Managing practical science activities effectively is demanding for any teacher and especially so for inexperienced practitioners. Add the problems posed by integrating children with learning and behavioural difficulties and one has the sort of challenge that makes working in education rewarding--but not easy! As a newly qualified teacher, the author found it difficult to know where to begin planning a programme of manageable practical science and she sought advice from Neil Rutledge (her science tutor) when she did her postgraduate teacher training. In this article, the author shares how her college tutor helped her with practical advice on integrating special educational needs children in science. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)