What is SEND?
SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and describes learning difficulties or disabilities that mean a child will need more support than other children of their age to access learning.
When teachers and pastoral staff who work with your child recognise that your child might have some barriers to their learning, they will contact you and, following discussion with you, will refer your child to the Learning Support team. You will then be contacted by our Assistant Senco who will explore these concerns.
There are 4 main categories of need which may lead to significant difficulties accessing learning.
Area of Need |
|
| Communication and Interaction |
Autism Speech and language difficulties |
| Cognition and learning |
Specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia (aka Developmental Coordination Disorder) Moderate learning difficulties Severe learning difficulties |
| Social, emotional and mental health |
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Mental Health difficulties such as attachment disorder, anxiety, depression, self-harm |
| Sensory and/or physical |
Hearing impairments Visual impairment Multi-sensory impairment Physical impairment |
It is not necessary for a child to have a formal diagnosis to be identified as having special educational needs. Support at Sheldon is led by presenting needs, not by diagnosis.
If teachers and pastoral staff who work with your child recognise that they might be experiencing barriers to their learning, they will contact you to discuss this.
Following discussion with you, if there are any SEND concerns, they will refer your child to the Learning Support Team. You will then be contacted by our Assistant SENCO would will explore these concerns.
If you are concerned that your child may have special educational needs and would like to discuss this with the SENCO, please click here to make an appointment.