Good engagement and participation in their own education has many associated benefits for students. This is particularly important for students with special educational needs and can help enhance their academic and social and emotional outcomes.
Engagement is enhanced when schools listen to and build on students’ interests, aspirations and strengths when developing educational interventions. This involves actively including students in a shared assessment for learning process, setting shared learning objectives, and jointly reviewing progress. Student participation is supported through teaching that is responsive to the personal needs of the learner, and is further enhanced by structuring and pacing learning experiences that are challenging, engaging and enjoyable. The Student Support File offers a useful framework for promoting student engagement and participation at all stages of educational planning and review.
At the whole-school level, schools are encouraged to review their approaches to student engagement and participation so that all students, including those with special educational needs, have opportunities to share their views on issues that affect them in school, and so contribute to reviews of relevant policies and practices in schools.
The resources below can be used to support student engagement.
See worksheets in Belonging Plus+ Transition and Transfer Programme