Why should schools provide personalised curriculum to SEND students?
It’s impossible to get a good or outstanding OFSTED rating without having high aspirations for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. As educators we want every young person we work with to meet their full potential. This requires reasonable adjustments. Since the 2014 SEND code of practice stated that all learners should be able to access activities and curriculum it has been enshrined in law that we as educators make adaptations so that our learners can access learning. But what does this mean in terms of adapting the curriculum to meet our learners needs?
1. Personalise the curriculum
Autistic learners and other neuro diverse children and young people may have what is known as a ‘special interest’. This could be anything from the ‘ life and times of Freddy Mercury’ to an extraordinary knowledge of touring caravans from the 1960s. Given some imagination and a good working knowledge of your subject you can find ways to skillfully wave these ideas into your lessons. It is very possible to adapt the curriculum within a subject to the learners interests for example by picking books in English that reflect your young persons strong interest in any subject from from beauty to tractors. With Curriculum Wide you can take it one step further and pick a qualification or certificate that is more reflective of their own particular interests.
2. Focus on strength not deficit
Your learner may not excel in academic subjects such as Mathematics and English. It’s very possible that if they have a difficulty with spelling or sequencing due to dyslexia or dyscalculia, but they could have a particular talent in another area, for example they really enjoy horse riding. By giving them a space in their timetable where they can explore their passion through a personalised qualification you can encourage them to look forward to school. If you adapt the curriculum and stand a better chance of motivating them in other areas of learning.
3. Know your learner
It’s really important to know your learner. If you can work relationally with them and listen to them about the ways in which they learn, you will find out what makes them tick. In spite of what you may have been told at Teacher Training, young people work harder and get better grades if they feel understood. By adapting their learning you make them feel listened too and cared about.
4. Co-create
Once you’ve established a good relationship with your learner you can give them an insight into what is available to them. You will need to gather plenty of information about them as there are thousands of qualifications to choose from. Once you have looked at some ideas together you can discuss this with your learner. Then you’ll be well on your way to creating a bespoke curriculum which is both motivating and helpful for their future career
5. Think imaginatively about future aspirations
I believe in the old adage, ‘if you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ Meaning that it is possible to enjoy and even look forward to your work. You can even take it one step further and encourage your learner to look at practical ways of making their passion or interest into fulfilling work. After all, before Tony Hawkes came onto the scene, there was no such job as a professional skateboarder! As educators we need to encourage all of our learners to think about their future aspirations and help them plan a way towards their goals. By personalising the learning and using Curriculum Wide to find qualifications that match their interests you can help take their first step.
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