Celebrating SEN & Neurodiversity in Your School

Help teachers to understand different needs

Investing in neurodiversity-specific training for all school staff is crucial. Unfortunately, teacher training courses often have limited focus on neurodiversity, so it is up to the individual and their senior leadership to ensure that they are fully competent in this area. This greater understanding will allow for the celebration of neurodiversity.

Educate your pupils on neurodiversity

Helping young people understand neurodiversity, regardless of whether they are neurotypical or neurodiverse, is a vital area for celebrating neurodiversity. Incorporating neurodiversity more into the curriculum, for example, in PSHE lessons, through assemblies, or celebratory displays would help lessen stereotypes and generate empathy.

Use neurodivergent role models

If you are neurodiverse yourself or if other members of staff are, talking about this positively with your pupils could be life-changing for them. Sharing your lived experience, both the highs and the lows, lets them know that they’re not alone. Try researching some popular neurodiverse celebrities to show high-profile examples of success stories, highlighting their key talents and strengths.

What to say (and what not to say)

Aspects of neurodiversity and invisible differences can often feel taboo or, at worst, be spoken of with negative stereotypes. However, neurodiversity is to be celebrated. Why else would 1 in 5 people have a neurodiverse mind? Let’s discuss it with a positive, strength-based approach. Toxic positivity, such as listing certain conditions as a “superpower,” can invalidate an individual’s lifelong challenges, however. So be mindful of your language and approach.

Support and encourage friendships

Those who are neurodiverse can often feel isolated or “different.” Setting up clubs in your school for SEN pupils could support friendships and aid social skills, which can be a difficult area for our children. Why not have them create artwork about their lived experience, to share feelings and emotions? This will also help celebrate neurodiversity by raising awareness.

Support your pupils families

We mustn’t forget about parents and guardians when considering neurodiversity. Creating supportive events such as coffee mornings for families to discuss aspects of challenge and positivity is another way to celebrate neurodiversity in your school. Offering guardians information through online webinars would provide further support.

The Umbrella Project

The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity created 'The Umbrella Project' to help raise awareness of neurodiversity and, ultimately, to celebrate it. Organisations can purchase symbolic umbrellas to celebrate neurodiversity in their individual premises. Please follow the link for more information for a display in your school.

Celebrate neurodiversity outside of work

We create ripples in ponds using pebbles, but we want to create waves to celebrate neurodiversity. Consider your personal life and ways you can celebrate neurodiversity outside of the workplace. Such as, using strength-based language, supporting podcasts or neurodiverse social media stars, and offering support to neurodiverse loved ones.

Looking for more information on inclusion support in school?

Watch our recent webinar with Susan Knight-Gill, Head Teacher of our Bridgeway School, as we discuss how schools can adopt a 'whole school approach' to tackle bullying, what schools can be doing to support inclusion, and more.