How technology can make learning more fun and creative for pupils with SEND

Alison Eason, Head of the Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP), Chalgrove Primary School, UK

As head of Forest Lodge, Chalgrove Primary School’s Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), I am inspired every day by the joy on our pupils’ faces when they’re doing something creative.

Seeing a non-speaking child’s face light up the first time they share a poem they’ve created using a text-to-speech app, or design their own version of Monet’s Water Lilies using a digital painting tool, never fails to lift my spirits.

We use technology every day to make learning exciting and engaging for children with complex needs. I’ve seen how digital tools can provide pupils with opportunities to be creative, express themselves and become independent learners in a way that might not always be possible in a mainstream classroom setting.

With big changes just over the horizon as the government’s SEND reforms take shape to improve inclusionAn approach where a school aims to ensure that all children are educated together, with support for those who require it to access the full curriculum and contribute to and participate in all aspects of school life in education, it’s more important than ever to tap into the joy of creative learning.

How can technology be used in practical ways to bring learning to life for pupils and make a real difference to their enjoyment of school?

Bring stories to life with coding

One of the tools our pupils love to use is a piece of simple computer programming software, ScratchJr, which helps them to create their own interactive stories, games and characters. From adventures on the farmyard to a spooky forest or space challenge, there’s no end to the children’s imaginations.

Pupils can bring so much to their stories when they can use basic coding to decide how their characters move, interact and speak. This is a great way to encourage storytelling and creativity while helping children to develop key digital skills.

As well as being lots of fun, these tools also help children understand mathematical concepts such as coordinates, which is often a simple and exciting way to capture the attention of a neurodivergent child who might otherwise struggle to focus or become overwhelmed in a noisy or busy classroom.

Personalise communication

Communication is at the heart of creativity and there’s a range of software and assistive technology that non-speaking pupils and those with speech and language needs can use to communicate independently.

One of our pupils, who used limited verbal speech, would often stay silent when an unfamiliar adult entered the room. Since using a tablet app with symbols and visual prompts, he can now tap out messages like ‘Hello’, ‘I like dinosaurs’ or ‘My favourite food is noodles’ and the relevant images are instantly displayed on the screen. This child no longer needs an adult to interpret for him and as a result, we’ve seen a significant boost in his confidence and independence.

Another child with dyspraxia found writing difficult, so he used online symbols from Widgit to type his own Greek myth. Terms such as ‘shield’, ‘courage’ and ‘journey’ appeared as symbols above the text, helping him to choose the right words to tell his own story and then share it with his teachers and peers.

Create imaginative and motivating rewards

Pupils with complex needs, including those with autism or ADHD, may at times display impulsivity or find it difficult to maintain attention. A little gentle competition in a safe environment can be a great way to encourage and reward pupils or reinforce positive behaviour and technology can make this great fun for the children.

All of our pupils have had a wonderful time designing their own avatars, for example, which we display on the whiteboard. Each day, the children earn Dojo points for positive actions such as taking turns or showing kindness. The children love receiving recognition in this way. They know when it happens too, as they hear a familiar sound and their avatar will suddenly start dancing.

This immediate, visual and auditory feedback helps to motivate children, builds their confidence, encourages and reinforces positive behaviour in a way that is both enjoyable and meaningful.

Support great teaching

It’s vital for education policy to keep pace with the latest advances in technology so that teachers have a selection of exciting tools they can use to make their classrooms more accessible for children with SEND and create more inclusive learning experiences for everyone.

With the right tools, teachers can adapt individual and group activities, personalise lesson materials, tailor support to meet each child’s specific needs and build on the strategies that are already working to make learning fun and engaging.

This is the bedrock of great teaching and the foundation for encouraging children of all abilities to develop a lifetime love of learning.

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Four tools to help make learning more fun and creative:

1. Coding tools encourage creativity and storytelling as pupils design their own interactive characters, games and adventures while they build key mathematical and digital skills.
2. Assistive communication apps help non-speaking pupils express themselves more independently to boost confidence and participation in the classroom.
3. Symbols and visual aids make language more accessible and engaging, helping pupils build vocabulary in fun and visual ways.
4. Digital rewards such as avatars, sounds and animations reinforce positive behaviour and capture children’s imaginations.