by Danise Grant, EDI Consultant, Amazing People Schools, April 2026
There are more children with SEND in mainstream schools than ever. In England, 1,673,205 pupils have SEND, around 18.4% of all pupils, so difference is part of everyday classroom life. And the 2026 SEND White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, emphasises needs being in mainstream settings as a default.
In England, schools are expected to help pupils understand respect and equality. The Equality Act 2010 requires schools to prevent discrimination and promote good relations, and the Ofsted framework, alongside areas like PSHE and RSHE, expects schools to support pupils in understanding diversity.
But many teachers don’t feel fully prepared. A 2026 study from York St John University and the University of Surrey found that nearly one in four school staff hadn’t received training on supporting neurodivergent pupils, and much of the training that does exist is brief.
So, it’s no surprise teachers often find themselves asking:
• ‘How do I talk about difference without making it uncomfortable?’
• ‘How do I teach children about disability in a positive way?’
• ‘How do I help pupils understand that difference is typical?’
How do you explain difference to children?
A good place to start is recognising something simple: everyone is different.
Some people experience differences that make them less typical than most of the population. Many of these differences are commonly known as disabilities. Others prefer to describe them as additional abilities or different ways of thinking.
Differences can arise in many ways, genetically, through illness or injury, or through how someone's brain works. Some differences are visible, others not.
What matters most is how we respond. Inclusion begins with everyday actions such as kindness, patience and respect.
Why role models help children understand difference
Stories help bring these ideas to life.
Learning about historic and contemporary role models who’ve experienced disability or difference helps pupils see how character strengths shape achievement and what they themselves might be capable of.
Examples include:
• Billy Monger, the racing driver who returned to competition after becoming a double amputee
• Helen Keller, who became deafblind as a child and went on to gain university degrees, write books and campaign for disability rights
At Amazing People Schools, we bring these stories together with a range of role model resources designed to make difference relatable and inspiring.
Their stories show pupils that qualities such as resilience, curiosity and determination help people overcome barriers and achieve extraordinary things.
Why is it important to teach children about difference?
Young people encounter difference every day, but they may not always understand it.
That's why conversations about difference should start early and happen naturally, exploring role model stories of achievement in spite of adversity. When children learn about difference from a young age it becomes part of normal life rather than something unusual. Our KS1 and KS2 lessons help teachers start these conversations with confidence.
Helping pupils understand difference can support them to:
• develop empathy and kindness
• work together with others
• recognise that everyone sometimes needs support
• understand and value their own strengths.
These are important foundations for an inclusive school culture.
How can teachers use character strengths to teach children about difference?
Character development provides a practical way to explore difference in the classroom.
Strengths such as fairness, kindness, open-mindedness, empathy and teamwork help pupils understand how to treat others with respect and compassion.
They also give pupils a shared language to talk about difference in a positive way.
What classroom activities help pupils understand disability and difference?
1. Primary: White egg brown egg. Discuss the similarities and differences of the eggs, crack them open - they should be the same inside. This can prompt simple conversations about feelings and belonging.
2. Primary: Cultural passport: set up classroom stations representing different countries. Get the children to visit each and collect stamps for their 'passports' while learning about different foods, music and traditions.
3. Primary and secondary: A ‘barrier walk' inviting pupils to explore the school and identify anything that might make it harder for others to learn or feel included. This includes both visible barriers, such as physical access, and less visible challenges, such as noise, routines or sensory overload for neurodivergent pupils.
How can teachers encourage fairness, kindness and open-mindedness?
Discussing difference encourages pupils to reflect on values such as fairness, kindness and open-mindedness.
When pupils develop these strengths, they're better able to work together, show patience and appreciate the differences within their classroom and community.
Why does celebrating difference matter in school?
Celebrating difference helps pupils understand that diversity is a natural part of life.
When pupils learn to approach others with fairness, kindness and open-mindedness, they begin to see that difference isn't something to fear or avoid.
It's something to recognise, understand and celebrate.
Amazing People Schools’ resources support teachers in bringing these conversations to life, from KS1 lesson ‘Difference’, to KS2 ‘Tackling Prejudice’, featuring inspirational role models past and present, all designed to inspire pupils and build a sense of belonging.
About Amazing People Schools
Amazing People Schools helps every young person flourish in school and in life.
Our character strengths framework uses diverse role models and ready-to-use resources to build inclusive cultures, improve academic outcomes, wellbeing and behaviour, and develop human skills for the age of AI.
Interested to see how this could work in your setting? Explore our website and get in touch to book a discovery call.
Image attributions
Billy Monger: @billymongerracing via Instagram; Kadeena Cox: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Helen Keller: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons; Albert Einstein: Photograph by Orren Jack Turner, Princeton, N.J. Modified with Photoshop by PM_Poon and later by Dantadd., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Stephen Hawking: NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
