To support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in science, teachers may find the following resources from the original STRATA project useful.
Special Educational Needs in Science - STRATA 2019
Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Electricity, Energy, Evolution & Inheritance, Forces, Light, Plants, Properties & Uses of Materials, Sound, Space, States of Matter
SEN(D) / Additional Support needs
5-7, 7-9, 9-12
Medium term plans to support the work of teachers of pupils with special educational needs in science.
These Medium Term Plans were developed by Cambridgeshire teachers, involved in the STRATA project (Science To Raise And Track Achievement), to support the work of teachers of pupils with Special Educational Needs in Science.
The units can be used in any order. Even though the activities may focus on a particular level of pupil, the principles of good teaching and learning that they exemplify are transferable to all pupils.
Performance attainment targets (P scales) and performance descriptors are used for pupils aged 5 to 16 with special educational needs (SEN) who are working below the standard of the national curriculum tests and assessments. PSTT recognises that the national curriculum levels used in these documents are no longer current. We have had so many requests to return these materials to the website that they remain in the documents as a guide for those who have used them in the past. The written statements may be useful to others as an indication of children’s development. Further information about P scales can be found here.
The content of these plans is ©PSTT 2019 but may be freely reproduced by teachers in schools for educational purposes.
Medium term plans
Animals, Plants, Properties & Uses of Materials
Look More Closely
SEN(D) / Additional Support needs | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12
Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Plants
Environment
SEN(D) / Additional Support needs | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12
Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Evolution & Inheritance, Plants
Evolution
SEN(D) / Additional Support needs | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12
Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Plants
Energy Living Things
SEN(D) / Additional Support needs | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12
Other STRATA resources
Guidance for teachers
Useful websites
P scale – attainment targets for pupils with special educational needs. This guidance from DFE (2017) specifies performance attainment targets (P scales) and performance descriptors for pupils aged 5 to 16 with special educational needs (SEN) who are working below the standard of the national curriculum tests and assessments. This guidance was withdrawn in 2022.
The SEND Code of Practice (2015) provides statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities.
PSTT’s Science in My Pocket (SIMP) is a set of structured science activities developed by PSTT for teaching assistants to use with children who need emotional and behavioural support.
Science For All is a project by Sheffield Hallam University, supported by PSTT, which has produced a variety of tried and tested resources that engage SEND pupils in their science lessons.
Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Schools, a guidance report is available from The Educational Endowment Foundation (EEF).
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Floorbooks
Using floorbooks as a strategy for developing, recording and assessing children's understanding of scientific concepts and practical science skills.
Explore resourceSafety Notice & Disclaimer
PSTT advises teachers to refer to either the CLEAPSS website or SSERC website for up to date health and safety information when planning practical activities for children.
PSTT is not liable for the actions or activities of any reader or anyone else who uses the information in these resource pages or the associated classroom materials. PSTT assumes no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information contained in these resources. PSTT recommends that a full risk assessment is carried out before undertaking in the classroom any of the practical investigations contained in the resources.
All materials are ©Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) and are freely available to download and share for educational purposes. Whilst educators are free to adapt the resources to suit their own needs, acknowledgement of copyright on all original materials must be included. Rights to images included in the resource have been purchased for PSTT use only – as such, these images may only be used as part of this resource and may not copied into or used in other materials.
