Blog Post

Adaptive Teaching: Empowering SEN Students for Success 

Adaptive teaching is a pedagogical approach that tailors educational experiences to meet the diverse needs of all students, particularly those with Special Educational Needs (SEN). By anticipating and responding to individual learning requirements, adaptive teaching can support an inclusive environment where every pupil can thrive. 

Unlike traditional differentiation, which often involves creating separate tasks for different ability groups, adaptive teaching emphasises flexibility within the classroom. Teachers modify their strategies to ensure all students work towards the same learning objectives, providing support as needed without lowering expectations. This approach promotes a growth mindset and prevents the capping of potential.  

Adaptive teaching offers many benefits, particularly to those with SEN. These include: 

Enhanced Engagement and Participation: Adaptive teaching strategies, such as scaffolding and the use of visual aids, make learning more accessible and engaging for all, but particularly SEN students. This inclusivity encourages active participation and reduces feelings of isolation or shame. 

Improved Academic Outcomes: By providing tailored support, adaptive teaching helps close attainment gaps, enabling SEN students to achieve their full academic potential. This approach ensures that no pupil is left behind.  

Development of Social Skills: Inclusive classrooms that employ adaptive teaching support the building of improved social interactions among students. SEN pupils benefit from collaborative learning opportunities, incidentally enhancing their communication skills and building peer relationships. 

Cultivation of Independence: Adaptive teaching encourages self-directed learning, empowering SEN students to take ownership of their education. This autonomy builds confidence and prepares them for future challenges. 

To successfully integrate adaptive teaching, you will need to look at: 

Assessing Individual Needs: Regularly evaluate each student’s strengths and areas for development to inform instructional planning. 

Flexible Lesson Planning: Design lessons that can be easily adjusted based on student responses and understanding. 

Collaboration: Engage with teaching assistants, specialists, and parents to create a fully inclusive support system for SEN students. 

Ongoing Professional Development: Attend workshops and training sessions to stay informed about effective adaptive teaching practices. 

Embracing adaptive teaching not only enhances the educational experience for SEN students but also enriches the classroom dynamic as a whole. By committing to this approach, you can ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to succeed. 

At the upcoming SEND Leadership Conference on 4th March 2025, Beccie Hawes, CEO and Head of Service for Cadmus Inclusive, will deliver a keynote titled “Adaptive Teaching for Pupils with SEN: What is it and How Do You Do It?” With extensive experience across mainstream and specialist settings, Beccie will provide practical strategies for implementing adaptive teaching in schools. Her session will equip delegates with tools to create supportive and effective learning environments for SEN pupils. 

Why Complete a Specialist Dyscalculia Qualification? 

07/29/2023

Specialist teaching for students with dyscalculia offers a wide range of benefits that can significantly improve their learning experience and academic outcomes. Let’s explore some of these benefits in detail: 

  1. Individualised Teaching: Specialist teachers are trained to recognise and understand the unique learning needs of students with dyscalculia. They can tailor their instruction to suit each student’s learning style, pace, and strengths, ensuring that the student receives the right personalised attention and support.
  2. Targeted Interventions: Dyscalculia specialists possess knowledge of evidence-based interventions and teaching strategies specifically designed to help students with dyscalculia. These interventions address the underlying difficulties associated with dyscalculia and focus on improving the student’s mathematical abilities.
  3. Building Mathematical Confidence: Students with dyscalculia often face challenges that can lead to a lack of confidence in their mathematical abilities. A specialist teacher can create a positive and supportive learning environment, encouraging the student to persevere and build confidence in their mathematical skills.
  4. Remediation and Catching Up: Specialist teachers can identify specific learning gaps and areas of difficulty in students with dyscalculia. By providing targeted remedial instruction, they help these students catch up with their peers and bridge the knowledge gaps that might have developed over time.
  5. Use of Multisensory Techniques: Dyscalculia specialists will often employ a higher level of multisensory teaching approaches, incorporating visual, auditory, and tactile elements in their lessons. This helps students with dyscalculia better grasp mathematical concepts and strengthens their understanding through various sensory pathways.
  6. Fostering a Positive Attitude Towards Mathematics: Negative experiences with mathematics can lead students with dyscalculia to develop a fear or aversion to the subject – maths anxiety is not limited to those with dyscalculia. Specialist teachers work to change this perception by making math more enjoyable, accessible, and relevant, fostering a positive attitude towards the subject.
  7. Improved Classroom Participation: With the support of a dyscalculia specialist, students are more likely to actively participate in classroom activities and discussions. Increased engagement enhances their learning experience and fosters a sense of belonging in the classroom community.
  8. Advocacy and Support: Dyscalculia specialists often act as advocates for their students, working across the board to ensure that appropriate accommodations and support are provided. This collaborative effort creates a strong support system for the student.
  9. Long-Term Benefits: The benefits of specialist teaching extend beyond the immediate academic improvements. Equipped with enhanced mathematical skills, improved confidence, and a positive attitude towards learning, students with dyscalculia who have had specialist teaching are better prepared for future academic challenges and life beyond the classroom.
  10. Inclusion and Equity: Specialised teaching for students with dyscalculia is aligned with the principles of inclusive education. By catering to the individual needs of these students, educators promote a more equitable and accessible learning environment, where every student has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Specialist teaching for students with dyscalculia is a crucial component of inclusive education. The expertise and targeted interventions provided by dyscalculia specialists empower these students to overcome their challenges, develop a strong foundation in mathematics, and build the confidence they need to thrive academically and in their personal lives.