Inspiration
Welcome to our Creative Learning Blog, We believe that creative learning is a powerful tool for unlocking the potential of learning in SEND provision. We explore a range of topics, from sensory-friendly learning environments to innovative teaching strategies that are tailored to the strengths and needs of students including neurodiverse learners. Our blog is written by Nathanael, the founder of Bright Circle Learning, who has been writing about inclusive creative learning for several years.
Throughout our blog, we delve into the latest research and best practices for SEN education, offering insights and advice for teachers, parents, and learners alike. Nathanael’s views have evolved over time, but we’ve kept some of his older posts to show the journey of learning and growth that he’s undergone. We use identity-first language, recognizing that neurodiversity is an inherent part of an individual’s identity and should be celebrated and accommodated, rather than seen as a deficit.
We’re passionate about creating a world where every learner, regardless of their abilities or challenges, has access to a high-quality education that builds positive futures. Join us as we explore the latest trends, share practical tips, and showcase success stories from the world of SEN education.
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It has often been argued that the arts contribute not only to academic success but also to your emotional well being. Throughout a range of contexts both with adults and children, I have witness this with the art of storytelling.
As a learning tool, sensory stories encourage students to explore their own expression and rewardingly they enable participants to communicate thoughts and feelings in an articulate, lucid manner. These benefits transcend the art experience to support daily life skills. Storytelling can be a nurturing way to remind children that their spoken words are powerful, that listening is important, and that clear communication between people is an art. Telling stories, particularly sensory stories can effectively engage pupils. Whilst studying for my post-grad in Teaching, I manufactured my own sensory stories and often found myself awake at 2am microwaving play dough or some other resource that would enable my story to become interactive. Following my degree I worked as a Primary School Teacher in a Special Needs School where I had the delight to discover a large supply of ‘bag books’, to put it simply – prepared sensory stories.
Bag Books are a charity that promote multi-sensory storytelling for children and adults with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). They provide storytelling and training in multi-sensory storytelling techniques.
You can find out a little bit about them here:
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Effective verbal and non-verbal de-escalation strategies
The ability to manage challenging behaviour can be incredibly useful in a dynamic environment particularly when working with pupils with emotional behavioural difficulties (EBD), not only does it reduce stress, enhance team-work, co-operation and morale but it also ensures a safe learning environment where children and adults feel confident to learn. I have attended a large variety of safeguarding training throughout my time working in education including Team-Teach.
Team-Teach is a training method that enables acceptable and authorised responses to disruptive, disturbing, angry and aggressive behaviours in a manner that maintains positive relationships and provides safety for all. More importantly it highlights a preference for the use of verbal, non-verbal de-escalation strategies. Reduces the amount of serious incidents involving physical controls in all settings and emphasises the importance of exhausting behaviour management strategies in the first instance. Should these strategies be exhausted, Team-Teach also equips practitioners with the least intrusive positive handling strategies.
Team-Teach is accredited by BILD Physical Interventions Accreditation Scheme and the National Training Awards. It has a wealth of information on its website including regularly updated UK government safeguarding guidelines.
Visit the Team-Teach website to explore government guidelines here.
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I was lucky enough to visit the ‘Gielgud Theatre, London’ to watch The National Theatre’s award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. An interesting stage play adapted from Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel.
The story focuses on a boy called Christopher, we visit a murder mystery story from his perspective. Christopher can’t tell lies, does not like strangers, certain colours or being touched. He knows all the countries in the world and their capital cities and every prime number up to 7507. The play starts as the title suggests with an incident involving his neighbour’s dog but as the story unravels, the mystery becomes more complicated than he could have ever predicted.
The physical movements of the cast and perfectly executed technical delivery added brilliantly to Christopher’s story in this play. I was lucky enough to read a tip-off that the best seat is one that allows you to see the stage floor and It certainly proved true while watching the technical magic unfold in this production. This was a theatre piece that I would be excited about watching again.
The trailer for the theatre show is available on youtube, you can watch it here:
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I started learning Makaton sign language several years ago in a range of settings. Participating in structured training sessions while working at a special needs school I explored Makaton sign language at a basic, intermediate and advanced level.I love being able to utilise sign language as part of my communication skills and makaton has proven incredibly helpful outside of the formal special needs education environment too. It’s always helped reinforced communication with a wide range of mainstream pupils and has enabled me to communicate effectively with adults with diverse needs.
Makaton is a language programme that uses signs and symbols to help people communicate, there’s some great resources on the Makaton.org website which are definitely worth checking out.
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I found some brilliant inspiration today when re-watching a speech by Sir Ken Robinson.
Ken is able to put his argument across in an incredibly engaging ‘TED talk’, he raises the statement that ‘creativity is as important in education as literacy’ and his passion is incredibly motivating.
Watch his TED talk here:
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