Types of special educational needs and disability (SEND)

A child or young person must have an educational need to have special education needs (SEN). This government SEN parent carer guide explains how SEN are grouped into the following four areas of need and support.

Areas of need and support

Those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) find it hard to communicate with others. They might have difficulty saying what they want to, understanding what is being said to them or they do not understand or use social rules of communication. The needs of each child with SLCN is different and can change over time.

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a type of SLCN, that makes talking  and listening difficult. Children and young people with DLD can have significant, on-going difficulties understanding and/or using spoken language, in all the languages they use. It can affect social interaction and behaviour.

Social communication difficulties impact a child/young persons ability to interact with other people, understand and use eye contact, facial expressions and body language. It can also impact listening and attending including the ability to switch attention between people and activities.

Autistic children and young people with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or mild to severe Autism, can have difficulties with social interaction. They may experience difficulties with language, communication and imagination, which can impact on how they relate to others.

Support for learning difficulties may be required when expected progress is not made over a period of time.

Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs. Often grouped by moderate, severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. Children with severe learning difficulties (SLD) are likely to need support in all areas of learning and difficulties with mobility and communication. Profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) are severe and complex learning difficulties, as well as a physical disability or sensory impairment.

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) affect one or more aspects of learning. This includes a range of conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.

Social and emotional difficulties can show themselves in many ways. Behaviour may include becoming withdrawn or isolated, being challenging or disruptive or displaying worrying or risky behaviour.

These behaviours may be as a result of an additional need, or related to an underlying mental health difficulty. For example, anxiety, depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained.

Children and young people with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) or attachment disorder may also need support with their social and emotional behaviour.

SEMH needs may also exist for different reasons such as attachment difficulties, experience of  trauma, mental illness or many other reasons.

Some children or young people require extra help because of a sensory disability or need. This includes a physical disability (PD), vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a combination of the above  which is a multi-sensory impairment (MSI). This will require specialist support or equipment to access their learning, or habilitation support.

If you would like to contribute your experience to create resources about your SEND condition, please get in touch using the contact form.

Local support groups and activities listed by additional need

Our directory lists local groups who can support your family. Some run activities for children and young people with additional needs. We have created some shortlists below to help you with your search.

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