Special educational needs (SEN) are those needs that are significantly greater than the needs of the majority of children of the same age.
Defining special educational needs
Children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.
Children with SEN may experience difficulty in learning or dealing with the physical, social or behavioural demands placed upon them.
Special educational needs may be broadly categorised into: learning difficulty (specific, general, severe or profound); communication or language difficulty (speech and language, autism); behaviour difficulty (emotional, behavioural or social); physical and sensory difficulty (hearing, vision, physical, multi-sensory).
Children with special educational needs at school
Most children who have special educational needs have their needs met at their local school. School staff may modify how they teach a child to suit their learning ability.
Children with special educational needs will be carefully monitored. If there are particular concerns about a child because they are not making the expected progress, taking account of their difficulties, the school may take advice from professionals.
Advice for children with SEN and their families
Lewisham has an educational psychology and learning support service which is made of up of educational psychologists and specialist advisory teachers who can give advice to schools about pupils with special educational needs.
Independent advice for parents about children with special educational needs is available from Lewisham Parent Partnership Service on 020 8698 7879.
Schools will always involve parents if they have concerns about a child who has special educational needs.