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How SEN exercise books make a difference

Blog
The YPO Team
06 Jun 2025

Inclusive education isn't just a policy—it's a practice. Today's classrooms are rich in diversity, which means meeting learners' varied needs with care, creativity, and the right resources. One of the simplest yet most impactful tools at a teacher's disposal is the exercise book.

While standard books work for many pupils, children with learning differences like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or motor skill difficulties often benefit from modified layouts. That's where SEN exercise books step in—designed to remove barriers, boost confidence, and make learning more accessible for every child.

SEN-friendly exercise books can have numerous benefits for both pupils and teachers. Here are 10 key advantages.

1. Reduces visual stress

Children with dyslexia or visual processing difficulties often struggle with bright white paper, small text, or cluttered layouts. Switching to exercise books with different-coloured pages, such as those with cream and pastel-tinted pages, can help reduce glare and support smoother reading and writing. You could also use pastel-coloured page overlays to help increase reading speed, comprehension and engagement.

2. Supports motor skills

For individuals with dyspraxia, hypermobility, or other fine motor issues, opting for exercise books with wider line spacing and raised guidelines can make writing physically easier and help students write more neatly. Opting for books with 10- or 12mm lined pages is generally recommended, helping to improve both legibility and self-esteem.

3. Encourages concentration and independence

For children with ADHD or other attention problems, a highly structured exercise book page layout can be hugely beneficial to support learning. Visual prompts can reduce distractions and make it easier for pupils to stay on task with little adult supervision. Twinkl's ADHD visual resources, such as the first, next, and last timetable, are a great addition to help pupils improve their concentration.

4. Encourages consistency in learning

SEN pupils respond well to structure and routine. Adding familiar page layouts, colour coding, or pictorial instructions inside the books can decrease classroom task anxiety and facilitate classroom routines. You could use coloured labels or coloured sticky notes to help students differentiate between different tasks and become familiar with what to expect.

5. Builds confidence through accessibility

Children tend to experience a boost in confidence when they can access their learning resources without facing unnecessary obstacles. Choosing exercise books that are SEN-friendly and adapting your books to suit each student's diverse learning style can help them feel competent and included. This personalised approach can empower students by ensuring they feel supported and valued in their educational journey.

6. Reduces one-to-one support pressure

Visual cues, clearer layouts, and easier-to-read formats help students work more independently. This frees up teachers and teaching assistants to support other pupils, enabling them to run the classroom more effectively. Task boxes, prompts and lined spaces support independent working, allowing students to grow in confidence while reducing the need for verbal reminders.

7. Simplifies marking and assessment

Increased spacing and structured layouts make students' work easier to read and assess. This can be particularly helpful when tracking progress for EHCPs, IEPs, or classroom targets.

8. Speeds up lesson transitions

Visual arrangements and colour coding allow students to quickly identify the correct book for each subject or activity, reducing downtime and allowing lessons to move more quickly.

9. Supports documentation and inspections

SEN exercise books can clearly demonstrate how a teacher adapts resources to meet individual needs. This can be helpful evidence for Ofsted inspections or in-school SEN reviews.

10. Reduces behavioural difficulty linked to frustration

As students can access the work more easily, they're less likely to become distracted or act out through frustration, leading to a calmer classroom.

Key SEN-friendly features to consider, summarised:

• Pastel-coloured pages – Softer colours to minimise reading eye strain.

• Wider line spacing – More space for bigger handwriting or fine motor challenges.

• Guided lines or raised rules – To assist handwriting alignment and uniformity.

• Task boxes or visual structure – To help sequence and break down tasks.

• Personalised subject labels or icons – For visual hints in book selection and daily use.

By making sure your exercise books are SEN-friendly for pupils who need them, you’re not only providing them with the resources they need to succeed, but you’re also creating an environment in which they feel secure, included and valued. Make the switch to SEN exercise books today, because every child deserves learning resources that allow them to thrive.

Ready to improve your classroom resources?

Shop our SEN exercise book range today.

Don't forget to explore our extensive range of SEN education products and resources, including sensory and fidget aids, furniture, emotions and feelings resources, reading and writing materials, and much more.

Author

The YPO Team

YPO supplies products and services to a wide range of customers including schools, local authorities, charities, emergency services, public sector and other businesses such as nurseries and care homes. YPO are 100% publicly owned, by 13 local authorities, which means the profits made are returned to public sector customers, delivering even better value for money.