“All children have a right to an education that enables them to make progress so that they achieve their best and become happy, confident individuals.”
Mrs Harding, Assistant Headteacher & Inclusion Manager
Overview
Children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) all have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children and young people of the same age. They may need extra or different help from that given to others.
Many children and young people who have SEN may also have a disability. A disability is described in law (the Equality Act 2010) as ‘a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term (a year or more) and substantial adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.’ This includes, for example, sensory impairments such as those that affect sight and hearing, and long-term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy.
Children and young people with SEN may need extra help because of a range of needs. Paragraphs 6.27 – 6.35 of the 0-25 SEND Code of Practice set out four areas of SEN:
- Communicating and interacting – for example, where children and young people have speech, language and communication difficulties which make it difficult for them to make sense of language or to understand how to communicate effectively and appropriately with others
- Cognition and learning – for example, where children and young people learn at a slower pace than others their age, have difficulty in understanding parts of the curriculum, have difficulties with organisation and memory skills, or have a specific difficulty affecting one particular part of their learning performance such as in literacy or numeracy
- Social, emotional and mental health difficulties – for example, where children and young people have difficulty in managing their relationships with other people, are withdrawn, or if they behave in ways that may hinder their and other children’s learning, or that have an impact on their health and wellbeing
- Sensory and/or physical needs – for example, children and young people with visual and/or hearing impairments, or a physical need that means they must have additional ongoing support and equipment
Some children and young people may have SEN that covers more than one of these areas.
If you think your child has any type of difficulty, please talk to us – the best place to start is with your child’s class teacher. Ask for an appointment to see them at a convenient time. Then you will be able to have a private discussion and not feel rushed.
There is also the SEN Co-ordinator (SENCo) who you may wish to talk to. Her name is Janet Harding. She is the Assistant Headteacher and Inclusion Manager. She can be contacted via telephone (01474 365737) or email (senco@st-botolphs.kent.sch.uk).