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SEND and SEMH schools

Young person touching costume chainmail during The Witches schools touch tour

At the National Theatre, we make theatre that is entertaining and inspiring. And we make it for everyone. Therefore, we know we need to adapt, develop and be responsive to the needs of all the people we work with.

Read on to discover our programme and how it can be adapted for the best learning experience possible.

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss adapting any of our programmes.

Email the Learning department

Access

The National Theatre aims to be welcoming and accessible to all. We have a range of Access performances available, as well as additional schemes for support such as: 

  • Audio described performances on stage and online
  • Touch tours on stage
  • BSL interpreted on stage
  • Captioned performances on stage and online
  • Chilled, Sensory adapted and Dementia friendly performances on stage
  • Wheelchair users, performance and physical access information
  • Building and theatre access for wheelchair users and people with mobility issues
  • Access Scheme unlocking tickets that offer the best experience for you

Find out more about access at the National Theatre

Young person touching the Bruno mouse costume during The Witches schools touch tour
Young person touching the Bruno mouse costume during The Witches schools touch tour
Young person touching the Bruno mouse costume during The Witches schools touch tour
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Two young people showing their drawing of a Witch during The Witches schools workshop Young person trying on headpiece costume gloves during The Witches schools touch tour Young person touching costume chainmail during The Witches schools touch tour Young people showing their drawing of a Witch during The Witches schools workshop Young people performing during The Witches schools workshop Young person holding a prop mouse during The Witches schools touch tour Practitioner working with a young person during The Witches schools workshop Young people exploring a piece of set during The Witches schools touch tour Young person testing their hearing loop before the performance of The Witches after the schools touch tour Young person inspecting liquid during The Witches schools touch tour Young person touching costume gloves during The Witches schools touch tour

The Witches schools workshop and touch tour, 2024

Primary schools

Let's Play primary programme

The Let’s Play programme provides state primary schools across the UK with everything they need to create outstanding theatre and performance and to embed creative learning across the curriculum.

Previous collaborations with SEND/SEMH schools have included working to adapt and abridge plays to support specific needs of groups and CPD on inclusive practice in theatre making.

Let's Play primary programme

Secondary schools

Four individuals are seated and holding scripts, engaged in what appears to be a theatrical rehearsal. One person in a pink hoodie sits at the back, while three others in the foreground are intently discussing their scripts.

New Views

Past adaptations have included bespoke writing resources, partnering with playwright mentors with a specific skillset, additional support staff or resources for sessions or when visiting the theatre.

New Views
Two individuals with blonde hair stand on opposite sides of scaffolding poles. The person on the left wears a plaid shirt and leans forward, while the person on the right, in a light-colored top, also leans forward, engaging in an intense conversation against a dark background.

Connections

To make our productions accessible we have a collaborative process for adapting and abridging the plays to support the different needs of groups. We can provide additional support during the rehearsal process and for the transition to the Partner Theatre festivals.

Connections

Watch theatre

The National Theatre Collection

The National Theatre Collection makes the best of British Theatre available worldwide to libraries, schools, universities and the wider education sector. Our unique collection presents high quality recordings of 50 world-class productions, giving you the best seats in the house whenever you want. Free to all UK state schools.

All the plays in the Collection are captioned and there are additional learning resources for each. It may be appropriate to use extracts of plays such as Treasure Island, Peter Pan and Romeo and Juliet with young people exploring performance.

The National Theatre Collection
A classroom of pupils watching the NT Collection on a screen.

The Witches schools tour touch 2024 photo © Natalie Mitchell

Hamlet workshop 2023 photo © Harry Elletson

Connections 2023 photo © Jimmy Lee

Our funders

The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.

Access at the National Theatre is supported by The Band Trust, The Lewis Family Charitable Trust and The Stanley Kalms Foundation.

Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Crevan O’Grady & Jane McClenahan, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Disabled Children in the Arts, The Kartik Foundation, Behrens Foundation, Marlow Trust, Cleopatra Trust, and The Andor Charitable Trust.

More to explore

Schools

Explore our the National Theatre’s offer to primary, secondary, and SEND/SEMH schools.

Schools
Backstage Tour view of the stage construction space

Tours

Take a guided tour of the National Theatre, we can adapt our tours to your needs.

Tours
National-Theatre-building from the north-east in winter with people walking past

Getting here

Information on how to ways of getting to the South Bank.

Getting here