SEND
A child has Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) if they have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age’ (SEND Code of Practice, 2015).
There are 4 broad areas of need:
- cognition and learning difficulties
- social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties (e.g., attachment disorders and ADHD)
- communication & interaction difficulties (e.g., autism and ASD)
- sensory and/or physical needs
Children do not need to have a diagnosis for schools to act. Instead, schools should put in place Assess-Plan-Do-Review cycles in response to a child’s emerging needs, following a graduated response.
Central Bedfordshire’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Offer explains more here (including how to apply for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment).