Classrooms are more inclusive than ever, and that is a good thing. But teachers are increasingly supporting a wide range of needs with limited help. In Tes’s 2026 wellbeing survey of UK school staff, 63 per cent said a lack of support staff was a major barrier to inclusion.
Education Support’s 2025 Teacher Wellbeing Index found that 73 per cent of staff help pupils manage their emotions, and almost half of those taking on extra responsibilities said it harmed their own wellbeing. Here are 17 ways teachers can cope with inclusion pressure without burning out, particularly for classroom teachers, form tutors and early career teachers.
1. Start with strong whole-class teaching
Clear explanations, worked examples and well-structured routines help most pupils with additional needs, and reduce the need for individual adaptations.
2. Adapt, don’t differentiate everything
Creating several versions of every worksheet is not sustainable. Small adaptations, such as scaffolds, sentence starters or chunked tasks, are often more effective.
3. Know your key pupils well
Focus on the few pupils whose needs most affect your lessons. Read their plans, understand their triggers and know what helps.
4. Ask your SENCO for practical strategies
A short conversation about two or three strategies that work is more useful than a long document.
5. Share what works with colleagues
If something works for a pupil in one subject, tell other teachers. It saves everyone time.
6. Use teaching assistants well
Where you have TA support, agree roles in advance. TAs are most effective when they help pupils become more independent, not when they do the work for them.
7. Build calm routines
Predictable starts, transitions and endings help pupils who struggle with change and reduce the number of incidents you have to manage.
8. Plan for regulation, not just reaction
Agree in advance what a pupil can do if they are becoming dysregulated, such as a quiet space or a short task. It is less stressful than improvising in the moment.
9. Reuse resources
Knowledge organisers, vocabulary lists and visual timetables can be reused across topics and years.
10. Keep records simple
Record what is needed for your school’s graduated approach, but avoid duplicating information in several places.
11. Recognise what is not your job
Teachers are not therapists or social workers. If a pupil needs specialist help, refer them through the right channels rather than trying to fill the gap yourself.
12. Raise concerns about capacity
If you cannot safely meet a pupil’s needs with the support available, tell your SENCO and leaders. That information matters for planning and funding.
13. Work with families
Parents often know what helps their child. Short, regular contact can prevent misunderstandings and build trust.
14. Debrief after difficult incidents
Talking through a challenging incident with a colleague helps you process it and plan for next time.
15. Ask for training
If you are supporting needs you feel unprepared for, ask for CPD. Our post on supporting pupils with ADHD is a good starting point.
16. Celebrate small wins
Progress for some pupils is measured in small steps. Noticing them helps you and the pupil stay motivated.
17. Look after yourself
You cannot support others if you are running on empty. If the pressure is affecting your health, talk to someone you trust or call Education Support’s free helpline on 08000 562 561.
Find Out More
Read 17 Things SENCOs Need to Know About SEND Deficits and EHCP Reform.
Tes Teacher Wellbeing Report 2026
How does your school make inclusion sustainable for staff? Teach17 would love to hear from you. Get in touch.