SEN broken down into subjects

Communication and interaction

Where children and young people have speech, language and communication difficulties which make it difficult for them to make sense of language or to understand how to communicate effectively and appropriately with others.

Children and young people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, including Asperger's Syndrome, are likely to have particular difficulties with social interaction.

Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs, including children with...

• moderate learning difficulties (MLD),
• severe (SLD) or profound and multiple learning difficulties where children are likely to need support in all areas of the curriculum. 
• Specific Learning difficulties (SpLD), affect one or more specific aspects of learning.  This encompasses a range of conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.

SEND across the curriculum (Word doc, 171 KB)

Cognition and learning

Where children and young people learn at a slower pace than others their age, they may:

• have difficulty in understanding parts of the curriculum
• have difficulties with organisation and memory skills
• have a specific difficulty affecting one particular part of their learning such as in literacy or numeracy

The term 'learning difficulties' covers a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound and multiple difficulties (PMLD). Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia come under this term.

Children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have difficulty communicating with others and may also not understand and use social rules of communication. This often includes children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including Asperger's.

Social, emotional and mental health difficulties

Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties which present themselves in many ways. They may:

• have difficulty in managing their relationships with other people
• be withdrawn
• behave in ways that may hinder their and other children's learning or that have an impact on their health and wellbeing

This broad area includes attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attachment disorder. It also includes behaviours that may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, self-harming and eating disorders.

Children may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties.  These may include children who show with withdrawn or challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviours for a variety of reasons.  Other children may have disorders such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder or attachment disorder.

Sensory and/or physical needs

Where children and young people have visual and/or hearing impairments, or a physical need that means they must have additional on-going support and equipment.

These include children with a visual impairment, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, which will require specialist support and/or equipment to access their learning.  Some children with a physical disability require ongoing support and equipment to access all the opportunities available to their peers.

The Department for Education has identified four broad areas which cover a range of needs