Frequently asked questions

Join the SEEN Community (for free) and take a look at the SEEN lesson resources. Once you have had a chance to review the lesson content, please email [email protected] and let us know when and who you plan to deliver the lessons to. You can also let us know if you have any training needs, or ask us any questions.

Whilst anybody can download and teach the lessons, we are keen to monitor any interest in teaching the content, to support our argument that this knowledge should be universally taught.

This is why we ask you to let us know by email!

The free and fully resourced lessons are tailored to KS3 science students and KS2 students but they can be adapted for different year groups. If you are keen to teach it to a younger or older year group, please get in touch and we can support you.

Register with the SEEN Community for free access to the lessons, teacher pack and additional resources.

We recognise that teachers need to be able to adapt the lessons to meet the needs of their students and school. Therefore, the lesson resources (powerpoints and worksheets) are in a format that enables them to be edited.

Teachers are also provided with the curriculum content for reference and we ask that schools deliver all the content rather than pick and choose specific points.

The curriculum content was developed with experts in the field of psychiatry, psychology, child development, and education. The pre- and post-lesson quizzes are designed around this core curriculum content.

Whilst the SEEN lessons have been designed to cover three lessons, they are completely adaptable, for instance some pilot schools delivered them across 5 lessons. You can choose to extend the programme further, using the additional activities, or embed the content into your own school curriculum programme. We ask that schools deliver the core curriculum content.

Within the SEEN Programme, there is an ongoing research component, consequently if you are planning on substantially altering the delivery of the lessons, please can you email us at [email protected]

One of the SEEN Programme’s aims is to gather information about the receptiveness of schools to deliver this new curriculum material. We hope that this can bring us one step closer to ensuring that all young people learn about early neurodevelopment whilst at school.

As all schools are different, we have devised two distinct levels of research engagement for school pupils. The compulsory component of the research is a short class registration quiz at the beginning of lesson 1 completed via an online link.

The further research element is made up of three ‘check your understanding’ quizzes completed individually by students. These are anonymous online quizzes that should be completed before the lessons start, after the final lessons and at 6-8 weeks after the lessons. This can be done in class or at home and is a great way to consolidate classroom learning.

Additionally, at the end of lesson 3 we have an online interactive activity (true/false quiz) that can be completed as a class or individually by students. We also encourage all teachers involved in the programme to complete a short online teacher feedback questionnaire.

The core curriculum content for the SEEN Programme was developed by Oxford University in collaboration with two Expert Advisory Groups from the academic and education fields (see below).

This process was facilitated by Louise Aukland, the SEEN Programme lead, who has 15 years secondary science teaching experience, including curriculum development roles.

Academic Expert Advisory Group:

• Prof Peter Fonagy – Head of Psychology and Language Sciences, UCL: Chief Executive of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London
• Laura Henry-Allain MBE – Leading, award-winning expert in Early Years education and children’s media.
• Prof Eamon McCrory – Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, UCL; Co-Director of the UK Trauma Council.
• Dr Michelle Fernandes – NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Career Track Fellow in Paediatrics, University of Southampton and Honorary Research Fellow, Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford.
• Prof Elizabeth Meins – Professor of Developmental Psychology, University of York.
• Dr David Whitebread – Developmental Psychologist and Early Childhood Education Expert, University of Cambridge. Sadly, David died in April 2021; we are honoured that he was part of this project and grateful for his expertise and invaluable, thoughtful contributions.
• Prof Alan Stein – Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, University of Oxford.

Education Expert Advisory Group:

• Thandiwe Banda – Faculty Leader for Science, The Beacon School
• John Blake – Head of Public Affairs and Engagement, Ark
• Adam Boxer – Head of Science, The Totteridge Academy. Author of ‘Teaching Secondary Science: A Complete Guide’ and CogSciSci member.
• Dame Kate Dethridge - Regional Schools Commissioner, North-West London and South Central England, Department for Education
• Julian Clarke – Head of Curriculum – Science, AQA
• Maggie Farrar – Lead Associate, Schools Partnership Programme
• Ben Littlewood – Director of Science, United Learning
• Dr Oliver Wimborne – Head of Curriculum Centre, Future Academies