Can your workshops genuinely cater for students with complex needs?

Yes. We have extensive experience delivering workshops in special schools for students with a wide range of needs, including autism, profound and multiple learning difficulties, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and complex communication needs. Every visit is planned around your students, not around a fixed format.

How do you adapt workshops for students with autism?

We use clear visual schedules, now-and-next boards, and predictable session structures. We minimise unexpected changes, manage sensory input carefully, and ensure activities have clear start and end points. Where students have specific sensory sensitivities, we adapt equipment and the environment accordingly. We discuss all of this with your team during the pre-visit needs assessment.

What if our students have physical disabilities or mobility needs?

All of our workshops can be adapted for students with physical disabilities. We ensure equipment is accessible, workstations are set up appropriately, and activities can be completed with varying levels of fine and gross motor ability. If students use wheelchairs or specialist seating, we plan the room layout to accommodate this comfortably.

Do your instructors have experience in special school settings?

Yes. Our instructors have worked across a wide range of special school environments, including settings for students with autism, severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities, and complex health needs. This is not something we dabble in. We have specifically built a team that is confident and experienced in these settings.

What group sizes can you accommodate?

We work with groups as small as 6 to 12 students in special school settings. For larger schools, we can run multiple sessions across the day for different classes or groups. We are flexible and will plan around whatever works best for your school.

Do we need to provide any equipment or technology?

No. We bring all specialist equipment including robots, drones, 3D printers, laptops, and any other resources needed. Your school does not need to provide any IT equipment. We just need a suitable space with access to power sockets and enough room for your students to work comfortably.

STEM Workshops for Special Schools & SEND

Why STEM Workshops Work in Special Schools

Students in special schools deserve access to the same exciting, hands-on STEM experiences as their mainstream peers. Too often, enrichment providers treat special schools as an afterthought, offering generic workshops with minimal adaptation. We take a different approach.

Our workshops are built around practical, tactile activities where students build robots, fly drones, design 3D models, explore electronics, and create stop-motion films. These activities are inherently multi-sensory. Students can see, touch, hear, and interact with what they are learning. For many learners in special school settings, this kind of concrete, hands-on experience is far more meaningful than abstract instruction.

Crucially, every activity is open-ended and success looks different for every student. There is no single correct answer and no pass or fail. A student who programmes a robot to move forward has achieved just as meaningfully as one who builds a complex sequence. This removes the pressure that can cause anxiety and allows every learner to experience genuine accomplishment.

Students in a special school enjoying a hands-on STEM workshop

How We Adapt for Special School Settings

Accessibility is not an afterthought in our workshops. It is the foundation. For special school visits, we work closely with your staff to make detailed adaptations that ensure every student can participate, engage, and succeed.

Smaller group sizes: We work with groups as small as 6 to 12 students, ensuring every learner receives individual attention from our instructors. Where appropriate, we can run multiple shorter sessions rather than fewer longer ones.
Sensory-friendly equipment: We select and adapt equipment with sensory needs in mind. This includes offering alternatives for students who find certain textures, sounds, or lights overwhelming, and ensuring all resources are safe and appropriate for your cohort.
Visual schedules and supports: Every session includes clear visual schedules, now-and-next boards, and step-by-step visual instructions. We use symbol-supported resources where needed and provide visual learning mats that guide students through each activity.
Flexible pacing and structure: We adjust session lengths, break timings, and the pace of activities to match your school’s timetable and routines. If students need movement breaks, sensory breaks, or a slower pace, we build that into the plan.
Compatibility with 1:1 support: Our workshops are designed to work alongside existing support structures. Teaching assistants and 1:1 support staff are welcomed as part of the session, and we brief them on the activities so they can support students effectively.
Differentiated challenge levels: Every activity offers multiple entry points and challenge levels within the same task. Students working at pre-formal, semi-formal, or formal curriculum levels can all access the same workshop in a way that is meaningful and achievable for them.

Workshops That Work Particularly Well

All ten of our workshops can be adapted for special school settings, but some are especially popular because of their sensory and tactile qualities.

Robotics: Building and programming robots offers a deeply tactile experience. Students physically construct their robot, connect components, and watch it respond to their instructions. The cause-and-effect nature of robotics is powerful for learners at all levels.
Coding with visual blocks: Our coding workshops use drag-and-drop block-based programming rather than typed code. This makes coding accessible for students who may not be confident readers or writers, and the visual nature of the interface provides clear, immediate feedback.
3D design and printing: Students design models on screen and then watch them printed into physical objects they can hold. The transition from digital to physical is exciting and tangible, and the printed models make excellent keepsakes.
Stop-motion animation: This workshop combines creativity with technology. Students build scenes, pose characters, and capture frames to create short films. It naturally accommodates different abilities and allows for rich creative expression.
Electronics: Connecting circuits and components gives students immediate, visible results. When a light turns on or a buzzer sounds, the feedback is instant and sensory, which is particularly engaging for learners who respond well to cause-and-effect activities.

Pre-Visit Planning and Needs Assessment

We never arrive at a special school without thorough preparation. Before every visit, we carry out a detailed needs assessment with your team. This covers the number of students, their ages and abilities, any specific diagnoses or needs we should be aware of, communication methods used, sensory sensitivities, mobility requirements, and any behaviour support strategies that work well for your group.

We use this information to plan every detail of the session, from which equipment we bring and how we set up the room, to the language and communication methods our instructors use. If students use AAC devices, Makaton, PECS, or other communication systems, we will work with your staff to ensure our delivery is compatible. The goal is that every student can access the workshop fully and that your staff feel confident the session will work for their group.

Safeguarding, Safety, and Compliance

We understand that special schools have rigorous safeguarding and safety requirements, and we meet them as standard.

All instructors hold enhanced DBS checks with barred list checks
We carry full public liability insurance for all workshop activities
Detailed risk assessments are provided in advance and tailored to your setting
Equipment is regularly inspected, maintained, and cleaned between visits
We follow your school’s safeguarding policies and procedures at all times
Our instructors are trained in working with students with complex needs and understand the importance of dignity, respect, and appropriate interaction

How to Book

Booking a workshop for your special school is straightforward, and we are happy to take whatever time is needed to get the planning right.

Get in touch: Contact us to tell us about your school, your students, and what you are looking for. There is no obligation at this stage.
Needs assessment: We will have a detailed conversation about your students’ needs, abilities, communication methods, and any adaptations required. This is where we make sure we get things right.
Tailored proposal: We will send you a proposal and quote based on your specific requirements. We price fairly for smaller groups and understand that special school budgets can be tight.
Pre-visit preparation: Once confirmed, we will send you a detailed preparation guide and agree on room setup, staffing arrangements, and session timings. We can also arrange a pre-visit call or meeting if helpful.

Browse our full workshop range or get in touch to start the conversation.

STEM Workshops for Special Schools