Observing pupils with SEND: templates

Use our templates to help you observe pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, both in the classroom and in the playground, and see whether they're getting the support they need. Find resources to assess and improve your SEND provision.

Updated
on 6 May 2025
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School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 10542
Contents
  1. Download templates to develop your understanding of the pupil's needs
  2. Get a wider picture of your SEND provision
  3. Adapt your provision if necessary

Download templates to develop your understanding of the pupil's needs

Observe a pupil with SEND in the classroom, and in the playground, to understand how they're getting on and how to better meet their needs.

Use our templates, which have questions to help guide your observation.

KeyDoc: pupil with SEND observation report (classroom) DOCX, 140.3 KB
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KeyDoc: pupil with SEND observation report (playground) DOCX, 139.2 KB
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How and what to observe

Start by familiarising yourself with the specific needs of the pupils you're going to observe, using your SEND register

Then, in your observation, assess whether those needs are being met.

For more advice on effective ways to observe pupils with SEND, see this article from Dyslexia South, or this resource from nasen (the National Association for Special Educational Needs) – login required.

Once you've identified how individual pupils are doing, build a wider picture using our learning walk templates, or by observing pupils with SEND