Special educational needs – an introduction
In a typical classroom children will learn at different rates and in different ways from each other. The teacher will use different ways of teaching and different lesson materials to help individual children learn best. This is called “differentiating the curriculum” and is a normal part of the teacher’s role.
However, some children may need more help than this. For example they may have difficulty with reading or writing, they may need extra support with spoken communication, or help with developing social or physical skills. A child who needs a lot of extra help has special educational need (SEN). The law defines children with SEN as children who have a considerably greater difficulty in learning than others of the same age, or who cannot use the educational facilities other children use because of a disability.
Some children may have a learning difficulty which results from a medical condition or a disability. Other children may have a learning difficulty without a diagnosis or a disability.
How can schools help children with special educational needs?
Most children with special educational needs will go to mainstream schools and the law gives parents a right to say that they prefer this option for their child. Some children with special educational needs will go to a special school where they can get the specialised teaching and support which meets their needs.
In every school there will be a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) who is responsible for arranging and coordinating the extra support given to a child with special educational needs.
Schools must follow a “graduated” approach to meeting a child’s special educational needs. This means that increasing levels of support are given where necessary.
If the school think that your child has special educational needs they should discuss this with you. Your child should be placed on a stage of support called School Action or a higher level called School Action Plus. The school must have a SEN policy which should set out the kind of support given to pupils on each of these stages.
Click on the left hand menu to find out more about School Action and School Action Plus.
Remember, you can contact us free on 0808 808 3555, or post a query on facebook or twitter and one of our SEN advisers will get back to you. Alternatively drop us an email helpline@cafamily.org.uk
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