Care and support

Common worries

My child has special educational needs

A child has special educational needs, usually known as SEN, “if he or she has greater difficulty in learning than most other children of the same age.” Special educational needs can arise for a number of reasons. For some children it may be a temporary difficulty. Other children may have special educational needs throughout their school life.

You and your child are not alone in experiencing these problems
Many children have difficulties in learning and your child will not be alone. Sometimes you will be anxious about your child’s progress and want to know that all is well. If you have any concerns don’t put off talking about them. Remember all children develop at a different rate.

Voicing your concerns

Your child may have difficulty in learning or problems with behaviour. Usually you will have noticed before anyone else does. However sometimes the staff at playgroup or the teachers at nursery or school will notice first and want to talk to you about any problems. Whatever the age of your child you should talk to your child’s teacher, tutor, headteacher or the special needs co-ordinator. They will be able to explain clearly the ways in which the school can help to meet your child’s needs.

How the school can help

Schools and the Local Education Authority will provide help in stages for children with special educational needs. The special educational needs policy written by the school recognises the various levels of need and the different responsibilities for assessing and meeting those needs.

You can ask the headteacher for a copy of the policy.
The school will keep a list, called the Special Educational Needs register, recording all children with special educational needs who are at school. You do not need to worry if you are told that your child’s name is going on the register. It means that the school know that there are difficulties and they need to monitor them.

Your school should tell you when your child’s name has been included on the register, and if any special arrangements have been made to help. The school keeps this information confidential.

Any special help that your child receives will be written down on an Individual Education Plan or IEP. The staff at the school will talk to you about this and may suggest things that you can do at home to help.

What will happen?

For most children extra help from the school staff is sufficient to help them. The Local Education Authority puts money directly into school budgets so that they are able to provide additional support for children with special educational needs. The school can also ask for support and advice from advisory services and other professionals such as an educational psychologist.

Your child’s school may think that your child’s special educational needs could be best met by applying for Earmarked Pupil Funding. If they receive additional funding in this way it will be for two years and must be used to ensure that a child’s needs are met.

If you feel that your child may need long term help you have the right to ask the Children, Schools and Families to make a statutory assessment. You should discuss this with the staff at the school.

What happens for children too young to attend school?

Some children’s difficulties will be identified very early in their lives. A Community Paediatrician or Medical Officer will usually see them. After discussion with you they will decide whether the Local Education Authority should be informed about your child’s special educational needs. There are a range of services for pre-school children with special educational needs including Opportunity Classes and an Advisory Teacher Service and it may be that one of these services will be offered to you. As with schools, they will work with you to try and meet your child’s needs.