Vickerman, Professor Philip

'The Teaching Challenge' is part of a Teachers TV series in which celebrities and experts go into classrooms to see what they can bring to education. This series demonstrated that some 'out there' thinking and a passion for a topic can really engage children. This programme focuses on Olympic champion Ade Adepitan MBE, as he teaches 12-year-olds the fundamentals of wheelchair basketball. He is...

This Teachers TV programme examines three research projects that focus on different aspects of movement and learning. These projects were funded by the TDA research awards. The first project at Canterbury Christ Church University looks into the importance of good posture and its impact on learning. It involves a partnership between teacher educators and occupational therapists. The second project...

Differentiation is a complex issue which requires teachers to think about the impact that their learning, teaching and assessment strategies have for children including those with SEN. This glossary contains: a definition, historical overview and key guidance, key research findings, implications for practice and key resources.

Models of disability and SEN have been subject to extensive discussion and debate as their proponents have attempted to provide a framework for understanding the way in which people experience disability (Low, 2006; Mitra, 2006). This glossary contains: definitions, historical overview and guidance, key resources and implications for practice.

People with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) tend to have significant restrictions in relation to their cognitive and/or intellectual capacities. These can co-exist with physical, sensory, social and/or emotional difficulties thus making it difficult for a child with SLD to follow the school curriculum without substantial support.

According to authors such as Smith and Green (2004) and Morely et al (2005), PE teachers have reported feelings of constraint caused by an increased presence of LSA’s in lessons in which they are inexperienced in the subject area, and provide impractical support to children with SEN. Smith and Green (2004: 601) suggest that these restrictions are due to a lack of PE and SEN training resulting...

The materials in this resource are designed to help schools in designing a Disability Equality Scheme: The materials include: • an outline for a disability equality scheme, showing the essential elements of a scheme; • a summary of the requirements of different parts of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995); • information that you can be used in training and development work.

Sugden and Chambers (2003) describe dyspraxia as a specific learning difficulty that affects children’s ability to co-ordinate sensory input and motor control. This glossary considers: a definition, the impact of dyspraxia, dyspraxia support and key resources.

The resource is a peer reviewed journal article authored by Ken Rowe from the Australian Council for Educational Research.

This resource is a literature review from 2002 structured around nine questions identified by the Audit Commission which focus upon: Incidence and/or prevalence of special educational needs; Impact of early identification on pupil outcomes; Factors influencing likelihood of identification of SEN, Full participation in life of school; Exclusions, truancy and bullying; School effectiveness and...