The SEEN Programme Secondary Education around Early Neurodevelopment

Core curriculum content

The SEEN (Secondary Education around Early Neurodevelopment) Programme contains 3 core lessons withs curriculum materials around brain development and the role of caregivers in the first 5 years of life. To find out more and to access the free lesson resources, please submit your details by clicking the button below.

Programme Overview

The SEEN Programme (Secondary Education around Early Neurodevelopment) provides secondary schools with lesson plans, teaching resources, and staff training to deliver this important content to young people.

The SEEN Programme includes curriculum materials around brain development and the role of caregivers in the first 5 years of life. There are 3 core science lessons:

Lesson 1 – describes the development of neural networks and the role of neuroplasticity (the influence of experiences on the structure of the brain).

Lesson 2 – explores the ‘caregiver’ and their role in providing experiences that promote healthy brain development.

Lesson 3 – looks at the evidence linking early experiences with long term health outcomes, and the importance of neuroplasticity throughout life, especially during adolescence.

 

Download our brain development assembly pack

Share the resource with colleagues and introduce your students to the most important organ – the brain.

Explore the concept of neuroscience and the importance of experiences in shaping brain development.

The SEEN Pilot Project

In 2021, the SEEN Curriculum materials were developed and trialled by the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry.

Researchers were excited by the results:

  • More than 3700 students took part in the pilot across 29 schools, involving over 100 teaching staff.
  • Students demonstrated both increased knowledge about development and an understanding of how this was applicable to practical situations after the SEEN lessons.
  • 100% of teachers and 91% of pupils felt the SEEN curriculum should be taught to other students of the same age.
  • Students thought the content is fun, interesting, and relevant to them.



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Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

Following the launch of the Shaping Us campaign, HRH the Princess of Wales visited Nower Hill High School and observed a SEEN lesson with year 8 students in practice.