What is SEND?

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities [SEND] is a term used to describe the needs of a child /young person who has a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.

SEND covers a broad spectrum of difficulty or disability falling into four categories: cognition and learning; communication and interaction; sensory and/or physical; social, emotional and mental health.

Communication and Interaction

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD
• Autism Spectrum Disorder – ASD
• Speech, language and communication – SLCN

Cognition and Learning

• Dyslexia and Dyscalculia – SpLD
• Dyspraxia – DCD
• Global Learning Delay – GLD
• Moderate Learning Difficulty – MLD

Social, Emotional and Mental Health

• Attachment difficulties
• Pathological demand avoidance – PDA
• Severe phobias
• Social and emotional needs

Sensory/ Physical Needs

• Hearing Impairment – HI
• Physical or medical needs
• Sensory Difficulties
• Visual Impairment – VI

Schools are required by law to provide education for all students, regardless of ability or needs.

A young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or has a disability which prevents or hinders facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age.