ABSTRACT
Design and technology can be a very popular and valuable subject for pupils with special educational needs because the practical nature of the learning experiences make it accessible to pupils of all abilities. They draw on knowledge and understanding from across the curriculum, develop their numeracy, literacy and communication skills, and are required to apply these in practical ways. This may consolidate skills from other lessons and reinforce learning with positive outcomes. Designing and making usable products can give pupils a real sense of achievement as they can benefit from seeing their own progress and taking responsibility for their own learning. Their personal engagement with the task often improves attention span, patience, persistence and commitment so that, despite their special needs, pupils can achieve results that stand comparison with, and occasionally even outshine, their peers. Design and technology o!ers them the chance to experience achievement at a level that may seldom occur elsewhere in their school life.
