Supporting Pupils
with Complex Needs
in Mainstream Settings
The SCIL Team is committed to ensuring that every pupil, regardless of the complexity of their needs, can participate meaningfully in mainstream education. We believe that inclusion is rooted in belonging. Pupils with significant or complex needs should
feel valued, capable and part of their school community. A key principle of our work is that pupils can achieve individualised learning outcomes within shared classroom experiences, for children and young people who require support that goes beyond ordinarily
available provision and everyday adaptive teaching. With the right support in place, children with complex needs can learn alongside their peers, make meaningful progress and develop confidence in their own abilities.
The Pilot
The SCIL Team provides guidance, training and collaborative problem-solving to empower schools to make this a reality. Our team is currently working alongside schools to co-create and pilot personalised, engaging planning and resources that support appropriately
challenging learning experiences for all pupils.
As Specialist Teachers, we aimed to support class teachers by developing a planning document linked to a story or topic. This document includes a range of activity ideas designed to support children with complex needs. Teachers were asked to trial selected
activities from the planning document and were guided to use the Engagement Model to inform planning, observations and next steps.
We worked closely with class teachers and support staff to ensure they had a clear understanding of the planning document and its intended use. Planned activities can be modified and adapted by school staff in response to children’s engagement, progress
and individual needs.
Resources
This document links stories that can be used to explore classroom topics.
Here are some example planning sheets with activities linked to a story/ topic. There are lots of activities which are optional and would be selected according to the pupils needs and targets on their EHCP. Activities can be adapted for different books but
these plans demonstrate how this approach works.
Below is an editable weekly planning record sheet where observations for activities and next steps can be documented.
The Engagement Model