Introduction to SEND

Introduction

A child or young person has Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. When we say special educational provision, this often means extra support a child may need to help them learn. This can be from a teacher or member of staff, work that is more individualised or tailored to the child or young person's ability, or interventions such as visual timetables, movement breaks, or equipment such as fidget aids, etc. It can also include accessibility aids, such as specialised equipment for children with physical disabilities or sensory impairments. 

Current statutory guidance for all organisations working with or supporting children with SEND is contained in the Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years.

Learning difficulty or disability

Learning Difficulty

• Affects specific areas of learning (e.g., reading, writing, coordination)
• Individuals often have strengths in other areas
• Examples: dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia

A child can have more than one learning difficulty at the same time. 

Learning Disability

• Can affect overall intellectual ability and adaptive functioning (daily living skills)
• Can impact areas such as reasoning, communication, memory, daily tasks
• Support needs range from mild to profound
• Examples: global development delay, Down’s syndrome

Special educational provision

Special educational provision is any educational or training provision that is different from or additional to that normally provided to other children of the same age. SEN is a legal term which is set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.

What disability means

A child or young person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

This is the legal definition of disability which is set out in the Equality Act 2010. Some children and young people who are disabled might not have SEN. But they are still protected by the Equality Act.