SEEN Research and Rationale

Why Should Schools Teach the SEEN Curriculum?

Scientists know that the first few years of a child’s life are a critically important period for human development. It impacts on long-term health, wellbeing, learning and earnings potential.

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The evidence is clear: our development in these earliest years impacts our future life chances. These years are the foundation for future success and provide the architecture for all that follows.

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Failing to grasp the importance of these early years means too many children enter school behind their peers, with a mountain to climb to catch up. 

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Too few of us truly understand the enormous importance of early development or understand the mechanics of how the brain rapidly develops, and how our interactions directly influence the direction that development takes. 

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Currently, young people in our schools learn very little about the brain and the impact of experiences and interactions on its development. The SEEN curriculum contributes to addressing that ignorance. The evidence base for the SEEN curriculum draws on research  from longitudinal studies, neurodevelopmental studies, cognitive research, economic analyses of intervention investment. In addition, an independent panel of international education and scientific experts guided and shaped the work of the Oxford University academic team.

The Results of The Pilot Were Positive

  • Young people think the content is fun, interesting and relevant to them.
  • 100% of teachers and 91% of young people in our pilot think that this should be taught in schools. It is an opportunity for schools to be proactive, rather than reactive, to an area that impacts long term health and wellbeing.

Teachers see the opportunity for secondary schools to help future generations enter education ‘school ready’ at age 5 and agree that it is about time all young people learnt some brain science.

 

Help us to make this change

Data Collection and Research

We ask all classes to complete a short registration quiz at the beginning of the first lesson. The online link is shared in the lesson slide deck. This tells us where, when and to whom the lessons were delivered. At the end of lesson 3 we have an online interactive activity looking at common misconceptions about babies and brains. This is intended to be completed as a class but can also be completed independently by students.

Schools are encouraged to set individual “check your understanding” quizzes. Each student uses a personalised code to complete an online quiz. This anonymises the data. They do this before the lessons start, after the lessons and at 6-8 weeks after the lessons. This can be done in class or at home. The quiz involves 10 multiple choice questions, 1 extended answer question, and additional evaluation questions after the lessons. It is a wonderful way to consolidate their classroom learning.

We encourage all teachers involved in the programme to complete a short online teacher feedback questionnaire.

Join our SEEN Community

The SEEN Programme teaches students about early brain development and the importance of the caregiver. To find out more and to access the free lesson resources, please join the SEEN Community.