The 4 broad areas of special educational need
The 4 broad areas of special educational need are:
Communication and interaction
Children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have difficulty communicating with others. This may be because they:
- have difficulty saying what they want to
- have difficulty understanding what is being said to them or;
- do not understand or use social rules of communication
The profile for every child with SLCN is different. Their needs may change over time. They may have difficulty with one, some or all of the different aspects of speech, language or social communication at different times.
Those with an autistic spectrum condition (ASC) are likely to have particular difficulties with social interaction. They may also have difficulties with language, communication and imagination. This can impact on how they relate to others.
Cognition and learning
Children and young people with cognition and learning difficulties will learn at a slower pace than other children. They may have greater difficulty than their peers in:
- acquiring basic literacy or numeracy skills or;
- understanding concepts, even with appropriate differentiation
They may also have other difficulties such as:
- speech and language delay
- low self-esteem
- low levels of concentration
- under-developed social skills
Cognition and learning difficulties covers a wide range of needs:
- from children with Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) through to;
- profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD)
Specific learning difficulties affect one or more specific aspects of learning. It includes conditions such as:
- dyslexia
- dyscalculia
- dyspraxia
Children with PMLD are likely to have severe and complex learning difficulties requiring support in all areas of the curriculum, as well as a physical disability or sensory impairment.
Social, emotional and mental health difficulties
Children and young people's social and emotional difficulties show in many ways. They may be displayed through the child or young person:
- becoming withdrawn or isolated or;
- through challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour
Children and young people who have difficulties with their emotional and social development may have:
- immature social skills and;
- find it difficult to make and sustain healthy relationships
Some behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as:
- anxiety or depression
- self-harm
- substance misuse
- eating disorders
- physical symptoms that are medically unexplained
Other children and young people may have:
- attention deficit disorder (ADD)
- attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
- attachment disorder
For some children and young people, difficulties in their emotional and social development, can mean they need additional and different provision for them to achieve.
Sensory and/or physical needs
Some children and young people need special educational provision because they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided. Difficulties can be age related and may change over time.
Many children and young people with vision impairment, hearing loss or a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) will need specialist support and/or equipment to access their learning, or habilitation support. Those with an MSI have a combination of vision and hearing difficulties.
Some children and young people with a physical disability need additional ongoing support and equipment to access the opportunities available to their peers.