Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is a term used to describe children who have problems that make it harder for them to learn than other children of their age. They may have difficulties with schoolwork, behaviour or sensory and physical needs. Children can be assessed for SEND by teachers, doctors or voluntary organisations.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities is called special education or special needs education. It is different from regular schooling because it takes into account the needs of children who are socially or emotionally vulnerable, or have learning difficulties or disabilities such as behavioural or emotional disorders; deafness or blindness; hearing or speech impairments; intellectual or developmental disabilities; and orthopedic and neurological impairments.
There are many ways that a child can be identified as having SEND, but the most common is to give them an intelligence quotient (IQ) test. Children who score below the national average on this test are usually considered to have SEND.
Inclusive Education: Strategies and Innovations for Supporting SEND Students
Other types of assessment include assessing children for speech and language needs, which could mean difficulty with forming and maintaining a vocabulary or finding expressions; communication and interaction skills, such as autistic spectrum difficulties; and physical and sensory needs such as poor balance or a tendency to seek out sensory stimulation.
There are different ways that schools can support SEND students, but the most important way is to ensure that they have access to an appropriate education and that their needs are met. This can be achieved by ensuring that kids are taught in an environment that is adapted to their needs and that they are given the right help and support, so that they can develop as individuals, achieve success in life, and be happy.