Computing – Including Pupils with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

At St Philip's we believe that Computing has the potential to empower pupils with SEND and transform their lives. With the right blend of progressive, imaginative, planning and exposure to a broad range of tools and technologies with comprehensive support it is possible that all children can fulfill their potential – in computing and throughout the curriculum.

Computing and Information Technology are essential tools for inclusion.  They enable children with SEND, whatever their needs, to use technology purposefully in ways that make the wider curriculum accessible. Those with communication difficulties are able to engage with others to fully include everyone in activities and learning.

St Philip's offers children with SEND varied and engaging ways to communicate, collaborate, express ideas and demonstrate success.  From making and editing artwork or music to programming animations through coding. There are also many games and apps – all pupils have an opportunity to participate, be challenged, learn and progress.

St Philip's supports children with SEND by providing:

• Familiarity – Lessons follow similar patterns and all involve aspects that appeal to various learning styles through the detailed lesson PowerPoints.
• Physical Activities – Unplugged activities can include a range of sensory approaches, from physical movement to music, and from manipulating objects to drawing pictures when creating algorithms.
• Unplugged activities - enable the use of familiar contexts to teach new concepts and knowledge.  This approach helps to reduce cognitive load and has the additional benefit of being able to set the context in accordance with learner’s specific interests; which may motivate learning.

  Programming physical devices (E.g. Bee-bot) helps pupils learn to program by experiencing their code ‘come to life’ in multiple ways.  Devices with outputs that include sound, movement and light ensure learners with visual or auditory impairment are included.

• Progression – Tasks are structured into smaller steps that build toward achieving the overall objective; which form part of progressive units of work providing full coverage of the National Curriculum for Computing at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
• Flexibility – Units have Core activities as well as a number of Extension/Enrichment ideas allowing teachers to cater for the individual needs of their pupils. Those pupils requiring extra support may benefit from the prior links activities. 
• Range – A range of teaching approaches and materials enable pupils to access learning. E.g. colourful support materials; engaging activities; imaginative unplugged activities and interactive online activities support pupil’s learning enabling them to achieve.
• Variety – A wealth of online tools allow SEND pupils to demonstrate skills and progress, express ideas, improve digital literacy and boost self-confidence.