SEND homework every child can do
Homework often widens gaps. The children who most need the practice are the ones most likely to be stopped by the reading, the typing, the time pressure or the noise. Etched is built so that a child with SEND can do the same homework as the rest of the class, in the way that works for them.
This page explains what Etched does for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, for children with dyslexia, and for children learning English as an additional language (EAL). It's written for SENCOs, teachers and parents.
Reading shouldn't stop the practice
- Read-aloud on every question. A speaker button reads each question and answer. In Etched Primary it can be set to read automatically.
- Easy-read fonts. Etched uses Lexend, a font designed for easier reading. Atkinson Hyperlegible, whose letters are drawn to look as different from each other as possible, is one tap away. Some children prefer a rounded font, so that's there too.
- Bigger text, wider spacing, coloured backgrounds. Children choose what helps on their own device. Cream, blue, yellow, green and dark backgrounds are built in.
- Pictures with topic words. Science, history and geography words come with a picture, a child-friendly meaning and a sentence.
The right amount, set child by child
Teachers can change settings for each pupil code, without the rest of the class seeing:
- Fewer spelling words a week. Practise five words well rather than fail at fifteen.
- Letter tiles or big buttons instead of typing. For children whose spelling knowledge is ahead of their typing or motor skills.
- Learn first, then remember. New words start with matching each word to its meaning, then build up to spelling it from memory, so no child starts with a test.
- No time limits on learning. Nothing is timed, and the end-of-unit challenge can be tried as often as a child needs, with more help on later tries.
- Calm mode. Switches off movement and sound for children who find them overwhelming.
Pre-teaching vocabulary, a week ahead
Children who meet the key words before the lesson can join in with it, rather than spending the lesson catching up.
In Etched Primary, teachers can send next week's topic vocabulary home a week early to the children they choose: often pupils with SEND, pupils learning English, or anyone who was absent. Each word has a picture and a simple meaning, and children who are new to English can see the word in their home language too.
Home-language translations are marked as not yet checked until a fluent speaker has reviewed them.
Motivation without ranking
Many homework apps run on leaderboards, battles and streaks. They work well for confident children and badly for the ones at the bottom of the table. Etched Primary has no points, streaks or leaderboards. Each completed session adds a part to something the child is building, like a castle, a robot or a football stadium, and children only ever see their own progress.
We're designing a different set of builds for each age group, so a Year 6 isn't asked to build the same thing as a Year 3.
In secondary school
Etched Secondary brings the same thinking to Key Stage 3 retrieval practice. "Make it easier" settings give pupils text size, Lexend or Atkinson Hyperlegible, extra spacing, a page colour overlay, read-aloud and fewer questions at once. Teachers see who has done their weekly minutes, so they can follow up with the pupils who haven't, before gaps grow.
Pupils sign in with a code or by scanning a QR card. Their names are kept on the teacher's own device, not on our servers.
Questions SENCOs ask
Does Etched work with screen readers and keyboards?
Etched is tested against the WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standard with automated checks, and it works with a keyboard alone. We're also testing it with pupils who use assistive technology. If something doesn't work for one of your pupils, please tell us.
Can different children in one class get different homework?
Yes. Teachers can group children, set fewer words, change how answers are given and send pre-teaching to chosen pupils, all within the same class. Children don't see what anyone else has been set.
What data do you keep about pupils with SEND?
We don't record diagnoses or needs. Pupils use a random code, and the only settings stored are practical ones, such as the font or the number of words. See the privacy pages.
Is there anything for children who can't yet read?
Phonics practice with pure sounds is being recorded now, for younger children and for older pupils who still need phonics. Read-aloud and picture-based topic vocabulary already work for children at any reading level.
Try Etched with your class
We're working with a small number of schools on a pilot. If you lead SEND, inclusion or homework in your school, we'd like to hear from you.
Email hello@emblemforall.co.uk Back to Etched
Etched is made by 
Emblem, which also adapts lesson resources so every child can access them.