What is a Special Educational Need?
SEN/D is the acronym for 'Special Educational Needs / Disability'
The SEN/D Code of Practice 2015 gives the following definition of Special Educational Needs:
- A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.
- A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:
• has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or
• has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools.
Communication and Interaction Needs (C&I)
Communication and Interaction needs can include one or more of the following:
- Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)
- Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
Cognition and Learning Needs (C&L)
Cognition and Learning needs can include one or more of the following:
- Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) e.g. Dyslexia, Dyscalculia
- Moderate Learning Difficulty
- Severe Learning Difficulty
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH)
Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs can include one or more of the following:
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Mental Health Conditions
- Attachment difficulties (including Attachment Disorder)
- Behavioural difficulties and Emotional Regulation difficulties
Physical and Sensory Needs (P&S)
Physical and Sensory needs can include one or more of the following:
- Physical Disability
- Complex Medical Needs
- Hearing Impairment
- Visual Impairment
- Multi-sensory Impairment
- Sensory Processing Disorder