Neuroinclusive Approaches in the Classroom This checklist offers 18 strategies, from quick wins to long-term actions, to foster inclusive practice. Adapt each idea to your learners’ strengths and challenges; the better you understand them, the greater the impact. Together, these approaches create a more accessible, inclusive classroom where every learner can thrive.
Creating a clear lesson structure 1
Establish consistent classroom routines.
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Share the learning objectives at the start of the class.
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Give learners a lesson activity checklist.
Do the same warm-up activity, like a vocabulary review match-up, at the start of every lesson to help learners settle and start calmly.
This provides clarity, makes connections with previous learning and links to long-term goals. (It also helps learners focus on where they are, and why they are doing it.)
This shows learners what to expect step by step and helps them stay on track. It could also include options of tasks for learners to complete.
Creating the right environment 4
Prevent sensory overload.
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Use sensory objects effectively.
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Agree on a cooling-off procedure with the learner.
Bright lighting, loud background noise, and varying textures can overwhelm learners. Noise-cancelling headphones can be helpful. Have a box of accessible, quiet fidget objects to channel energy and help learners focus. Examples include stress balls and soft fabric patches.
For moments of calm and self-regulation, agree on a procedure like running an errand or a discreet hand signal to access a designated quiet area. This may need wider school policy approval.
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