The article reveals the content of individual and differentiated approaches to teaching of primary school children with mental development disorders. Learning objectives and the ways to achieve them. The forms of activity organization are determined to develop children’s abilities to acquire and apply skills. Appropriateness of programmed learning as a part of the differentiated approach is analyzed to educate children with mental development disorders. Practical aspects of individual approach and differentiation are presented with the example of teaching of primary school-children at a special needs school.