Across all areas of the National Curriculum at Riverside Primary School, teachers set suitable learning challenges, respond to pupils’ diverse learning needs, modify the curriculum to remove any potential barriers to learning and assessment for particular individuals or groups of pupils.

Teachers have an excellent knowledge of the needs of all pupils in their classes and are able to plan personalised and differentiated learning experiences which meet the needs of individual pupils. Inclusion is always at the centre of any teaching approach.

Geography -  Supporting Pupils with SEND

Geography lessons involve considering complex ideas about the world, diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, as well as developing a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Reading and writing is often required in Geography lessons, as well as producing diagrams, understanding and reading maps and conducting field work outdoors.

To include pupils with SEN and/or disabilities, teachers consider what makes a topic difficult for groups of and individual pupils. It might be, for example, the level of contextual knowledge, the concepts, or the language used.  

To make Geography lessons inclusive, teachers anticipate the barriers to taking part and learning particular activities, lessons or a series of lessons may pose for pupils with particular SEN and/or disabilities. Planned learning experiences consider ways of minimising or reducing barriers so that all pupils can fully take part and learn.

In some activities, pupils with SEN and/or disabilities take part in the same way as their peers. In others, some modifications or adjustments are made to include everyone. For some activities, a ‘parallel’ activity for pupils with SEN and/or disabilities is available, so they work towards the same lesson objectives as their peers but in a different way.

Occasionally, pupils with SEN and/or disabilities will work on different activities, or towards different objectives, from their peers.

The way questions are asked will be considered in order to check pupil understanding; these may need to be rephrased to ensure all children can access the learning and respond appropriately.

When children conduct field work, or attend other Geography visits throughout the year, modifications and adjustments are planned and considered to ensure all children can develop their curiosity and fascination with the world around them. Factors that may affect pupils with SEN and/or disabilities are included in risk assessments to ensure the safety of all pupils.