Lesson tips for Special Educational Needs

Richard Cleeve
Children sat at desks in a classroom with their hands up

In this blog, James Laidler talks about his insights into how to plan lessons for neurodiverse students. James is a teacher and has been a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Coordinator for the past 18 years. He also discusses how important it is to consider your terminology, using phrases like ¡®special learning powers¡¯ or ¡®neurodiversity¡¯ to break down negative stereotypes. On top of this, he wants to help teachers and students recognize the strengths SEN students can bring to the classroom.

James explores special needs education and what teachers can do to ensure their lessons are inclusive for all. A lot of these lesson tips are also great to apply to keep all students engaged, SEN or otherwise.

Defining Special Educational Needs

To define what Special Educational Needs (SEN) is, a child has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability that calls for special educational provision. Learners with such as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia or anxiety disorders come under this framework.

Inclusive lesson tips for neurodiverse students

Although teachers want to create inclusive lessons, many feel ill-equipped to support neurodiverse students.?To help, James offers some tips for lesson planning which aim to turn learning diversities into strengths:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a condition that can include symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Students with this disorder may have a short attention span, constantly fidget, or act without thinking.

Lesson tips for ADHD students:

  • Movement breaks ¨C Students with ADHD may struggle to sit still for extended periods of time. Include short breaks in your lessons that offer them the opportunity to get up and move around at regular intervals.
  • Group work ¨C To keep learners active and engaged, include group work in class. This means they don¡¯t have to focus on the board for too long.
  • Dramatise lessons ¨C A really effective activity is to . For example, students can act out role plays or other fun . It keeps them motivated, holds their attention and can be fun for all of the class.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent reading and spelling. It may affect a person¡¯s phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed. Lesson tips for dyslexic students include:

  • visual aids ¨C Learners with dyslexia tend to have . Try bringing in pictures to illustrate ideas or add them to lengthy texts to help students when doing reading comprehension exercises.
  • font and spacing ¨C When setting reading tasks, simply , enlarging font size, and double spacing is hugely beneficial to dyslexic students. Simply adapting the text can make their learning experience much easier.
  • text-to-speech software ¨C Using a text-to-speech specialized software often provides significant support to those who struggle with reading or digesting text on computer screens ¨C try or .

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

ASD is a developmental condition that involves challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. The severity of symptoms is different in each person. Lesson tips for ASD students:

  • Encourage systematic skills ¨C Often students with ASD may be more systematic than other students. This means they favor routines, regular processes, and predictable activities. Try bringing out these skills by asking students to spot patterns, analyze numbers or evaluate data.
  • Talk about interests ¨C Autistic students may have specific interests they love to research. Engage them by getting them to or ask students to create projects on a topic they choose that they can present to the class.
  • Teaching online/blended learning ¨C If you have a learner who is struggling socially at school, it may be an option to include hybrid or blended learning. This takes away the social and emotional challenges of school and people interaction, which can benefit ASD students.

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, but rather involve intense fear or anxiety. in young people and greatly affects their ability to learn.

Lesson tips for anxiety disorder students:

  • Changing language and terminology ¨C Our education system is very exam driven, which can cause students to experience much stress. By simply offering reassurance, guidance, and motivation, you can help to reduce their feelings of anxiety.
  • Talk openly ¨C Encourage learners to discuss their feelings if they struggle. They can do this with you, a classmate, or a support worker at the school. If they open up to you, focus on .
  • Mindfulness techniques ¨C Try adding five minutes at the start of the day for guided meditation or breathing exercises. It may help students to begin the day in a calm and relaxed manner.

More blogs from ÃÛÌÒapp

  • Three individuals are engaged in a discussion around a table in a library, surrounded by books, with one person gesturing with their hands.

    Ready to study in the USA? Not all tests are created equal

    By
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you¡¯re planning to study in the USA, you¡¯ve probably looked into English proficiency tests for university admissions. And you¡¯ve probably noticed ¨C they¡¯re not all the same.

    • Some are more expensive.?
    • Some take weeks to deliver results.?
    • Some require you to travel to a test centre.

    The ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test is different.

    What makes the ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test special??

    This online English test is designed for international students who want to move quickly and confidently through the admissions process.

    • Take it from home?¨C No travel needed. The ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test is fully online, so you can complete your exam from anywhere in the world.
    • Get certified results in 48 hours?¨C No long waits. Receive your official English proficiency scores fast, so you can meet university deadlines with ease.
    • Pay less?¨C It¡¯s one of the most affordable English tests for US university applications, helping you save on costs.
    • Accepted by a growing number of US universities?¨C Use your results to apply to top institutions across the United States.
    • Built for momentum, not delays?¨C Designed to help you move forward, not slow you down.

    Why this test matters

    When you¡¯re applying to study in the USA, every day counts. You¡¯re juggling application deadlines, coordinating with universities and planning your next big move. You need an English language test that supports your ambitions, not one that holds you back.

    What makes?ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test different?

    • AI scoring for fairness and consistency?¨C Advanced technology ensures your results are accurate and impartial.
    • Security inbuilt?¨C Take your test with confidence, knowing your identity and results are protected.
    • CEFR and GSE-aligned results?¨C Trusted by universities and colleges, your scores are mapped to international standards for English proficiency.

    It¡¯s everything you need for your US university application, without the stress.

    Ready to take the test?

    If you¡¯re searching for an English proficiency test that fits into your life and helps you move forward, the ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test is ready when you are. Take your test today and start your journey to studying in the USA with confidence.

  • Teacher and pupils in classroom

    Designing learning with a horizontal syllabus

    By
    Reading time: 7 minutes

    In this final blog, I want to pull together the content of the previous two blogs ("What is a Horizontal Syllabus?" and "Seven characteristics of young learners that shape our assessments") and my recent webinar in August 2025 by applying them to a?horizontal syllabus?for a unit of study from the My Disney Stars and Heroes series. The unit of study is taken from Book 2, Unit 6 entitled "My Day¡¯" The unit focuses on daily activities and times of day. There are 11 classroom hours of study for this unit. The unit plan is depicted below with the 11th?hour for reviewing and the unit test. Please refer to the key below the table about the types of tasks in this syllabus. These are explained below.??

  • Grammar 101: insider tips and tricks to instantly improve your writing (part 4)

    By
    Reading time: 7 minutes

    Punctuation makes your writing easier to read and understand, but it can be tricky to master. As an editor and proofreader, I often notice people confusing semi-colons and colons, so we'll explore the difference between them. And because both are often used in lists, we'll also look at the humble comma ¨C and its sometimes-controversional cousin, the Oxford comma.?

    Semi-colons and colons both connect phrases in a sentence but are used in different situations.?

    Understanding colons

    Colons introduce important information and explanations. They're often used before lists as a replacement for phrases like "they are" and "which is":

    • He offered me a choice of drinks: tea, coffee or hot chocolate.?
    • I packed the essentials in my bag: water, pens and a magazine.?
    • She speaks three languages: English, French and Portuguese.?

    You can also think of a colon as a spotlight, with the phrase that comes after the colon explaining or expanding what came before it.?

    • In 1903, travel was changed forever by an important event: Orville and Wilbur Wright's first successful flight.
    • He loves visiting the animals at the farm: cows are his favourite.?
    • There is one rule I live by: I treat others as I wish to be treated.

    The secrets of semi-colons

    A semi-colon links two ideas that are closely related and that would be two complete sentences if you used a period instead. They give a softer transition than a period would, and they're often used instead of conjunctions like "and", "but" and "because":

    • I love eating pizza; my sister loves eating burgers.
    • I wanted to go for a swim; I couldn't find my goggles.?
    • I'm going to the park; the weather is beautiful.

    Semi-colons also seperate items in long lists to make life easier for the reader and stop a sentence becoming a sea of apostrophes. For example:

    • I've got my shopping list ready: peppers, carrots and oranges from the market; toothpaste, shampoo and pain relief from the drugstore; and a newspaper, snack and drink from the newsstand. ?

    Standard comma or Oxford comma?

    An Oxford comma goes before "and" or "or" at the end of a list. The first example has an Oxford comma, the second doesn't.?

    • Please bring me a sandwich made with cheese, lettuce, and tomato.?
    • Please bring me a sandwich made with cheese, lettuce and tomato.?

    American English generally favors the Oxford comma, British English typically omits it, unless needed for clarity. Compare:

    • I love my parents, Taylor Swift and Keanu Reeves.
    • I love my parents, Taylor Swift, and Keanu Reeves.?

    As with many areas of punctuation, whether you choose to use the Oxford comma is a matter of personal preference. However, the most important thing is to be consistent in your usage.?