Special educational needs examples, or SEN, is the term for any child who has difficulty accessing education because of a learning disability. These may range from communication and interaction difficulties to cognitive impairments, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia (writing). In addition, students who have social and emotional difficulties, such as attention deficit disorder or autism, can also be considered to have a special need.

In general, children who have special needs are identified at an early age and given additional support. However, it’s worth noting that a person can be considered to have a special need even if they don’t have a formal diagnosis from a healthcare professional. This is because a disability under the Equality Act 2010 means that there must be a ‘substantial and long term impact’ on their ability to live day-to-day life activities.

Understanding Special Educational Needs Through Examples

Depending on the specific needs of your child, your local authority will create an Individual Education Plan or IEP. This will outline what special educational provision (SEN) your child is entitled to, along with supplementary aids and services to help them achieve the most benefit from their learning.

Often, the IEP is written by teachers and will include information about your child’s individual needs. You can contact your local authority directly for more information. In some cases, your child will not be segregated in a special class and will be taught alongside non-disabled classmates. In other cases, they might be segregated and receive one-to-one or group support.