Inclusive and Accessible Secondary Science How to Teach Science Effectively to Students with Additional or Special Needs

Drawing on extensive professional experience and detailed empirical evidence, this resource sets out an insightful, highly practical approach to teaching science to secondary-aged students with learning difficulties and other special educational or additional support needs (SEND/ASN). The book explores the barriers that the secondary school science curriculum currently presents to those who do not learn in the expected way, before providing a wealth of practical strategies to help teachers, in both specialist and mainstream settings, to make science more accessible. Multiple science topics are covered in depth, including living and non-living matter, the periodic table, electrical energy, the solar system, the environment and more. Each topic is supported by extensive teachers’ notes outlining activities that will allow educational practitioners to enact the principles of accessibility in the classroom. With rich field notes and practical takeaways included to accompany key insights, this accessible book will provide science teachers at the secondary school level, as well as support staff and anyone aspiring to teach science to SEN/ASN learners, with the guidance and resources they need to make science education meaningfully inclusive.

Introduction Section 1: Why Teach Science to All Learners? Section 2: Why do Pupils with Learning Difficulties Underachieve in Science and How can Teachers Mitigate this? Section 3: Assessment for Success Section 4: Approaches to Teaching Exemplar Science Topics Section 5: Conclusion Section 6: Further Sources of Support and Ideas

Jane Essex is an educator with a professional and research interest in science education for diverse learners. She has pioneered inclusive and accessible STEM outreach events. Her work was recognised with the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Inclusion and Diversity Award in 2019.