Zircus Eldorado visit Cristoph Tornee school in Germany

The Christoph-Tornee School in Germany caters for pupils with mild to moderate learning difficulties. This week, the have some rather unusual visitors. Zirkus Eldorado is a traditional family-run circus that offers project weeks to schools. They've pitched their big-top on the field next to the school and will spend the week teaching staff and pupils a variety of circus skills, improving the pupils' coordination and self-confidence. The circus theme is carried into classroom lessons, which include writing poems and stories, making decorations for the tent and preparing music to accompany the acts. Follow three pupils as they work towards their gala circus performance in front of friends and family, with the theme helping to link different curriculum areas and create excitement.

A Very Special Circus

A personal insight into living with Asperger's Syndrome

Troubled Minds is a series of four short animated films, narrated by young people who have been real-life sufferers from a range of psychological illnesses and syndromes. In this video, a seemingly well-behaved and well-performing school student, describes the emotional distress he felt as his Asperger's syndrome caused him to struggle socially at school.

Asperger's Syndrome

Estelle Morris speaks with SEN expert Baroness Warnock

In this insightful interview, Estelle Morris talks to Baroness Warnock about her 1978 report on special educational needs. Warnock speaks frankly about what was wrong with the report, and talks about the new research that has come to light over the last 30 years. With society changing rapidly, what is the best way forward for the education of children with special educational needs? The Baroness also discusses the teaching of science, languages and philosophy in our schools. How can participation be raised, and is our teaching approach outdated?

Baroness Warnock

Follow the learning experiences of three autistic brothers

Including pupils on the autistic spectrum at primary and secondary brings particular challenges for schools. This whole-school video on SEN shows an honest account of life with autism, with views from three autistic brothers. Inclusion can be challenging for teachers, and for the pupil school life can be a buzzing confusion of uncertainty. Meet brothers Luke, Joe and Ben Jackson. Their mother Jacqui is outspoken and articulate about how teachers can support pupils with autism, and the boys are extremely candid about how their condition affects them. For Luke, there are many positives. He describes brother Joe as 'the most imaginative person you could ever meet' and Ben as 'the nicest and most honest kid'. Jacqui and the boys share their ideas about living with autism, as do the teachers who are working with Joe and Ben to ensure their inclusion in school life. There's also an exercise devised by Luke that helps teachers imagine what the world is like for people with autistic spectrum disorders.

Being Different May Be Cool - On The Autistic Spectrum

How to improve the learning environment for pupils with dyslexia

Find out how a primary school has tailored classroom layouts, resources and lesson activities to help pupils with dyslexia with their learning. Dr Kate Saunders of the British Dyslexia Association explains the strengths of dyslexic learners. To help pupils learn, activities should be physically active and have plenty of colour 3D objects to learn best. In a maths lesson at Southfield Junior School, the teacher lays out hoops across the floor to reinforce learning on multiplication and division. Dr Saunders explains how even the location of a lesson round the class can help pupils remember better. The teacher shows how colourful displays can be useful for pupils with dyslexia to have a reference, and explains how pupils can be confused by black letters on a white board. By simply dimming the board, this visual stress can be mitigated and pupils have a better chance of learning. All of these methods also give pupils a greater sense of self worth.

Classroom Layout and Resources

TAs who work with pupils with learning difficulties and autism

TAs at a primary school for children with severe learning difficulties and autism show how they support their pupils. Columbia Grange School opened in 2003 and is a purpose built provision with additional facilities for pupils with autism. Here, the HLTAs and TAs who work there show the many strategies they use to meet the complex and diverse needs of their pupils, and the skills they have gained through effective staff development and training. This is part of a series created by TAs and HLTAs, who have filmed their own short videos to give an insight into their day-to-day roles.

Columbia Grange School

Comedy Dave leads a group of inner city children on an adventure

Dave Vitty, better known as Comedy Dave from the Chris Moyles Show, has been given a teaching challenge to help lead a group of 80 inner city students on an adventure holiday in the New Forest. The pupils from Whitmore Primary School in Hoxton, London include groups with autism and other SENs as well as many students who have never been outside their inner-city neighbourhood before. The first challenge is to raise enough money for the trip, and dedicated teachers and staff lead by Claire Willis busy themselves with fulfilling this task. There are many logistical hurdles to overcome when organising an activity holiday for such a big group. Will Comedy Dave rise to the challenge and give these children their first taste of nature?

Comedy Dave

Exploring ways to get dyslexic students excited about reading

Lee Pascal, author and teacher, has been studying dyslexia for over 35 years. In this engaging and light-hearted workshop for TAs, he tackles the serious subject of dyslexia and offers real insight into how dyslexics think, learn and remember. He also looks at strategies and techniques for helping them with spelling and reading. After an introduction to the subject of dyslexia, Lee talks about the visual, auditory and kinaesthetic approach to learning that dyslexics find most useful. He engages his audience with some participatory games and passes on useful tips about how to support dyslexic students with spelling. "Joined up writing" and "joined up speaking" are just two of the methods he advocates. He also looks at spelling techniques - look, cover, learn, remember - and concludes with the moving story of a boy who grew to love reading, but only once books were made easy enough for him to understand. Key points: <ul> <li>Valuable exercises and techniques to help pupils with dyslexia</li> <li>Lee Pascal shares his vast experience in an engaging manner</li> <li>May help you to identify and rectify problems with spelling</li> </ul>

Dyslexia Support

How one school manages high numbers of special needs pupils

With an above average proportion of its pupils on the special needs register, Allens Croft Primary School, Birmingham, gives an insight into how to manage so many children with such complex needs. Here supporting the individual takes priority, with the needs of each child prioritised, rather than expecting them to conform to the rest of the school. The school prides itself on its inclusive atmosphere, and regularly reviews the needs of each child. Heather Cook, from the Communication and Autism Team in the Inclusion Services for Birmingham Education Authority, offers extra support to two Year 2 pupils believed to have autism. Three pupils in Year 5, two of who are on the Autistic Spectrum and the third with ADHD, are also followed in the programme.

EBD - Primary - A Whole School Story

A TA proves to be a valuable resource in teaching SEN children

A teaching assistant uses her foundation degree to help a KS2 teacher use an innovative lesson approach, especially effective for children with SEN. TA Carol Cato's foundation degree has equipped her with a lesson plan called "diamond ranking", the idea is that children's thinking and learning skills are tested by encouraging them to discuss and prioritise a series of statements. It is a useful exercise in extending all pupil's thinking but particularly so with those who are struggling, and puts the theories she has learnt into practice. Carol's further studying in the area of inclusion has meant that she is now able to support teachers when working with SEN children and her advice is sought from other teachers in the school.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Whole school

> Primary SEN