It is a fact that not all pupils will find school and lessons enjoyable and motivating and some will struggle to cope with the normal school routines. In order to help these pupils to achieve their potential it is the job of the class teacher and sometimes the special needs coordinator to facilitate their learning by support in class and adaptation of learning materials.

The most helpful support that a teacher can offer will vary depending upon the child’s needs. Some children respond well to an adult working with them either individually or in a small group. The adult can encourage the child to persevere with a task and help them when they are struggling to think of ideas by discussing their thoughts. Other children prefer to work on their own but have prompts available which they can use to aid their work.

Recognising that a pupil is struggling to keep up with the rest of the class is crucial to that pupil’s progress because some pupils will simply refuse to carry out the task or become disruptive as a strategy to avoid attempting the work. This behaviour can often be changed by offering the pupil support and understanding whilst they are working.