By Jacob Leach
In this blog, you will learn:
Why children with SEND might feel anxious at school.
Types of SEND that can cause anxiety.
How to help children with SEND cope with anxiety at school.
How SEND Tutors can help if anxiety at school becomes too much.
Where the latest SEND Tutor jobs are and how to apply for them.
With Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) prevalent in schools across the UK, educators must pay close attention to school-related anxiety.
Despite overall attendance improving for most students in the 2024/2025 academic year, the number who were ‘severely’ absent (distinguished as missing at least 50% of their classes) rose yet again.
Whilst the Department for Education notes progress is being made for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), it knows that more can be done.
The hustle and bustle of a busy classroom can be overwhelming for any student but for children and young people with SEND, the school environment can throw up learning obstacles and ultimately lead to heightened anxiety.
In our latest blog, we’re exploring effective measures to help children with SEND cope with anxiety in school. We also uncover how SEND Tutors can step in if the school environment becomes too much.
Why might children with SEND feel anxious at school?
Children can experience school-related anxiety in a number of different ways and for those with SEND, this can be particularly difficult to navigate.
Schools can be chaotic, unpredictable and noisy; subsequently, sensory overload can cause significant anxiety. When students are anxious, they might lash out or misbehave as a coping mechanism.
Anxiety at school can result from changes in expectations. Children with SEND often rely on routine and predictability, so even small changes to the school day can feel unsettling and disruptive.
For example, if a permanent Teacher is replaced by a Supply Teacher without warning, a child or young person with SEND may feel anxious.
Anxiety can also stem from social challenges. Students with SEND may find it hard to express their thoughts and feelings, which can make everyday communication difficult.
If a child or young person with SEND can’t express their emotions, it can limit social interactions and increase anxiety.
Challenges with time management, unfamiliar surroundings, unmet academic needs and the fear of making a mistake can also make students with SEND feel anxious.
If left unmanaged, anxiety might lead to EBSA and significantly affect educational outcomes for students with SEND.
The types of SEND that can cause anxiety
It’s important to remember that any student can feel anxious at school, not just students with SEND. However, in the case of those with SEND, conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, amongst other neurodivergence, might make anxiety trickier to manage.
Common traits of ADHD include impulsive behaviour and difficulty concentrating. Those with autism can struggle to socialise and dyslexia can result in prominent learning barriers.
Each of these implications of a neurodiversity can lead to a surge in anxiety for students with SEND. Having said that, anxiety does not always coincide with SEND and can be defined alone within Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
How to help children with SEND cope with anxiety at school
For educators, creating an inclusive and happy learning environment is essential for all learners. Measures should be put in place to help children with SEND cope with anxiety.
There are many ways to do this, including:
Create an inclusive learning environment.
Allow additional time to complete work.
Use visual aids.
Use positive reinforcement.
Implement movement breaks.
Liaise with parents/guardians and other professionals.
Create an inclusive learning environment
To help students with SEND manage anxiety, Teachers and Teaching Assistants should create a learning environment where they feel safe, understood and valued.
Teaching should be tailored to meet the individual needs of students with SEND, through accessible resources and consistent routines. Predictability can reduce the uncertainty which sometimes leads to anxiety.
Inclusive learning environments also teach neurotypical students how to support their neurodivergent peers and promote a culture of acceptance.
Allow additional time to complete work
Another effective way to help students with SEND cope with anxiety is to allow them additional time to complete tasks, tests and general day to day responsibilities in the classroom.
This reduces pressure on them and allows them to process information at their own pace. As a result of additional time, students with SEND are less likely to experience overwhelm and have a better chance to understand expectations.
Not only can this reduce anxiety, it improves engagement and supports a positive learning experience.
Use visual aids
Visual aids, such as daily timetables, visual timers and emotion cards, are a recommended tool for helping students with SEND understand their learning environment.
Visual aids help children and young people recognise what the day will hold, support communication and allow them to process information and instruction more easily.
As a result, visual aids are a great tool for helping those with SEND manage anxiety and overcome learning obstacles.
Use positive reinforcement
Students of all learning abilities thrive off positive feedback and for students with SEND, praise can be particularly effective in reassuring them that they are doing well.
It’s important for educators to praise the effort involved in completing a piece of work, as well as the end result, to boost confidence and manage anxiety in students with SEND.
Ensuring that students feel valued and motivated is of utmost importance in any classroom.
Effective communication in general is also essential. Educators should be mindful of the language and tone they use, and how adapting this might reduce student anxiety.
Implement movement breaks
The hustle and bustle of a busy classroom can sometimes lead to sensory overload for neurodivergent students.
As a result of this, anxiety might be heightened and students need the opportunity to calm down and self-regulate.
Movement breaks are a brilliant way to allow students to let off some steam and spend 5 minutes distracting themselves from the day.
Teachers are advised to use quick physical activities that allow students to unwind. These could take the form of stretching, star jumps or running on the spot.
Liaise with parents/guardians and other professionals
To effectively support students with SEND, clear and consistent communication between schools, parents/guardians and other professionals is essential.
Everyone involved in the care of a student with SEND should share the common goal of creating a positive learning experience.
Professionals and families must join forces to ensure care is informed and consistent. This stability is important for reducing student anxiety.
How do SEND Tutors help students with anxiety?
SEND Tutors play an important role in supporting students who experience anxiety, not just academically but emotionally as well.
Their approach is more personalised and flexible than traditional teaching, which helps create a calmer and more supportive learning experience.
One of the main ways SEND Tutors help is by creating a safe, low-pressure environment. They structure sessions so they feel predictable and calm, which reduces uncertainty - a common trigger for anxiety.
Students are not rushed or judged, and mistakes are treated as a normal part of learning rather than something to fear. This helps students feel more relaxed and willing to engage.
SEND Tutors also focus on building strong, trusting relationships with their students. They take time to understand each student’s individual needs, triggers, and communication style.
Feeling understood and supported can significantly reduce anxiety, especially for students who may struggle in more traditional classroom settings.
SEND Tutors may also teach students simple coping techniques to help manage anxiety. These can include breathing exercises, grounding strategies, or organisational skills.
These tools not only support learning but also help students handle stressful situations more effectively in and outside of tutoring.
How can students get support from a SEND Tutor?
In some cases, a student with SEND may receive support from a SEND Tutor as part of their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
This means the government will pay for this service. Without an EHCP, parents/guardians may opt to pay privately for a SEND Tutor.
When their assistance is required, SEND Tutors may work with a student face-to-face or online.
Mainstream and SEND Tutor recruitment specialists
As specialist mainstream and SEND Tutor recruiters, we provide schools and local authorities with experienced tutors to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), those who are vulnerable, and those whose educational journeys have been disrupted. Our tutors support a wide range of needs including SEMH, autism, ADHD and those with EHCPs, as well as learners who are out of school or in alternative provision.
If you're struggling to recruit the right talent, simply request a call back and one of our experienced recruiters will contact you to discuss how we can help.
Looking for your next Tutor job? Either search the latest jobs or upload your CV and one of our consultants will be in touch when a suitable opportunity arises.