairs, or noise-cancelling headphones make it easier for students to stay calm and focused. Interactive whiteboards are great too! They help children use their own laptops or tablets to follow lessons in a way that suits them best. This not only makes learning easier but also encourages all students to join in and work together.
One-to-one help is really important for some children who find learning tricky. When teachers spend time working with just one student, they can focus on what that child finds hard and help in ways that work best for them. This means the child can learn new skills and feel more confident.
Taking short breaks to move around or using special tools, like a sensory plan, can also be very helpful for children who may struggle with their emotions or need help staying focused. Having quiet places in school, like a calm room, gives children a safe spot to go to if they feel upset or overwhelmed.
Finally, when children get to work in small groups with others who have similar interests or needs, they can make friends and learn from each other. This helps them feel part of a team while still getting the extra support they might need.
Students with vision or hearing difficulties can use special tools to help them join in with learning and school activities. For example, tools like typoscopes and tinted overlays help students who find reading tricky by making it easier to focus on the text and reducing eye strain. Students with hearing difficulties can use hearing loop systems. These help by sending sound directly to their hearing aids, making it easier for them to listen and take part in class discussions.
There are also apps, like Clicker8, that can help students learn. Clicker8 lets kids create their own written work in a way that suits them best, which is great for those who find typing or spelling difficult. By using these kinds of tools, teachers can make sure every child feels part of the class and gets the help they need to do their best.
Children with SEN often require extra help to learn and succeed. To understand what each child needs, experts like educational psychologists or SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) carry out special assessments. These tests show what the child is good at and where they might need help.
Once the results are ready, everyone—including parents, teachers, and SENCOs—comes together to make a plan to support the child. This plan may include strategies, resources, and goals to meet the child’s specific needs. Everyone keeps talking and meeting regularly to share updates and make sure the plan is working. This teamwork helps create a learning environment where the child can feel confident and succeed.
Organisations like Family Fund, Short Breaks, and the Local Offer are there to help families with children who have SEN. They provide useful support like money grants, important information, and practical resources to make life a little easier while helping children grow and learn.
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It’s also very important for parents to learn how to support their child in the best way possible. Training programmes can teach parents practical skills to deal with tricky behaviours, encourage independence, and build a happy and supportive home for their child’s development.
Making changes in schools to help all children learn can sometimes be tricky. Schools often face challenges such as not having enough money or staff to help children properly. They might not have the right tools, like special equipment or technology, to make learning easier for some students. Sometimes, teachers haven’t had enough training to support children who need extra help, which can make it hard to keep things consistent.
To solve some of these problems, schools can make sure teachers keep learning too! When teachers have regular training, they can improve how they teach and better understand how to help every child. Schools can also apply for extra money from special organisations or team up with charities to buy the tools and resources they need.
Another great way schools can help is by working with the local community. Programmes and groups in the community can offer extra help, like sharing resources or providing support to students and staff. By combining all these solutions, schools can make learning fairer and more inclusive so every child gets the help they need.
If your school needs help with tutoring, Bright Heart Education is here to support you. We help children who have special educational needs (SEN) and those who need a boost in confidence and motivation. Our tutors are trained and experienced and use a kind and caring approach. They focus on what each child needs to grow their learning. We offer in-person lessons for schools in the UK and online lessons for schools across the country. We make sure the teaching is just right for every student.
Bright Heart was proud to be an approved NTP Tuition Partner, as well as being awarded Tuition Business of the Year in the 2022 National Tutoring Awards, along with being runners up in this headline award in 2023 and 2024. Schools that work with us get good value for our quality, along with individual learning plans, and lesson updates to show progress.
Want to learn more? Book a free chat with Bright Heart Education today and see how we can help your students do their best at school!
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