Features 

  • Progressive objectives are shared with students and revisited
  • Adaptations and scaffolding are explicit, where additional challenge or support is needed for specific individuals
  • Support is targeted to different students depending on needs
  • Thinking time is given when questions are posed
  • Interventions for DS/SEND students are seen in the lesson
  • Seating plan takes into account progress and targets
  • PP and SEND students are seated within the seating plan to maximise their potential for learning and improving their progress
  • Learning is scaffolded for those who need it using prompts/writing frames as well as oral devices
  • A dyslexia friendly environment and resources are established and used
  • MAD time is used to address the different HTIs following deep marking of work
  • Lesson activities/questions are adapted as needs arise for individuals or the group
  • Live marking is used as a powerful tool for improvement and motivation
  • If a TA is in the lesson they are directed by the teacher and not just an extra pair of hands
  • TAs are directed to work with other students so that SEND students also benefit form time with subject specialists
  • Written and verbal feedback is targeted to meet individual needs especially for disadvantaged students
  • Group/paired work is organised to ensure suitable groupings for discussion work that promotes understanding and thinking
  • DS and SEND students are paired /grouped appropriately to maximise their learning potential
  • More able students have been given opportunities to extend their knowledge/skills
  • There is a feeling that all students can do well, learn well, be challenged and will be given support in doing so
  • Homework including revision homework will be well planned and develop the learning of the individuals
  • There are no periods where students are waiting for the next task or for others to finish

Examples for students

  • If choice of task is given the students have chosen appropriately (e.g. in line with target grade)
  • Students are questioning each other and the teacher
  • Students respond well to their individual feedback, both oral and written
  • Students are not waiting for others to finish they are improving their work or they seek extension work
  • Students will self-check and peer mark work well
  • If tasks are differentiated e.g. gold, silver and bronze students are working on appropriate task for their ability/target not the easiest option
  • Students are able to explain and understand what they know, are learning and why
  • Dyslexic students are confident and use appropriate resources when needed or IT to support their learning such as reader pens and voice activated software
  • Students work well in pairs/group work encouraging each other with learning
  • All students seek support only when appropriate and are confident to do so from each other and the teacher/TA
  • Students are not reliant on adults to do the thinking for them
  • Disadvantaged and SEND students are confident to seek support from their teacher or other students if needed
  • Students will all be using knowledge builders and skills ladders well irrespective of ability
  • Students do not rely on others to make progress

Examples for the teacher

  • Teacher provides lesson notes for students with severe dyslexia, these students are not involved in lots of copying from the board or textbooks
  • Teacher gives appropriate scaffolds when needed and is not afraid to remove them when no longer needed
  • Teacher has a variety of activities in MAD time that allow students to make good progress
  • Teacher allows dyslexic students to photograph the homework instructions or notes on the board
  • Teacher does not expect dyslexic students to read aloud unless confident to do so and does not insist they correct all spellings in MAD time
  • Teacher gives individualised feedback and HTI comments
  • Teacher sticks to classroom routines to promote good learning
  • Teacher refers back to learning objectives during lessons and encourages all students to reflect on their progress
  • Teacher has clear, high expectations for the progress of each individual student
  • Teacher uses resources such as mini whiteboards to facilitate full participation and for students to answer in their own ways without fear of failure
  • Teacher will be making sure no student is held back by another
  • Teacher will use adaptive teaching strategies at appropriate points in the lesson
  • Teacher will ensure students of all abilities use knowledge builders and skills ladders well
  • Teacher monitors the progress of individuals throughout the lesson so they can direct students to appropriate work if they give choices or tasks which are differentiated
  • Teacher tailors questions to meet the needs or promote progress of individuals
  • Teacher is aware of where all the PP and SEND students are in the lesson and actively checks on their progress
  • Teacher asks DS at least one question and checks on their progress first
  • Teacher does not allow any student to coast