What is a special educational need?
About 1 in 5 children have a Special Educational Need (SEN) of some kind. Some children may have special educational needs for a relatively short time; others will have special needs right through their schooling. Some will have special needs in particular curriculum areas, but others may need help with all or most aspects of their education.
Children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.
What is a learning difficulty?
Children who have a learning difficulty find it harder to learn than the majority of children of the same age, or they may have a disability or condition which prevents or hinders them from making use of the education provided for other children.
Children do not have learning difficulties simply because their first language is not English. However some of these children may also have learning difficulties.
A learning difficulty might cause difficulties with:
- reading, writing or number work;
- your child’s ability to express themselves or understand information;
- making friends or relating to adults;
- behaviour in school;
- personal organisation;
- tasks or activities which depend on sensory or physical skills.
What is special educational provision?
Special educational provision is the extra or different help given to children with special educational needs.
Special educational provision takes many different forms. Most children with special educational needs have support in their class. It might be additional or different help provided in a mainstream class for a small group or an individual child. It can include group work or individual support that takes place outside the classroom. It could also be attendance in a specialist class or in a special school.
For children under two years old any educational provision is special educational provision.
What does the law say?
The law says that all schools must do their best to see that proper education is provided for all children, including those with special educational needs. the vast majority of children will have their needs met within their local school.
The most important legislation dealing with special education is the Education Act 1996 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice is part of this legislation and gives guidance to schools about how your child's special educational needs should be identified and assessed.
The Children Act 1989 includes children with special needs, and sets down the responsibilities of social Services working with Health and Education authorities to help "children in need". This can include children with special educational needs.
All of these Acts emphasise the importance of consulting with children and young people and taking their wishes and views into account where possible.
What is the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice?
This Code of Practice sets out the steps a school should take to find out about your child's needs, so that your child can be given the best possible help and that their needs are met throughout their school career.
The Code of Practice is available free of charge from the Department for Education and Skills (0845 6022260) or can be downloaded from the DfES website http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/3724/SENCodeOfPractice.pdf
What does the Code of Practice say?
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The knowledge, views and experiences of parents are vital. This means that people should listen to you as a parent when deciding how best to help your child.
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Whatever your child's difficulties in school it is important that they are helped to overcome them.
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Wherever possible children with special educational needs should be educated in their local school, alongside other children and have the right to benefit from education in all school subjects.
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If your child has difficulties it is important that these are recognised as soon as possible.
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Some children's difficulties may be recognised before they start school and the Local Authority (LA) and other services such as health and social services may become involved at an early stage.
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You must be informed that a school is making Special Educational Needs provision for your child.
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The best way to help your child is by everyone sharing information and working closely together.
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Your child's own views are important and should be listened to.
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Your LA should be able to give you advice, information and offer the support of the ask Parent Partnership Service. They should also tell you about other services in your area that may be useful.
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If you have any worries or concerns you should first approach your child's school. If your concerns remain, your LA will have arrangements for resolving disagreements and you may have the right to appeal to the independent Special Educational Needs Tribunal.
