Biography Reading and Writing (SEND)

Looking for a way to make non-fiction writing engaging, structured and genuinely accessible for SEND learners?

This fully differentiated English resource pack combines high-interest celebrity and sporting figures with scaffolded biography writing tasks designed to build real confidence and measurable progress.

Who Is Included?

Fully accessible short biographies of:

• Lewis Hamilton
• Luke Littler (Darts Number 1)
• Molly Caudery (GB Pole Vault)
• The stars of Wicked, including:
o Ariana Grande
o Cynthia Erivo

These figures have been carefully chosen to appeal to a wide range of interests — sport, music, film, and popular culture — increasing engagement and motivation for reluctant writers.

What’s Included?

Each biography pack contains:

✔ Fully Accessible Biography Text
• Short paragraphs
• Simplified vocabulary
• Clear chronological structure
• Key vocabulary highlighted
• Designed for KS3/KS4 low-ability and SEND learners

✔ Scaffolded Non-Fiction Writing Tasks
• Sentence starters
• Structured writing frames
• Paragraph prompts
• Word banks
• Guided planning grids
• Step-by-step modelling opportunities

Tasks gradually move from:
• Fact retrieval
• Sentence construction
• Paragraph building
• Full short biography writing

Built-In Self & Peer Assessment

Every writing task is accompanied by:

• A clear, pupil-friendly peer & self-assessment checklist
• Progressive criteria that increase in complexity
• Visual support and tick-box success criteria
Assessment sheets are carefully sequenced to:
• Build independence
• Develop editing skills
• Introduce higher-level writing expectations gradually
• Support confidence before challenge

Skills Developed

This pack supports:
• Reading for information
• Identifying key facts
• Chronological sequencing
• Expanding sentences
• Paragraph cohesion
• Writing for purpose (to inform)
• Form, Audience and Purpose
• Editing and improving writing

Highly Suitable For:

• SEND English classrooms
• Low ability KS3 and KS4
• Entry Level English
• Functional Skills
• Alternative Provision
• Literacy intervention groups

Why This Pack Works

Many SEND learners struggle with:
• Knowing how to structure non-fiction writing
• Remembering what to include
• Editing their own work
• Building writing stamina

This resource removes cognitive overload while still maintaining ambition. It provides structure without limiting creativity, and challenge without overwhelming learners.