A child has special educational needs if they have a learning problem or disability that make it more difficult for them to learn than most children their age. They may have problems with schoolwork, communication or behaviour. Parents can get help and advice from specialists, teachers and voluntary organisations.
How schools can help children with special educational needs
A school can usually provide help and sometimes uses specialists. If your child has special educational needs, they may need extra help:
- with schoolwork
- reading, writing, number work or understanding information
- expressing themselves or understanding what others are saying
- making friends or interacting with adults
- behaving properly in school
- organizing themselves
They might have sensory or physical needs that affect them in school.
Your child’s progress
Children progress at different rates and have different ways in which they learn best. When planning lessons, your child’s teacher will take account of this by looking carefully at how they organize their lessons, classroom, books and materials.
The teacher will choose suitable ways to help your child learn. If your child is making slower progress or having particular problems in one area, they may be given extra help or different lessons to help.
Just because your child is making slower progress than you expected or the teachers are providing different support, help or activities in class, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your child has special educational needs.
link: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/children-special-educational-needs