Adaptive Teaching in Primary Schools

A clear, practical and bite-sized guide for teachers, SENCOs and school leaders — the essential how-to for effective adaptive teaching in primary schools.

This practical, bite-sized guide is packed with ready-to-use strategies, checklists and case studies to help teachers in primary schools respond to learner variability, reduce cognitive load and design accessible lessons.

Adaptive teaching isn’t about creating more work - it’s about teaching more effectively so every child can succeed. 

Packed with ready-to-use strategies, checklists, case studies and reflection tools, this bite-sized guide focuses on what really works: from understanding learner variability and reducing cognitive load, to designing accessible lessons, working effectively with support staff and knowing when additional intervention is needed. Each chapter includes practical prompts and “try it tomorrow” ideas that can be implemented immediately. 

Readers will find: 

• Clear, practical guidance on what adaptive teaching is - and how it differs from differentiation 
• Classroom-ready strategies to support diverse learners without creating multiple lesson plans 
• Checklists, case studies and self-reflection tools to support confident decision-making 
• Practical advice on working with LSAs, families and specialists 
• Simple action-planning tools to help turn insight into sustained practice